MLS Red Bull New York

Red Bulls Weekly Update: New York Faces L.A. Galaxy Thursday in Must-Win

Published on October 31, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Red Bull New York News Release


RED BULLS VISIT LOS ANGELES FOR SECOND LEG OF CONFERENCE SEMIFINAL, TRAILING 1-0 ON AGGREGATE

The Red Bulls face a must-win situation in the second leg of their Conference Semifinal clash with the Los Angeles Galaxy, which wraps up on Thursday night at The Home Depot Center at 11:00 PM ET (TV: ESPN2; Radio: WADO 1280 AM).

Former Red Bull Mike Magee's 15th minute goal led the Galaxy to a 1-0 victory in Sunday's first leg, and gave the MLS Supporters' Shield winners the edge heading into the second leg. Both teams will be without key players for the second leg, as the Red Bulls' Rafa Marquez and Los Angeles' Juninho were both given red cards after the match during a post-game scrum between the two teams.

The Galaxy's victory puts them in the driver's seat heading into the second leg, as a win or a tie sees them through to the Conference Final. A one-goal Red Bulls victory after 90 minutes would lead to 30 minutes of extra time followed by a penalty shootout if the teams are still level. Should the Red Bulls be victorious by two or more goals at the completion of 90 minutes, they will advance to the Conference Final. The winner of the Red Bulls-Galaxy Conference Semifinal will face the winner of the Real Salt Lake-Seattle Sounders FC tilt on Nov. 6 on the road. Real Salt Lake currently leads the series, 3-0, on aggregate.

New York holds an all-time postseason record of 10-16-5, including an all-time road record of 5-9-3. The Red Bulls have had some recent success at The Home Depot Center against the Galaxy, as their past two visits to Carson, CA to face Los Angeles have resulted in a win and a draw. Back on Sept. 24, 2010, New York shutout the Galaxy by a 2-0 score, and earlier this season the teams played to a 1-1 tie on May 7.

THIS WEEK: Red Bulls at Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 11:00 PM ET (TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes).

Red Bulls at Seattle Sounders FC/Real Salt Lake on Sunday, Nov. 6 at time TBD - MLS Cup Playoffs - Western Conference Final - IF RED BULLS ADVANCE

LAST WEEK: Red Bulls 2, FC Dallas 0 on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at Pizza Hut Park - MLS Cup Playoffs - Wild Card Match

Red Bulls 0, Los Angeles Galaxy 1 on Sunday, Oct. 30 at Red Bull Arena - MLS Cup Playoffs - Western Conference Semifinal Leg 1

NEXT WEEK: There are no MLS Cup Playoff matches the week of Nov. 7-Nov. 13. The MLS Cup Final will take place on Sunday, Nov. 20 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA at 10:00 PM ET.

RED BULLS FALL TO GALAXY, 1-0, IN FIRST LEG OF CONFERENCE SEMIFINAL

A 15th minute goal by Mike Magee lifted the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 1-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena in front of 22,663 spectators in the first leg of the teams' 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Semifinal Series. The Red Bulls and Galaxy complete their two-game series on Thursday, Nov. 3 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA at 11:00 PM ET (TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes). The team that has the most goals over the two legs advances to the MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Final.

L.A. had two good cracks at opening the scoring in the 12th minute, but failed to convert either chance. Robbie Keane had a go from the top left corner of the box, curling the ball towards the far post, but the ball rang off the upright and stayed out. Magee was there for the rebound, nodding his header towards an open net over the crossbar.

Three minutes later, Magee would give the Galaxy the lead. Los Angeles earned a free kick just inside the Red Bulls' half, where David Beckham and Sean Franklin exchanged short passes on the restart. Beckham looped the ball inside the box to Magee, who had timed his run perfectly to beat New York's offside trap. From a sharp angle, Magee fired a left-footed half volley that snuck inside the far post.

The Red Bulls began the second half quickly and created a chance right off the bat. Rafa Marquez lofted a pass over the Galaxy defense, playing Dane Richards in on goal. Richards tried to chip the ball around goalkeeper Josh Saunders, but Saunders was able to get his hand on the attempt. A minute later, Thierry Henry tried a bicycle kick off a failed Galaxy clearance and barely missed the far post.

Joel Lindpere then nearly tied the score in the 49th minute and was thwarted by Saunders. Richards crossed the ball towards the penalty spot from the right side of midfield, and Lindpere was the first to it. Saunders reacted well to Lindpere's one-time, left-footed effort and tipped the ball over the crossbar.

After Saunders' impressive work, Red Bulls goalkeeper Frank Rost answered with a fine save of his own in the 55th minute. Galaxy captain Landon Donovan got on the end of a long ball, and outran Tim Ream at the top of the box to get free. Donovan unleashed a half-volley looking for the far post, but Rost was able to parry the ball away.

