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MLS New York Red Bulls

Red Bulls Fall on the Road to Whitecaps Fc, 4-1, in 2014 MLS Season Opener

March 8, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York Red Bulls News Release


VANCOUVER, BC - The New York Red Bulls dropped a 4-1 road decision to Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday in front of a sold out crowd of 21,000 at BC Place in the 2014 MLS season opener for both clubs. Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips scored New York's lone goal in the loss.

The Red Bulls will return to Red Bull Arena for their home opener next Saturday, March 15 against the Colorado Rapids at 4:00 PM (TV: MSG). Tickets are on sale now by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or logging onto tickets.newyorkredbulls.com.

Whitecaps FC had two chances within the first 10 minutes of the match. Within the game's opening moments, Jordan Harvey slid it to an open Kenny Miller, who couldn't keep his shot down. Later, Russell Teibert fired a blast that goalkeeper Luis Robles went to his left to parry. On the other end in the 12th minute, Red Bulls midfielder Eric Alexander's pass was flicked on by Peguy Luyindula into the path of Lloyd Sam. Sam drove towards goal and ripped a shot that was saved by Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted.

Vancouver took the lead in the 34th minute. A shot from Whitecaps FC midfielder Matias Laba was adjudged to have been handled by New York defender Richard Eckersley in the box. Kenny Miller stepped up and slotted it in for the first goal of the game.

New York nearly leveled the match off a counterattack with less than five minutes to play in the first half, as Bobby Convey started a break out of the Red Bulls' defensive end. Convey was able to re-gather the ball in the left side of the box, cut to his right foot and curled it just past the right post.

The hosts doubled their lead in the 49th minute. From the left wing, Mattocks found Fernandez at the top of the box. With time, Fernandez ripped an attempt that Robles got a finger on, but the ball flew into the back of the net.

Vancouver wrapped up the result with two goals in the last stages of the contest. In the 77th minute, Pedro Morales played it over the top to an onside Miller. With Robles off of his line, Miller chipped the Red Bulls goalkeeper and the ball floated in. Morales added a fourth for the hosts right before full time, slotting home a Nigel Reo-Coker feed.

New York's Wright-Phillips got the visitors on the scoreboard in second half stoppage time, beating Ousted to a Sam cross and heading it in for the Red Bulls' first MLS goal of the year.

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