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MLS New York Red Bulls

Weekly Update: Red Bulls Host San Jose Saturday Hunting for Fourth-Straight Win

April 9, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York Red Bulls News Release


RED BULLS, EARTHQUAKES BATTLE AT RED BULL ARENA SATURDAY

Two of Major League Soccer's hottest teams go head-to-head on Saturday at Red Bull Arena as the New York Red Bulls host the San Jose Earthquakes at 7:00 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: WLIB 1190 AM). Both teams enter the match on a three-game winning streak, and the match features MLS' top three goal scorers.

The MLS Player of the Month for March, Thierry Henry, continued his excellent form this weekend, scoring twice and adding an assist to help propel the Red Bulls to a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Crew. With the victory, the Red Bulls made MLS history by becoming the first team in the league to win three straight matches by three or more goals. New York's win on Saturday came on the heels of a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Impact on March 31, and a 4-1 win against the Colorado Rapids on March 25.

Henry is leading MLS in goals (7) is second in assists (4), and is being challenged by teammate Kenny Cooper, who scored twice on Saturday to raise his goal total to six. Combined, Henry and Cooper have outscored every team in MLS, as the two have scored 13 of New York's 14 league-leading goals in 2012. With the victory over the Crew on Saturday, the Red Bulls improved to 3-2-0, with nine points, and are currently in sole position of second place in the Eastern Conference.

San Jose comes into the match winners of three straight, most recently defeating Vancouver 3-1 on Saturday. Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski earned a brace in the win, and now has six goals on the season, which leads all Western Conference players. It was the club's fourth win of the season, and they currently sit in second place in the West on 12 points, just three behind conference-leading Real Salt Lake.

Saturday marks the 33rd all-time meeting between the two teams, with San Jose leading with a 15-10-7 record. Last season, the Red Bulls went 1-0-1 against the California side, posting a 3-0 home win on April 16 and earning a 2-2 draw at San Jose on July 2.

HENRY WINS UNPRECEDENTED THIRD-STRAIGHT MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD

New York Red Bulls forward and captain Thierry Henry won an unprecedented third-straight MLS Player of the Week Award Monday, taking home the honors for Week 5 of the MLS season. Henry, the MLS Player of the Month for March, becomes the first player in League history to win three consecutive MLS Player of the Week awards. The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR).

Henry's most recent accolade comes off a two-goal, one-assist performance in New York's 4-1 win over the Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Frenchman helped start the scoring in the third minute, assisting on the team's opening goal when he lofted a pass into the penalty box that fellow strike partner Kenny Cooper turned and finished.

The MLS Golden Boot leader tallied his first goal of the match and New York's third in the opening interval in the 40th minute, running onto a Roy Miller pass and slotting it past goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum and inside the right post. Henry recorded his seventh goal in three matches and capped a strong New York performance in the 90th minute, controlling and lashing home a Joel Lindpere cross into the back of the net with his right foot. The 4-1 final scoreline ensured that New York became the first team in League history to win three straight matches by a margin of three goals or more.

Henry leads the League with seven goals and is currently second behind Sporting Kansas City's Graham Zusi in assists with four. The Frenchman and former World Cup, European Championship and UEFA Champions League winner has had a hand in 11 of New York's MLS-leading 14 goals scored this year. Last year, Henry led the club and finished third in MLS with 14 goals and was named to the MLS Best XI. Since joining the Red Bulls in July 2010, Henry has played in 42 matches, starting them all, while scoring 23 goals and recording 11 assists overall.

NASR consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.

LAST WEEK

Red Bulls 4, Columbus Crew 1 on Saturday, April 7 at Crew Stadium

THIS WEEK

Red Bulls vs. San Jose Earthquakes at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, April 14 at 7:00 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: WLIB 1190 AM)

NEXT WEEK

Red Bulls at D.C. United at RFK Stadium on Sunday, April 22 at 6:00 PM ET (TV: ESPN2/ESPN Deportes; Radio: WLIB 1190 AM)

ADIDAS INVITES FANS TO MEET RED BULLS AT SPORT PERFORMANCE STORE ON APRIL 17

WHAT: Soccer fans are invited to meet the entire New York Red Bulls squad on Tuesday, April 17 at the adidas Sport Performance Store on Broadway and Houston. The MLS squad will meet and greet fans and sign autographs from 7:00 "" 8:30 pm.

