Interstate-95 rivals meet for third time
Red Bulls host Revolution at Meadowlands
NEW YORK RED BULLS v NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
GIANTS STADIUM, E. Rutherford, N.J.
7:30 p.m. ET (HDNet; MSG; TV38)
Sept. 22, 2007 (WEEK 25) / MLS Game #162
The I-95 rivals meet for the third time this season as the New England Revolution make the trip south to the Meadowlands to take on the New York Red Bulls. The Revolution have had the better of the series lately, winning both previous meetings this season, once in each stadium, and the last five encounters between the clubs, including coming from behind for a 2-1 victory in New England just three weeks ago. In the overall picture, the Revolution became one of three teams to have clinched berths in the MLS Cup Playoffs last weekend; while the Red Bulls cannot do so this weekend, they are firmly established in the top eight, six points ahead of the final spot.
REFEREE: Richard Heron. SAR (bench): Kermit Quisenberry; JAR (opposite): Sean Hurd; 4th: Lee Suckle
MLS Career: 47 games; FC/gm: 33.4; Y/gm: 2.5; R: 11; pens: 11
Games involving Red Bulls: P3 W1 L1 T1; FC/gm: 36.3; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 0; pens: 0
Games involving Revolution: P7 W1 L5 T1; FC/gm: 32.1; Y/gm: 2.3; R: 1; pens: 0
INJURY REPORT: NEW YORK RED BULLS - OUT: DF Kevin Goldthwaite (L knee injury); QUESTIONABLE: DF Carlos Mendes (L ankle injury); FW Mike Magee (R knee injury) ... NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION - OUT: MF Joe Franchino (R peroneal tendon surgery); PROBABLE: DF Jay Heaps (L calf strain); DF Kyle Helton (R ankle sprain)
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: NE: Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Wells Thompson
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: NY: Jozy Altidore, Kevin Goldthwaite, Dema Kovalenko, Joe Vide ... NE: Andy Dorman, Jay Heaps, Avery John, James Riley, Khano Smith
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (45 meetings): Red Bulls 16 wins (2 shootout), 78 goals ... Revolution 23 wins (3 shootout), 82 goals ... Draws 6
AT GIANTS STADIUM: (23 meetings): Red Bulls 12 wins (0 shootout), 50 goals ... Revolution 8 wins (2 shootout), 37 goals ... Draws 3
• This is the third of three meetings between the I-95 rivals this season, the second to be played at the Meadowlands. The Revolution have won both previous meetings this year, once at each ground, the last five meetings in the overall series, and six of the last seven in league play, dating back to the final meeting in 2005.
• A year ago, the Revolution won the season series with ease, winning the last three meetings (both at Gillette Stadium) after they played to a scoreless draw in East Rutherford.
• The Revolution have won their last six home meetings between the clubs and haven't lost to New York on Route 1 since June 29, 2002, a span of nine league games (8-0-2).
• Last year's 2-0 victory by the Revolution at Giants Stadium in the season series finale between the teams was their first win in Jersey since winning both league encounters in the 2003 season, then also claiming a 2-0 victory in the first leg of the Eastern Conference semifinals. But the Revolution have come away with points now in their last three visits to East Rutherford.
• Coaches record: Bruce Arena v NE: P16 W9 L7 D0 ... Steve Nicol vs. NY: P22 W13 L4 D5
2007 (MLS)
7/14: NY 0, NE 1 (Dorman 38)
8/25: NE 2, NY 1 (Twellman 46; Mendes 80 og - Altidore 30)
• The Revolution got a first-half goal from Andy Dorman and a history-making assist from Steve Ralston and made it stand up for a 1-0 victory at Giants Stadium on July 14. The Red Bulls had found the woodwork twice in the early going through Clint Mathis and Juan Pablo Angel, but it was the Revolution who scored the game's only goal in the 38th minute.
• Ralston started the play with a backheel in the center circle to Shalrie Joseph, and he hit a brilliant first-time ball over the left side of the New York defense for Andy Dorman to run onto. After a touch, Dorman lashed a low drive inside the far post from just outside the area for his seventh goal on the season.
