MLS Red Bull New York

Weekly Update: Red Bulls Host Portland Timbers Sunday

Published on August 13, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Red Bull New York News Release


RED BULLS HOST TIMBERS SUNDAY AT RED BULL ARENA

Potentially playing for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, the New York Red Bulls host the Portland Timbers on Sunday at Red Bull Arena at 7:00 PM ET (TV: MSG+, Galavision/Radio: 93.1 FM).

The Red Bulls are currently in second place in the Eastern Conference after their 2-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Friday at Red Bull Arena. Two second half goals, both assisted by midfielder Tim Cahill, propelled New York to a 12-7-5 record with 41 points, just two behind Sporting Kansas City for first place. New York also remained unbeaten at Red Bull Arena this season, improving their record to 8-0-3 in Harrison.

Portland enters the week with a 5-12-5 record and 20 points, in 9th place in the Western Conference. The club is winless in its last six games but did pick up a point in its last match, a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas back on Aug. 5. The Timbers will make a pit stop in Canada for a match at Toronto FC on Wednesday, Aug. 15 before coming to Harrison on Sunday. Scottish forward Kris Boyd leads the club in scoring with seven goals, and the club just recently swapped goalkeepers with the Montreal Impact, acquiring Donovan Ricketts in exchange for Troy Perkins.

This will be the third all-time match between the teams and the lone meeting of 2012, the Timbers' second season in MLS. Last year, New York went 1-0-1 against Portland; the teams played to a 3-3 draw in Oregon on June 19, while the Red Bulls defeated the Timbers on Sept. 24 at Red Bull Arena, 2-0.

RED BULLS/TIMBERS CONNECTIONS

Red Bulls forward Kenny Cooper spent last season with Portland. In 34 matches, 29 of which he started, Cooper led the team with eight goals while also adding two assists. New York acquired Cooper earlier this year on draft day, sending its 2013 first round pick and allocation money to Portland for Cooper. Cooper is the Red Bulls' leading scorer this season with 13 goals, which is second best in MLS. For his career, Cooper has 61 goals and 13 assists in 148 matches. He is now in his sixth year in the league.

New York defender Stephen Keel played for the Portland Timbers from 2009-10, prior to the club joining MLS, when they were in the country's second division. He played in 53 games for the Timbers, scoring once.

Portland defender Eric Brunner was originally drafted by the Red Bulls in the second round, 16th overall, in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, but did not appear for the team. He joined MLS in 2009 with the Columbus Crew, and remained there until last season when he joined Portland. This year, Brunner has appeared in 10 games, scoring once. The defender has played in 81 career MLS matches with six goals and two assists.

LAST WEEK

Red Bulls 2, Houston Dynamo 0 on Friday, Aug. 10 at Red Bull Arena

THIS WEEK

Red Bulls vs. Portland Timbers on Sunday, Aug. 19 at Red Bull Arena at 7:00 PM ET (TV: MSG+/Galavision; Radio: 93.1 FM)

NEXT WEEK

Red Bulls at Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, Aug. 26 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park at 9:00 PM ET (TV: ESPN2/ESPN Deportes; Radio: 93.1 FM)

RED BULLS EXACT REVENGE, UPEND HOUSTON 2-0

After falling in Houston just seven days prior, the New York Red Bulls returned the favor with a 2-0 victory over the Dynamo on Friday night at Red Bull Arena. New Designated Player Tim Cahill registered his first two MLS assists, setting up Markus Holgersson and substitute Jan Gunnar Solli for New York's goals. The win improved New York to 12-7-5, 41 points on the season.

The hosts had the first good scoring chance of the match, but the Dynamo defense came up with a crucial stop. New York defender Heath Pearce split the Houston defense with a long pass, finding Kenny Cooper on the left side of the box. Cooper picked out Sebastien Le Toux near the penalty spot. However, his shot was blocked by Corey Ashe.

In the 30th minute, New York captain Thierry Henry nearly netted his 12th goal of the season but was denied by Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall. Henry was put in alone on goal with a long pass from Joel Lindpere. Hall though was able to get down and block the Frenchman's attempt towards the far post from the left side of the penalty area.

The teams entered the second half still scoreless, and again it was the home side that threatened to break the deadlock. In the 54th minute, Henry flicked on a long ball with his head, looping it into the path of Cahill towards the middle of the penalty area. The Australian, who made his MLS home debut for the Red Bulls, fired his shot just over the crossbar.

Although Cahill missed a chance for his first goal in MLS, he provided his first assist as a Red Bull in the 61st minute. On the left side deep in Houston territory, Roy Miller looped a left footed cross into the area. Cahill leapt and was first to the ball, heading it back across the goalmouth into the path of Holgersson, who knocked the ball into the open net for his second goal of the season.

Houston continued to press for the equalizer. In the 71st minute, former New York forward Macoumba Kandji found himself in behind the New York defense after receiving a pass from Bobby Boswell. Red Bulls defender Connor Lade did well to retreat and cut off Kandji's angle, and the forward sent his shot skipping wide of Bill Gaudette's goal. Five minutes later, Ashe tried his luck from distance with a left-footed blast that rang off the crossbar, and in the 78th minute, substitute Brian Ching headed a Luiz Camargo cross just wide of the right post.

