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MLS New York Red Bulls

New York Red Bulls Weekly Update

March 2, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York Red Bulls News Release


RED BULLS PICK UP WINS IN ARGENTINA: The New York Red Bulls have continued their second preseason trip in Argentina with a pair of wins last week to move to 3-1-2 in 2009.

On Feb. 24, the Red Bulls defeated Velez Sarsfield Tuesday by a 2-1 score at the Villa Olympica, training center of Velez Sarsfield of the Argentinean First Division.

The Red Bulls opened the scoring just three minutes into the match when Jorge Rojas curled a corner kick from the right side that the Velez goalkeeper punched away. But it took an unlucky bounce, hitting the back of Velez defender Marcelo Barovero and back into the home side's net for an own goal. Rojas had just sent another curling corner that Kevin Goldthwaite got a head on that had to be punched over the bar, setting up the play.

New York increased its lead in the 17th minute when Rojas again figured into the play as he dribbled a ball into the 18-yard box but was tackled and the ball fell loose. Juan Pablo Angel was there to latch on to the loose ball and fire it home.

"Today was a good exercise for us," Angel said. "The first goal was an own goal, but we'll take it. And, we ended up winning the first half, two-nil."

"I wanted a good performance and good result," said Red Bulls head coach Juan Carlos Osorio following the match. "But I think the performance in both halves were good. The effort was absolutely outstanding. It was very hot. Our players are not used to that. But in the end, we won, deservedly. I am pleased. Everybody looked quite good today."

Two days later, the Red Bulls defeated Club Atletico River Plate, 2-1, at Mapuche Country Club in Pilar, Argentina, outside Buenos Aires.

New York took a 1-0 lead just three minutes into the match. Khano Smith carried the ball down the left side and centered it to an onrushing Dane Richards, who slotted the ball home, giving New York the early lead.

River Plate drew even just past the half hour mark. Former D.C. United Designated Player Marcello Gallardo pushed the ball up field for River Plate and found Ruben Sambueza in the corner. Sambueza crossed the ball to the far post, where Red Bulls' trialist, Aklie Edwards, attempting to clear the ball, put it into the New York net for an own goal.

The teams remained knotted at one goal apiece until the 73rd minute. On a corner kick, Sinisa Ubiparipovic sent the ball to the back post, where Andrew Boyens got his head on the ball. The ball bounced off a River Plate defender and to Boyens' feet, and the New Zealand international slotted the ball to the upper 90 to give the Red Bulls the lead.

After a week of training and the two matches, the Red Bulls were off on Saturday, Feb. 28, as the team toured Buenos Aires.

When they arrived, they headed to the Puente de la Mujer (Woman's bridge) a famous spot in the Puerto Madero section, near the waterfront. Then, they were off to see the main sights in Centro (center) part of the city, including the Obelisco (similar to the Washington Monument) and Casa Rosata (pink house- Argentinean version of the white house). "A bunch of us walked around, saw the sights, went shopping and had meal at cafe. This is my first time to Argentina and the people have been very friendly," said goalkeeper Danny Cepero. "And they have been very accommodating if you don't know the language."

The Red Bulls returned to training Sunday morning before attending Boca Juniors' 3-1 win over Huracan at La Bombonera in the evening.

For daily updates from Red Bulls training camp, please visit www.newyorkredbulls.com or Red Bulls Reader - the official team blog ( www.redbullsreader.com).

RED BULLS START OPEN CUP AGAINST 'QUAKES: Red Bull New York announced that it will kick off its 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup campaign on April 29, when it plays the San Jose Earthquakes at Buck Shaw Stadium at 10:30 PM ET (7:30 PM PT). The match is a play-in game as part of the first stage of MLS U.S. Open Cup qualifying. The winner of the game will face the winner of the D.C. United-FC Dallas play-in game for the right to compete in this year's Open Cup tournament. New York is one of eight MLS teams battling for two spots in the full tournament field.

Created in 1914, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest soccer competition in the United States. The single elimination tournament, which is similar to the prestigious English FA Cup, is open to all amateur and professional teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation.

Last year, the Red Bulls entered in the third round of the Open Cup after being one of the top six teams to qualify for the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs. Their run ended early, when they lost to United Soccer League Second Division side, Crystal Palace Baltimore, 2-0, on July 1 in Annapolis, MD. New York has never won the U.S. Open Cup, but reached the 2003 U.S. Open Cup Final before falling to the Chicago Fire, 1-0.

Despite earning their first trip to the MLS Cup Final in 2008, the Red Bulls are forced to go through MLS Open Cup qualifying since they were not one of the top six playoff teams at the end of last year's regular season. The Red Bulls went 1-0-1 against San Jose last season, but have never played the Earthquakes in Open Cup competition.

THE REMAINING PRESEASON SCHEDULE: Here is the rest of the Red Bulls training schedule prior to their home opener on March 19.

2009 NEW YORK RED BULLS PRESEASON SCHEDULE

Feb. 20 - Team leaves for Pilar, Argentina

March 9 - Team returns to NY/NJ area

March 12 - Red Bulls at Crystal Palace Baltimore at 7 PM in Annapolis, MD.