The first 200 people to purchase $50 of New York Red Bulls gear at the adidas New York Sport Performance (610 Broadway, New York, NY) store between April 10 and April 17 will get a wristband that allows access to meet the team. Having a wristband does not guarantee entrance. Entry will be based on capacity in the store. Individuals without a wristband will not be allowed to enter. Wristband holders must be in line at the adidas New York Sport Performance Store on April 17 by 6:30 PM.

***Want to show up in style to the event? Cruise With the Red Bulls is your chance to get a full Red Bulls experience at the team's adidas store appearance on Tuesday, April 17. To enter, take a photo of yourself in Red Bulls gear at your favorite New York spot. Then fill out the form and follow the instructions here http://win.gs/H9UTS9 or visit http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/cruisewiththeredbulls for more information.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 17, 2012

7:00 p.m. "" 8:30 PM ET

WHERE: adidas Sport Performance Store

610 Broadway

New York, NY

(212) 529-0081

RED BULLS-EARTHQUAKES CONNECTIONS

The San Jose Earthquakes have three players on their current roster who have previously played for the New York franchise. Ramiro Corrales was acquired by New York during the 1998 season, and was a member of the club through the 2000 campaign. Corrales played in 56 total regular season games for New York, earning five assists. The defender/midfielder was traded to San Jose prior to the 2001 season.

Tim Ward played in 13 matches in 2005 as a rookie for New York, who drafted him 12th overall in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft. The defender started 11 games, logging 1,034 minutes and notching three assists. It was his only season with the club, as he was traded to the Columbus Crew for the 2006 season for Chris Henderson.

Defender Jason Hernandez, a New York native and product of Seton Hall University, was drafted by New York in the first round of the 2005 Supplemental Draft. In his one season with the club as a rookie, he started and played in three matches, logging 268 minutes. Before the 2006 season, the club dealt him to Toronto FC.

RED BULLS KNOCK OFF CREW, 4-1

The New York Red Bulls continued its recent strong offensive output with a three-goal first half performance en route to its third-straight victory of the season and first road triumph "" a 4-1 win over the Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium Saturday afternoon. Forward Kenny Cooper and Major League Soccer Player of the Month Thierry Henry tallied two goals apiece, as New York improved to nine points off a 3-2-0 record, good for second place in the Eastern Conference.

The Red Bulls lead MLS in goals scored with 14, as Henry is first in the Golden Boot race with seven while Cooper is second with six. Between Henry and Cooper, for only the second time in club history, New York has had a multi-goal scorer in three consecutive matches. Henry has scored all of his seven goals in the past three games.

New York had the first opportunity of the match in the second minute. After Dax McCarty earned the team's first corner kick, Rafa Marquez's ensuing delivery was played to Mehdi Ballouchy, who blasted it wide of the right post.

However, New York found the back of the net just seconds later. Henry had possession in midfield and drifted a pass to Cooper in the penalty box. Cooper was able to chest it down, turned and fired a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum for his fifth goal of the year.

Cooper doubled his tally for the day in the 13th minute. Midfielder Dane Richards drove towards goal and took a shot that deflected off Crew defender Eric Gehrig. Cooper got underneath the ball first and nodded it into the bottom right corner of the goal mouth.

The Red Bulls controlled the first half and Richards nearly had New York's third, outracing Shaun Francis on the right wing and hitting it just over the crossbar. Henry could have earned a goal of his own in the 37th minute, heading a Cooper pass on target. Gruenebaum was there though to parry it away.

Henry left no room for error three minutes later, tallying his sixth goal in his last three games. Roy Miller knocked a well weighted pass into Henry's path and the French forward opened his hips and curled it into the side netting.

Columbus had two quality chances in the opening half. In the 8th minute, Emilio Renteria quickly threw the ball in to an open Eddie Gaven and his shot was deflected by a diving Ryan Meara. Then, with 11 minutes left to play in the interval, Kirk Urso's free kick found Olman Vargas, who flicked it high.