New York continued to search for the equalizer and almost cashed in on a corner kick in the 89th minute. Substitute Mehdi Ballouchy took the set piece, and Carlos Mendes rose above his defender and headed the ball towards goal and off frame.

Marquez and Galaxy midfielder Juninho were given red cards after a post-match scrum at midfield and both will be unavailable for the second leg on Thurs, Nov. 3 at The Home Depot Center.

RED BULLS KNOCK OFF FC DALLAS IN WILD CARD ROUND, 2-0 TO ADVANCE TO CONFERENCE SEMIFINAL

Led by a solid defensive performance, the New York Red Bulls advanced in the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs with a 2-0 win over FC Dallas Wednesday, Oct. 26 at Pizza Hut Park in a Wild Card match. Midfielder Joel Lindpere tallied his second career postseason goal after a scoreless first half, while Thierry Henry wrapped up the result with a tally of his own in second half stoppage time.

FC Dallas got a good chance on goal in the ninth minute when the ball bounced to the top of the Red Bulls 18-yard box. Jackson got to it first and tried to round goalkeeper Frank Rost, but the netminder blocked his shot. Five minutes later, New York defender Tim Ream's clearance went straight to Marvin Chavez, who controlled it and put it past the right post. Twenty minutes in, New York had its opening chance, as Rafa Marquez headed Lindpere's corner kick delivery over the crossbar.

In the 32nd minute, Red Bulls midfielder Dax McCarty slid it to Henry and the French forward had enough space to fire a left footed attempt high. Later, Henry almost found an open Richards in the penalty box making a run. However, goalkeeper Kevin Hartman was quick off his line to collect.

Hartman came up big for the hosts with eight minutes remaining in the interval, punching away a Ream 15-yard blast. On the other end, Zach Loyd swung it to an open Jackson, who couldn't get his header on frame.

The Red Bulls took the lead in the 61st minute. Lindpere raced through the center of the pitch and fired a shot that Hartman parried away. Richards was the first to collect the rebound and passed it to substitute Mehdi Ballouchy along the right wing. Ballouchy created enough space to roll a cross into the six yard box that Lindpere poked under Hartman and into the back of the net.

The visitors tried to double their advantage five minutes after, as Lindpere made another darting run that troubled the FC Dallas defense before finding Henry. Henry got to the ball and lobbed it over an on-rushing Hartman and off target. With less than 15 minutes remaining, FC Dallas' Brek Shea slipped in on goal and chipped it towards net. Ream, however, was on the goal line to clear the attempt to safety. The Red Bulls were reduced to 10 men in the 79th minute, as defender Jan Gunnar Solli was given a red card for a hard tackle on Daniel Hernandez. Solli was suspended for New York's Sunday home leg against Los Angeles.

Jackson tried to take advantage with his team being a man up, forcing Rost to his right to gather his low blast. Moments later, Henry controlled a Marquez free kick and his subsequent shot on goal was stopped by a fully extended Hartman.

Henry secured the victory in second half stoppage time. With FC Dallas pressed forward searching for an equalizer, a clearance out of New York's defensive half found a wide open Henry. Henry ran in alone on goal and his initial shot was deflected by Hartman. The Red Bulls leading scorer though easily got to the loose ball in front of the endline and tapped it in for his first career playoff goal.

FAMILIAR FACES

Galaxy forward Mike Magee, who had the lone goal in Sunday's first leg, began his MLS career with New York, being drafted by the club with the fourth overall pick in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft. Magee was with the team from 2003-08, appearing in 138 regular season games and scoring 23 goals and 13 assists. His 23 goals still ranks eighth on the club's all-time list in goals scored in all competitions. He appeared in three playoff games as a member of the Red Bulls.

Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena joined the Red Bulls as head coach after the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and stayed on throughout the 2007 season. He led New York to playoff berths in both of his seasons at the helm, while registering a record of 16-16-10 in the regular season, and 0-2-2 in the postseason.

Los Angeles defender Todd Dunivant played 16 games with Red Bulls during the 2006 and 2007 seasons, notching two goals and adding an assist. In 2006, he started both of New York's playoff tilts against D.C. United.

RED BULLS POSTSEASON NOTES:

MARQUEZ TO MISS SECOND LEG

Red Bulls defender/midfielder Rafa Marquez was given a red card following New York's 1-0 Conference Semifinal first leg loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday. It was the second red card of the 2011 playoffs for New York, who saw Jan Gunnar Solli ejected in the Wild Card Round at FC Dallas on Oct. 26. Marquez is suspended for the second leg of the Conference Semifinal on Thursday, Nov. 3.

