It’s a universal truth that all good things must come to an end. This was the case with the Red Bulls as they saw their five game winning streak snapped in a 1-1 draw with Chivas USA on Wednesday. Former Red Bull great Juan Pablo Angel returned to face the club where he had four unbelievable seasons. During pre-game warm-ups maNew York fans, including myself, gave JPA a standing ovation, which the Colombian was grateful for and even returned claps of gratitude back. The South Ward showed its class by unveiling two tifos and singing a song dedicated to the now Chivas captain.
Chivas who maintained possession over New York, even though midfielder Nick LaBrocca went out injured early on, controlled the first 15 minutes of the match. New York would start to spring to life as they found a rhythm to the game. As the Red Bulls started maintain possession and slowing play down in the back, it was almost familiar sights of the 2011 season. New York seemed satisfied taking the safe and easy back pass more often than taking payers on or playing a risky through ball. The attacks that came down the left wing between Roy Miller and Joel Lindpere almost became predictable. Dane Richards looked dangerous down the right side, in part due to exceptional service by Brandon Barklage. One of New York’s best changes in the first came through the pairing as Barklage played Richards down the right flank. Richards cut practically to the touchline and sent in a deflected cross high over Chivas Keeper Dan Kennedy, curling away from Henry who was jumping just under the cross bar to meet the ball with his head. New York’s other true chance came after Lindpere sent Roy Miller rushing into the box. Miller beat his man and moved towards a charging Kennedy but Miller’s attempt on goal went wide. Miller had Kenny Cooper rushing into a prime passing lane and Thierry Henry standing on the penalty spot open to dish to. New York would enter the locker room at half scoreless only for the fourth time this season, left wondering about their missed opportunities.
The second half of the match was much more open from both teams. Chivas subbed in Alejandro Moreno to start the match and earned a corner almost immediately. Another marking mishap would leave a Chivas player free to head the ball back towards the crowd in front of the net. Juan Pablo Angel, in a moment that seemed to be taken from 2007, with his back to the goal was able to slightly turn and connect with the ball to send it past Kenny Cooper and Ryan Meara for a Chivas lead. Nine minutes later, Brandon Barklage would send a perfect entry ball for a speeding Dane Richards who took one touch and sent in a low cross past a sprawling Dan Kennedy to Cooper, who notched his 11th goal of the season. The Red Bulls last good chance to take the lead came off a Thierry Henry corner and the head of Dax McCarty. On two previous corner kicks, Dax sailed the ball over the net and headed it off of the man marking him. On this particular corner, Dax was able to break free and connect with the ball the way he needed to. He put the ball low and past Dan Kennedy but Chivas’s Ante Jazic was there to clear it off the line. Dax was so certain of the ball heading in that he trailed away to start celebrating.
With the return of Henry and Marquez to the lineup, New York had to adjust their playing style back to the possession and slow build up they were playing earlier in the season. Though most of New York’s players were getting accustomed to playing without possession, Henry and Marquez coming back change the shape of the team. Dax McCarty was no longer in his holing midfield role and Joel Lindpere was once again stuck out wide. While Lindpere did tuck in a bit, this left a huge gap between the Red Bulls midfield and defense on the left flank. Roy Miller played as if he had Connor Lade or Solli in front of him, thinking there’d be one more body to slow down the Chivas attack.
While New Yorl now gets to say they ride a six game unbeaten streak, you could see the frustration on the players, as they knew they should have won the game. New York know that their players gave all they cold but their finishing just was not there. Don’t be fooled by Chivas though. When they play a high pressure and possession game, they are a very dangerous team. It’s when the Goats have to sit back and absorb pressure that they falter. New York is out of MLS action until the 17th of June against the Chicago Fire. The Red Bulls Open Cup campaign starts Tuesday as they visit the Charleston Battery.
(image courtesy of newyorkredbulls.com)