In the 63rd minute, Renteria was first to a loose ball in the penalty box and fired it just past the left post. Soon after, substitute Ethan Finlay was sent free on the right side of the field and his shot was blocked by Meara. Urso came inches from putting the hosts on the scoreboard, as his dipping shot from outside the box pinged off the crossbar.

Columbus made the score 3-1 in the 89th minute when Chad Marshall was first to the ball and headed in an Urso corner kick delivery. That scoreline was short lived however, as Henry racked his second goal of the game a minute later, controlling and then hammering a Joel Lindpere cross into the back of the net with his right foot.

LEADING THE WAY

The New York Red Bulls lead Major League Soccer in goals, having poured in 14 goals in their five matches so far. Thierry Henry (7) and Kenny Cooper (6) have accounted for 13 of them, and currently are first and second in the league in goals. Cooper is tied with San Jose's Chris Wondolowski.

OH HENRY

Thierry Henry has scored all seven of his goals this season in the team's past three games, each of which have been multi-goal games for the Frenchman. Henry is the first MLS player since Edson Buddle in April 2010 to have three-straight multi-goal games. Additionally, Henry's seven goals in a three-game span is the first such streak in MLS since Landon Donovan did so in April 2008.

The last Red Bulls player to have consecutive multi-goal games was Jozy Altidore, who scored two goals on Aug. 12, 2007 vs. Toronto FC, and two more the following match on Aug. 18, 2007 vs. the Los Angeles Galaxy.

STREAK SNAPPED

Joel Lindpere's consecutive games started streak was snapped on Saturday vs. Columbus. Previously, Lindpere had started 59 consecutive regular season games, which was the second-best mark among active players. However, Lindpere did contribute to the Red Bulls' 4-1 victory, coming off the bench and assisting on Thierry Henry's second goal of the match. It was Lindpere's first assist this season and 14th since joining the Red Bulls in 2010.

LEADING THE WAY

By making seven saves on Saturday in New York's 4-1 victory over the Columbus Crew, goalkeeper Ryan Meara now leads Major League Soccer in saves with 21. The Fordham University product is 3-2-0 with a 1.60 goals against average this season.

HENRY EARNS MLS PLAYER OF THE MONTH AWARD

New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry was named Major League Soccer's Player of the Month for March on April 5 by the North American Soccer Reporters. Henry scored a league-leading five goals in the season-opening month while also providing three assists, the second-best mark in MLS.

Henry has either scored or assisted on eight of the Red Bulls' 10 league-leading goals this season and earned consecutive MLS Player of the Week honors in Weeks 3 and 4 off back-to-back performances. On March 31 against the Montreal Impact, Henry scored his first career hat trick and earned an assist in the Red Bulls' 5-2 victory. Henry scored in the 28th minute to even the match at 1 and with the Red Bulls trailing by a goal late in the first half, Henry's pass to Dax McCarty earned New York a penalty kick that was converted by Kenny Cooper. In the second half, Henry broke the deadlock with his second goal in the 56th minute and finished off his hat trick in the game's closing minutes. Henry's part in Mehdi Ballouchy's 72nd goal made the highlight reel as well, as Henry flicked a Jan Gunnar Solli pass with his heel perfectly to Ballouchy, who one-timed it into the net.

The performance against the Impact followed Henry's two-goal, one-assist effort in the Red Bulls' home opener on March 25, a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids. Henry started the scoring in the 3rd minute and helped New York to a two-goal advantage, setting up Cooper later in the half. Henry scored again in the 53rd minute on a clinical finish that earned the league's Goal of the Week award.

Last year, Henry led the club and finished third in MLS with 14 goals and was named to the MLS Best XI. Since joining the Red Bulls in July 2010, the former World Cup, European Cup and UEFA Champions League winner has played in 41 matches, starting them all, while scoring 21 goals and recording 10 assists overall. Henry's hat trick against Montreal was the first time a New York player tallied three goals in a match in over five years.

This is Henry's first Player of the Month Award. The MLS Player of the Month is selected by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.