MENDES BECOMES CLUB'S ALL-TIME POSTSEASON APPEARANCE LEADER

Red Bulls defender Carlos Mendes, the team's longest tenured player, became the team's all-time postseason appearance leader with his start on Sunday in the first leg of the team's Conference Semifinal series vs. Los Angeles. Mendes had made 11 postseason appearances, surpassing former teammates John Wolyniec and Steve Jolley who made 10 playoff appearances during their careers. Midfielder Dane Richards has also played in 10 postseason games, starting all of them.

CLUTCH PERFORMER

Red Bulls midfielder Joel Lindpere scored his second postseason goal in the team's 2-0 victory over FC Dallas in the Wild Card Round last Wednesday night. Last season, Lindpere scored the lone goal in New York's defeat of the San Jose Earthquakes in the first match of the teams' home-and-home aggregate Eastern Conference Semifinals series. Both goals were game-winners.

PLAYOFF FIRSTS

Thierry Henry's goal in the eighth minute of second half stoppage time of the Red Bulls' victory last Wednesday over FC Dallas was the Frenchman's first career MLS Cup Playoffs goal. Henry led the team in scoring this season with 14, which was also third-best in all of Major League Soccer.

The victory also marked the first playoff game and shutout for goalkeeper Frank Rost. Rost, who went 4-4-3 this season with a 1.33 goals-against average, made seven saves in the victory.

ALL-TIME RECORD

New York's all-time postseason record is 10-16-5, including a home record of 5-6-2 and a road mark of 5-9-3. The club's one neutral site postseason match was the 2008 MLS Cup Final at The Home Depot Center, which the team lost to the Columbus Crew, 3-1.

SCORING LEADER

Forward Adolfo Valencia, who played with the club in the 2000 and 2001 seasons, holds the top spot in the team's all-time postseason scoring mark with five goals in eight games. He scored four goals in the 2000 postseason, which included a tally in the first game of New York's 2000 playoff series against Dallas, this year's opponent. Valencia is also the team's all-time postseason assist leader with four.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

RECORD SETTER

Midfielder Joel Lindpere's 2011 season was a memorable one, as the Estonian set single season franchise records in games played (34), games started (34), and minutes played (3,048). He missed just 12 minutes of game action all year, and his seven goals and seven assists were ranked third and first on the team, respectively. Lindpere has started 55 consecutive games, which is the third best current mark in Major League Soccer behind Seattle Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller (89) and Philadelphia Union forward Sebastien Le Toux (58).

HENRY FINISHES THIRD IN MLS IN SCORING

In his first full season in Major League Soccer, Red Bulls captain and forward Thierry Henry finished the 2011 regular season third in the league in goals scored with 14. He fell just two goals shy of D.C. United's Dwayne De Rosario, the 2011 Golden Boot winner, and last year's winner Chris Wondolowski of the San Jose Earthquakes. Henry's 14 goals came in 26 games played, and his 0.54 goals-per-game mark was the best in the league among players with 20 or more appearances.

KEEPING IN CLEAN

Red Bulls' goalkeeper Frank Rost kept his fifth clean sheet of the season in the team's 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Oct. 20. Rost's five shutouts came in just 11 games as the German shot-stopper joined the team in mid July. This season, Rost went 4-4-3 with a 1.33 goals-against average.

RED BULLS SELL OUT FOUR GAMES IN 2011

The Red Bulls' 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Oct. 20 was the team's fourth sell out of the season and third straight to end the year. The other games to sell out were the team's 2-2 draw with the Chicago Fore on Aug. 13, a 2-0 victory over the Portland Timbers on Sept. 24, and a 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Oct. 4.

RED BULL ARENA, BIG EAST, ANNOUNCE TICKET PRICING FOR 2011 MEN'S BIG EAST SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS

Red Bull Arena and the BIG EAST Conference announced the ticket purchasing information for the 2011 BIG EAST Men's Soccer Championship weekend that will be played at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. The semifinal games are on Friday, Nov. 11 at 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM before the championship match takes place at 12:00 PM on Sunday, Nov. 13. This is the second consecutive year that Red Bull Arena will host the BIG EAST championships.

Fans will be able to purchase tickets by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or logging onto www.redbullarena.us. Ticket prices for the competition are below (please call 1.877.RBSOCCER for special prices for groups of 10 or more):

2-Day Package (Adult):

Sideline: $20

Corner Flag: $16

2-Day Package (Student/Youth):

Sideline: $12

Corner Flag: $10

Single Game (Adult):

Sideline: $15

Corner Flag: $10

Single Game (Student/Youth):

Sideline: $7

Corner Flag: $6

There are 16 teams in the BIG EAST, which are divided into a Red and Blue division. The top 12 teams will earn a berth into the championship. Championship tournament games will be held on the campus of the higher seeded teams prior to the semifinal and championship game at Red Bull Arena. The tournament champion receives the league's automatic berth into the 48-team NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship.

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 31, 2011


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