The Red Bulls made sure that all three points would be theirs in second half stoppage time as Solli notched his third goal of the year. New York went ahead on a counterattack as Cahill sent Henry free behind the Dynamo defense. Henry came down the left flank and found Solli wide open in the middle of the box and the Norwegian easily tapped the ball in.

CAHILL NOTCHES FIRST TWO ASSISTS

It just his second MLS match and first MLS home appearance, Red Bulls midfielder Tim Cahill registered his first two assists in a New York shirt, setting up both goals in the club's shutout victory over the Houston Dynamo on Friday night. In the 61st minute, Cahill found Markus Holgersson unmarked in the box for an easy tap in with a well-placed headed pass for what ended up being the game winner. In second half stoppage time, Cahill helped spring the Red Bulls' counter attack that was finished by Jan Gunnar Solli, ensuring the Red Bulls took all three points.

SUPPORTERS SHIELD RACE

The Red Bulls are firmly entrenched in the race for the 2012 Supporters' Shield. New York is third in the league in points per game at 1.71, with 41 points through 24 matches. Their 41 points are fourth overall in the league. The current standings are:

Team Points Games Played Points Per Game W-L-T

1. San Jose 47 24 1.96 14-5-5

2. Sporting KC 43 24 1.79 13-7-4

3. Real Salt Lake 42 25 1.68 13-9-3

4. New York 41 24 1.71 12-7-5

5. Houston 40 24 1.67 11-6-7

SCORING FIRST

Under Hans Backe, scoring first has proven to be crucial for the Red Bulls. With their win on Friday against the Houston Dynamo, the Red Bulls remain undefeated in the regular season since 2010 when they find the back of the net first. The team is 33-0-12 in those matches.

ASSIST LEADER

Red Bulls captain and forward Thierry Henry set up Jan Gunnar Solli's third goal of the season on Friday against Houston, registering his team-leading seventh assist of the season. Henry also has 11 goals this season, and has either scored or assisted in 11 of his 17 appearances this season.

HOME SWEET HOME

The Red Bulls remain one of two teams in MLS this season that are unbeaten at home. New York has posted an 8-0-3 record at Red Bull Arena; the Houston Dynamo, who New York defeated on Friday to nab its eighth home win of the season, is also 8-0-3 at home.

CLUB INKS GOALKEEPER LUIS ROBLES

The New York Red Bulls acquired goalkeeper Luis Robles via the MLS Allocation Process on Aug. 8. Robles will be officially added to the Red Bulls' roster and eligible for selection upon receipt of his International Transfer Certificate.

By taking Robles, New York moves to the bottom of the MLS Allocation Order.

"Luis is a goalkeeper who we have been interested in for the past year and we are excited that he has joined our squad," said New York General Manager and Sporting Director Erik Soler. "We think that he has potential and we are eager to evaluate him in person on a daily basis at our club."

Robles spent the past five seasons in the Germany and was most recently with Karlsruher SC, where he made 28 appearances from 2010-12. The 28-year-old started his stint in Germany with FC Kaiserslautern in 2007 and appeared in 36 games for the club. He was drafted by D.C. United in the fourth round of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft with the 50th overall selection out of the University of Portland, where he attended from 2002-06. Despite being drafted by D.C., Robles did not sign with United.

On the international level, Robles has earned one cap for the U.S. Men's National Team and made his debut on July 11, 2009 in a 2-2 tie with Haiti in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Robles also played the 2003 and 2004 seasons with USL Premier Development League side, Boulder Rapids Reserve.

THREE RED BULLS CALLED FOR INTERNATIONAL DUTY

Midfielder Joel Lindpere (Estonia), defender Roy Miller (Costa Rica) and goalkeeper Bill Gaudette (Puerto Rico) have all been called up by their respective national teams for international friendlies on the FIFA date of Wednesday, Aug. 15. The trio is not expected to miss any Red Bulls matches due to international duty.

Lindpere received a call up from Estonia for the nation's friendly against UEFA Euro 2012 co-host Poland, to be played on Aug. 15 in Tallinn, Estonia. Lindpere, who is in his third season with the Red Bulls, has appeared 78 times for Estonia, and has scored five times in international play. This season for New York, the midfielder has three goals in 23 games played, and has produced five assists which ranks second-best on the team. For his MLS career, Lindpere has made 87 appearances, starting 83 times, and has recorded 13 goals and 18 assists. In 2010, the 30-year-old he was named the team's Most Valuable Player.

Miller, 27, will look to earn his 31st cap for the Ticos when they host Peru in an international friendly on Aug. 15 in San Jose, Costa Rica. Like Lindpere, Miller is also in his third season as a member of the Red Bulls after signing with the club prior to the 2010 season. He has appeared in 65 MLS games for New York and has registered 11 assists. This season, his six assists are the second-best mark on the club, and he has played in 21 of the team's 24 matches, starting 19 times.

Puerto Rico has called in Gaudette for their match against reigning European and FIFA World Cup Champion Spain on Aug. 15 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Gaudette, who has appeared twice for the Puerto Rico National Team, was acquired by New York on July 13 from the Los Angeles Galaxy. Since joining the Red Bulls, the 30-year-old shot stopper has started six times, posting a record of 3-2-1 with three shutouts. From 2008-10, Gaudette played for the Puerto Rico Islanders, and led the club to the USSF Divison 2 Professional League title in 2010. From 2005-08, he was a member of the Columbus Crew, making 17 appearances.

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