RED BULLS, M&E GROUP ANNOUNCE MULTI-YEAR SPANISH RADIO PARTNERSHIP

The New York Red Bulls announced a multi-year deal agreement with M&E Productions, who have purchased the local Spanish radio rights from the club and will produce and broadcast all available regular season and playoff games on WLIB 1190AM. Financial details of the three-year deal were not made public.

WLIB's 30.000Kw signal covers all of the New York Metropolitan area as well as some of the adjacent states.

"We are excited to continue with a 16-year old Spanish radio tradition under a new business model starting this season," said the New York Red Bulls President of Business Operations, Chris Heck. "We look forward to a successful and long lasting partnership with our partners at M&E Productions and invite fans to tune-in to the game day broadcasts."

Soccer action on game days will begin 30 minutes prior to kick off with an in depth pregame show that will set up the stage for the official team broadcast. A half hour post game show will wrap up all the action from the match and from around Major League Soccer.

During the week, fans will be able to follow the latest team news delivered by the same Red Bulls game broadcast talent during the popular Ronda Deportiva show which airs on WPAT 930AM (7:00-9:00 PM on Mondays and 7:00-8:00 PM on Wednesdays). The new voices of in the New York Red Bulls in Spanish are: Robert Sierra, Nelson Rubio and Marvin Sandoval.

Sierra, from Uruguayan descent brings more than 20 years of experience in the sports media landscape having broadcast soccer on radio and television for multiple outlets in the United States, South and Central America, including FIFA World Cups, CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores and other major soccer events.

Rubio, a native of El Salvador has been a soccer journalist for decades both on the print and radio sides. He is one of the original hosts of the local Ronda Deportiva show on WPAT 930AM.

Sandoval, of Honduran descent, has year of experience broadcasting radio in Spanish having covered the Red Bulls since 1996 both as a field analyst, as well as in print for Noticias de Honduras Internacional newspaper.

RED BULLS TO HOST TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR ON JULY 31 AT RED BULL ARENA

The New York Red Bulls will face English Premiership club, Tottenham Hotspur, on Tuesday, July 31, at Red Bull Arena as part of the inaugural New York Invitational Cup. Kickoff time and broadcast information will be announced at a later date.

Red Bulls Full Season Ticket Holders will have this match included in their plans as "Event 18" (out of 20). Season Ticket Holders will have access to an exclusive team meet-and-greet, as well as an open practice and autograph session. Fans can purchase tickets for the Tottenham match through an exclusive three-game pack by logging onto www.newyorkredbulls.com or calling 1.877.RBSOCCER.

"Tottenham has been one of the top EPL teams over the past several years and we are thrilled to play host to them at Red Bull Arena," said Chris Heck, New York Red Bulls President, Business Operations. "We are also excited to bring an elite international club as a reward for our season ticket holders and the supporters for both clubs. There will be several exciting events prior to, during and after the match that will have the direct involvement of fans and we are looking forward to revealing more details later this spring."

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to take part in the inaugural New York Invitational Cup. We enjoyed an excellent match against the Red Bulls during our last tour to the US and we expect this game to be equally competitive," said Tottenham Hotspur Chairman Daniel Levy. "In recent years, we have seen a significant rise in the number of Spurs fans across the USA and especially in and around New York and New Jersey. This match presents us with a great opportunity to give something back to those fans and also introduce new supporters to the Spurs way of playing soccer."

Tottenham, also known as Spurs, is currently fourth in the 2011-12 Barclays Premier League standings with 54 points. The London-based club boasts a number of top international players including Welsh midfielder Gareth Bale, Dutch midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart and Croatian midfielder Luka Modric. In addition, former U.S. Men's National Team standout goalkeeper Brad Friedel plays for Spurs.

Tottenham came to Red Bull Arena on July 22, 2010 as part of the New York Football Challenge and won, 2-1, behind goals from Robbie Keane and Bale. New York forward and former Arsenal FC star Thierry Henry made his Red Bulls debut in that match and scored in the first half. The Red Bulls have a 1-1-1 record all-time against English Premier League sides and are 42-26-15 in international play.

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Major League Soccer Stories from April 9, 2012


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