March 19 - Red Bulls at Seattle Sounders FC at 9 PM ET (TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes)

NEW YORK TO FACE PORTLAND: The Red Bulls will play an exhibition match against the Portland Timbers on Friday, March 20 at 10 PM ET (7 PM PT) at the University of Portland's Clive Charles Complex. New York kicks off their 2009 regular season campaign the night before, when they face Seattle Sounders FC at Qwest Field at 9 PM ET (TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes; Radio: WADO 1280 AM).

IN AND OUT: The Red Bulls have several new faces on their team in 2009 as well as others who departed in the off-season. Here is a list:

New Players (6): Jeremy Hall (Selected in the first round (11th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 15, 2009); Dominic Oduro (Acquired in a trade with FC Dallas on Jan. 13, 2009); Mike Petke (Acquired in 2008 MLS Waiver Draft on Nov. 26, 2008); Khano Smith (Acquired in a trade with Seattle Sounders FC on Feb. 12, 2009); Jack Traynor (Selected in the second round (29th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 15, 2009); Nick Zimmerman (Selected in the third round (44th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 15, 2009)

Players who have left (9): Gabriel Cichero (Waived on Nov. 26, 2008); John Gilkerson (Did not return to team after 2008 season); Diego Jimenez (Returned to Tecos after loan expired with New York on Dec. 31, 2008); Gordon Kljestan (Waived on Nov. 26, 2008); Mike Magee (Traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy on Jan. 14, 2009); Jeff Parke (Selected by Seattle Sounders FC in 2008 MLS Expansion Draft on Nov. 26, 2008); Caleb Patterson-Sewell (Did not return to team after 2008 season); David Roth (Waived on Feb. 18, 2009); Sainey Touray (Waived on Nov. 26, 2009); Dave van den Bergh (Traded to FC Dallas on Jan. 13, 2009)

The Red Bulls must trim their roster to 24 players (between 18-20 senior roster players and the rest developmental) to be compliant with League regulations on March 2. Last year, each team was allowed to have a 28-man roster (18 senior, 10 developmental).

INDIVIDUAL TICKET PACKS ON SALE: Individual ticket packages for the first eight New York Red Bulls 2009 regular season games at Giants Stadium are on sale now by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER. The individual ticket packages include four (4) tickets to a Red Bulls match and a choice of either four t-shirts or a $20 concession voucher for use at the Giants Stadium concessions stands. The packages start as low as $89.95.

The Red Bulls also announced that four-game and eight-game ticket plans are also available for the 2009 season. Fans securing Full or Partial Season ticket plans this season will receive priority access to select their seats in Red Bull Arena, the state-of-the-art soccer-specific stadium being constructed in Harrison, New Jersey, scheduled to open in 2010.

For more information, please call the Red Bulls Fan Services department at 1.877.RBSOCCER.

Red Bull Academy Update: March 2

A Look Back

U20s: Did not play.

U18s: The U18s dropped a 1-0 decision to Potomac SC in the Mid-Atlantic Division on Saturday, February 28. The game was evenly played in the fist half before Potomac scored in the 44th minute off a corner kick to take the 1-0 lead. Despite trying to get back into the game in the second half, the U18s could not find an offensive rhythm.

"We were missing some quality on the pitch tonight that may have helped us break down Potomac," stated head coach Paul O'Donnell. "They were very organized defensively. We hope to have some of our key players back from injury soon. We should have Nicholas Gendron in another week and we hope to have Giorgi Chirgadze back in about a month. Those two players will help us a lot when they return. Right now we are still 6-3-0, so we are in pretty good shape."

U16s: The U16 New York Red Bulls extend their unbeaten run to nine (6-0-3) with a 2-2 draw against Potomac SC on Saturday, February 28. The Red Bulls opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a very good build-up leading to an outstanding Mike Innocenzi cross that Victor Manosalvas hammered home. Potomac answered back just before the half as the teams went into the break tied, 1-1.

The Red Bulls played some very creative attacking soccer in the second half and produced several dangerous scoring opportunities. In the 43rd minute that pressure paid off from another good service, this time from Paul Ehrenworth and an outstanding finish from Christian Battistesa. The Red Bulls would go on to create several other scoring chances but in the 75th minute Potomac was able to equalize against the run of play.

"I thought we play very well today," said U16 head coach Rob Elliott. "Some of the soccer we put together today was outstanding and we were dangerous all day long. It is disappointing not to get the three points today but if we clean up a few mistakes and continue to play creative soccer, I look forward to see where this group can go."

U15s: The U15 match with FC Greater Boston scheduled for Sunday, March 1 was postponed due to snow.

U14s: The U14 match with FC Greater Boston was scheduled for Sunday, March 1 was postponed due to snow.

A Look Ahead:

Saturday March 7th

U16 Red Bulls @ U16 FC Delco 1:00pm

U18 Red Bulls @ U18 FC Delco 3:00pm

Sunday March 8th

U14 Red Bulls @ U14 PA Classics 1:00pm

U16 Red Bulls @ U16 PA Classics 1:00pm

U15 Red Bulls @ U15 PA Classics 3:00pm

U18 Red Bulls @ U18 PA Classics 3:00pm

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 2, 2009


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