• In the last meeting, the Revolution scored two second-half goals at home to come from behind for a 2-1 win against the Red Bulls.
• Sharlie Joseph was given a glorious opportunity to put the Revolution ahead in the 19th minute when Adam Cristman was pulled back in the box and referee Baldomero Toledo awarded a penalty kick. But Joseph flashed his effort outside of the left-hand post.
• The Red Bulls took advantage of the opening to score the first goal on the half-hour mark. Jozy Altidore took the ball in midfield and played it forward to Juan Pablo Angel, who laid a sublime pass back into Altidore's path as he raced in free behind the New England defense. From the top of the area, Altidore flicked a low shot with the outside of his foot past Matt Reis.
• Yet just seconds after the second-half restart, the Revs pulled level. A long punt from Matt Reis sailed over the Red Bulls back four and Taylor Twellman controlled it with yards of space around him, strolling into the box before slotting home for his 11th goal, third in four games.
• Then a grievous error 10 minutes from the end gave the Revolution the win. Carlos Mendes slid over to claim the ball on the left touchline, some 40 yards from goal, and turned and knocked a long back pass toward his own goal. But goalkeeper Jon Conway misjudged the ball and saw it skip past him inside the far corner.
• Here's Arena's team (4-4-2): Jon Conway - Chris Leitch, Jeff Parke, Seth Stammler, Kevin Goldthwaite - Dane Richards, Joe Vide (Mike Magee 85), Clint Mathis, Claudio Reyna (Carlos Mendes 76) - Jozy Altidore (Francis Doe 71), Juan Pablo Angel. Substitutes Not Used: Danny Cepero, Hunter Freeman, Dave van den Bergh, John Wolyniec
• Here's Nicol's team (3-4-1-2): Matt Reis - Avery John, Michael Parkhurst, James Riley - Steve Ralston, Jeff Larentowicz, Shalrie Joseph, Khano Smith (Wells Thompson 60) - Andy Dorman - Taylor Twellman, Adam Cristman. Substitutes Not Used: Gary Flood, Kyle Helton, Amaechi Igwe, Marshall Leonard, Chris Loftus, Doug Warren
NEW YORK RED BULLS
The New York Red Bulls snapped a three-game away losing streak and gained a huge point toward the postseason, finishing out a 2-2 draw with the Chicago Fire last Saturday evening at Toyota Park. The Red Bulls have 37 points from 25 matches, still in third place in the Eastern Conference, but still seven points ahead of the Fire, who sit in eighth place in the MLS overall table and the final postseason spot.
LAST MATCH
• The Fire found themselves still in eighth place overall after alternating wins and losses over the last five games, while the Red Bulls had lost three of their last four games -- all on the road.
• But it was the visitors who took a 10th-minute lead. A corner came in from the right and was half-cleared, corralled by Dave van den Bergh just outside the area. He lashed home a skimming shot that took one deflection then bounced off Fire defender Diego Gutierrez as he tried to clear from the goalmouth, bouncing into the corner of the goal as Matt Pickens continued to dive the other way.
• The Fire pulled level in the 54th minute. Cuauhtemoc Blanco wriggled free on the right and bent in a cross for the back post, where Chris Leitch had impeded Chad Barrett on his run to goal, and the penalty was given. Blanco banged home the 12-yard kick for his third goal since coming to MLS.
• Fifteen minutes the Red Bulls leveled terms through their own penalty kick. A corner came in from the left and, inexplicably, Fire defender Wilman Conde reached up and slapped it away. He was shown a red card by referee Baldomero Toledo, and Juan Pablo Angel converted from the spot for the 15th goal of his first MLS season.
• Yet down a man, the Fire pulled back level barely a minute later. From a free kick out on the right, Blanco swung his service into the mixer where Gonzalo Segares got up to send a glancing header inside the left-hand post and leave honors even on the night.
