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MLS New York Red Bulls

First Place Red Bulls Earn Hard Fought Road Point in 1-1 Tie against Seattle

September 30, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York Red Bulls News Release


SEATTLE, WA (September 29, 2013) - Midfielder Tim Cahill's 76th minute goal and a rugged team performance helped give the Eastern Conference-leading New York Red Bulls a 1-1 tie against Seattle Sounders FC Sunday evening at CenturyLink Field in front of 39,083 spectators. With the draw, the Red Bulls extended their unbeaten run to five (4-0-1), moving to 52 points off a 15-9-7 record.

New York has a one point lead in the MLS Supporters Shield race ahead of co-Western Conference leaders Seattle and Real Salt Lake. With three regular season games left to play, the Red Bulls have a four-point advantage over second place Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference.

New York returns to Red Bull Arena on Saturday, Oct. 5 and will host the New England Revolution at 7:00 PM. Tickets for Red Bulls matches are available by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or logging onto www.newyorkredbulls.com.

The Red Bulls were able to notch the first chance of the match less than a minute in when midfielder Jonny Steele intercepted an Osvaldo Alonso pass, raced towards goal and fired a shot that goalkeeper Michael Gspurning had to push aside. Later, Cahill was able to get a free close range header, but he couldn't get enough power on his attempt and Gspurning was able to collect.

On the other end in the 26th minute, Eddie Johnson was nodded a Mauro Rosales free kick and directed it wide of the frame before less than 10 minutes later, Brad Evans' one-timer from just outside of the box skipped left. The Sounders put pressure on New York towards the end of the opening stanza and Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles did well to save Johnson's left-footed drive to keep the match scoreless.

Seattle earned a penalty kick in the 43rd minute after referee Kevin Stott ruled that New York defender Markus Holgersson handled an Evans cross in the box. Robles guessed correctly but Evans' shot was too powerful as it zipped into the lower right hand corner of the net and gave the hosts the lead.

Despite conceding right before the break, the Red Bulls came out strongly to start the second half and were inches from equalizing in the 61st minute. David Carney's free kick was flicked on by Holgersson and the ball looped over Gspurning and off the crossbar. The Red Bulls again were stifled by the woodwork moments after, as Evans inadvertently flicked a Lloyd Sam corner kick off his own left post.

New York's pressure paid off and the visitors tied the game in the 76th minute. The ball ping ponged around the top of the box before Steele was able to knock it to Cahill, who used his right foot to curl it past Gspurning and into the right side netting.

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