The New York Red Bulls (4-4-2, 2-3-1 road) are on the road once again to start a busy three game week. First up, the Columbus Crew (3-2-3) who literally set the scoreboard ablaze last week against the league worst DC United. It will be the first of three meeting this season, with the first and last games coming at Crew stadium. Over the last four meetings, the Red Bulls hold the edge at 2-0-2. In the 2011 season, both games ended in draws. Last year, the Red Bulls had the Crew’s number winning 4-1 in Columbus and 3-1 at home.
Here are some key facts to look for ahead of the match at 4pm eastern on NBC Sports:
Henry vs Marhsall
Four of Thierry Henry’s fifteen goals last season came against the Columbus Crew. Three of the four came from the run of play against Chad Marshall (The other, if you don’t remember, was a stoppage time olympico in Red Bull Arena). Henry is likely once again to partner with Fabian Espindola and the two are starting to really form a solid tandem up front. If Espindola can have another solid game, stretching the backline of the Crew and putting pressure on Glauber, look for Henry to once again give Chad Marshall hell for 90 minutes.
Red Bulls Midfield
Last week the Red Bulls lost their iron man to injury in Dax McCarty. Eric Alexander moved inside to a familiar position and paired up with Tim Cahill against Toronto FC. Alexander’s commitment to staying home allowed Tim Cahill to get forward in the attack and score the brace that saw NY leave Toronto with three points. Brazillian “free kick specialist” Juninho returns from suspension this week and could see time alongside Cahill in the middle of the park, pushing Alexander out wide right if he starts over Lloyd Sam. Petke’s best option is to sit Juninho and bring him in as a sub. Columbus has a strong midfield and a deadly trio up top and the Red Bulls would be better suited having a more defensive minded midfielder. Juninho likes to stay back to see the passing lanes and spray balls all over the field but his defending has been more than suspect this season, usually leaving Dax to do a lot of work if he didn’t join in the attack. Tim Cahill is a player who loves to arrive in the attack late and the Red Bulls will miss his presence if he is busy covering for Juninho’s lackadaisical midfield presence. A positive thought for Red Bull fans is that Mike Petke is not letting the names or salary numbers dictate his starting line up and letting form I the games and work in training show who starts. If that remains the case, look for Alexander to play against Cahill for the second straight week.
The Crew’s Terrible Trio vs Red Bulls backline
Columbus has maybe the most feared attacking trio in all of MLS currently with the likes of Dominic Oduro, Jairo Arieta, and Federico Higuain. Last season, the Red Bulls played the Crew at times when Arieta and Higuain weren’t with the team or were playing injured. While Higuain is not having as well a season as he did last year, he still can hit a marvelous free kick, juke a defender off, and beat a keeper. Arieta has a dangerous shot from range and can also poach the defense. Oduro is no stranger to facing, and burning, the Red Bulls. The Red Bulls defense has been growing stronger and more cohesive, and outside of two individual mistakes, should be on a two game shutout streak as well as a winning streak. The Red Bulls defense has never really done well with speed and Oduro is currently enjoying his best stretch in MLS. With the addition of Olave this season, however, that issue has been tempered a bit. All Oduro has to do is force Roy Miller back and head in on Markus Holgersson to possibly enjoy the best game of his life. That is not a knock against Roy Miller, as he is definitely playing his best in a Red Bull jersey in his tenure in Harrison. However, if Oduro is constantly on that right flank running down the wings or pinching in, it will keep Roy Miller honest and he won’t be able to get into the attack as mush as he likes to and the Red Bulls will definitely miss that element of play. A wild card here is the play of Luis Robles. Robles was having himself a solid match between the pipes until his major gaffe late against TFC. Robles has bounced back this season after games where he has had gaffes but with Kevin Hartman and Ryan Meara returning to match fitness, it’s unsure how that pressure will affect him down the stretch, especially since the number one position will be his to lose.