• Red Bulls manager Bruce Arena made three changes to the team that crashed 3-0 away to Chivas USA the weekend before. Dane Richards and Dema Kovalenko came back into the team in wide midfield roles with Dave van den Bergh moving to left back as Kevin Goldthwaite went to the bench and Clint Mathis was out for personal reasons. Francis Doe made his first MLS start, coming in up top for John Wolyniec.
• Here's Arena's team (4-4-2): Ronald Waterreus - Chris Leitch, Jeff Parke, Seth Stammler, Dave van den Bergh - Dane Richards, Claudio Reyna, Joe Vide (Hunter Freeman 94+), Dema Kovalenko (Mike Magee 75) - Juan Pablo Angel, Francis Doe (John Wolyniec 79). Substitutes Not Used: Sal Caccavale, Jon Conway, Kevin Goldthwaite, Markus Schopp
TEAM NEWS
• While it perhaps a bit of gift to be handed the lead in the second half, Arena was less pleased that the Red Bulls didn't maintain the advantage longer - especially with a man advantage.
• "I would have liked obviously the three points. I'm disappointed we didn't get the three points. We didn't do a good job I think after getting the second goal, and obviously that lapse in concentration costs us some important points," Arena said.
• While the result stopped the poor run of results away from home, even more important was taking a point. It left the Red Bulls with a "magic number" of seven points over the Colorado Rapids to claim a postseason spot - any combination of seven points won by the Red Bulls and lost by the Rapids would guarantee a playoff place for New York.
• "To get this point on the road tonight from the team that really is chasing us is important," Arena said. "The result is good for us; probably not as good as for Chicago, but you know I think it's important for us to have the right kind of mentality at this time of year to be able to go on the road in a tough place and get a point and be in a position to have three."
• The Red Bulls were short-handed in the attack. Jozy Altidore missed a third consecutive match and was not a part of the 18-man gameday roster, still suffered from a calf strain, while Clint Mathis was away from the match due to family reasons and did not return in time to make the trip to Chicago.
• For Dema Kovalenko, it was his first start since June 10, against D.C. United. He had made just three substitute appearances since, totaling 63 minutes in all, recovering from facial injuries over the last month suffered in a auto accident which followed closely on the heels of his coming back from a groin injury.
• Angel's goal put him one away from the New York club record, set by Adolfo Valencia in 2000 - and that total came in 31 matches. Angel has 15 goals in 19 games, missing the opening five games of the year while still awaiting his visa paperwork.
• "Aside from Alex Rodriguez, he's having one of the great seasons of any athlete in the metropolitan New York area," Arena said of Angel. "And it still goes unrecognized, and that certainly is sad. But we're hopeful that we can build this product to a point where we do get recognized in this very difficult sports community."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
The New England Revolution guaranteed their spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs with a 4-2 victory against FC Dallas in a U.S. Open Cup Final preview, last Saturday at Gillette Stadium. The Revolution now have 45 points from 24 matches tightening the Eastern Conference race, pulling back to within four points of idle D.C. United with both teams having five matches yet to play.
LAST MATCH
• The Revolution were looking to get back on track after a 4-2 loss to D.C. United that left them seven points behind the MLS overall leaders by the beginning of the weekend. FC Dallas had rebounded from back-to-back losses with a 2-0 win against Toronto FC their last time out.
• Khano Smith had been dangerous from the start for the Revolution, and in the 29th minute he whipped in a low cross from the left flank that Pat Noonan turned home at the near post with a flick of the outside of his right boot. But FC Dallas pulled level just six minutes later. Dax McCarty swung in a high free kick from well out on the right, and Carlos Ruiz acrobatically rose up at the far post to twist a header back into the goal.
• After the break, the Revolution put the game away. Noonan grabbed his second in the 65th minute, finishing off a lovely short-passing movement. Steve Ralston took over from Jeff Larentowicz in the area and pulled back a quick pass for Noonan, who hooked it home for his sixth goal on the year, the goals his first since Aug. 2.
• Then in the 78th minute, FCD 'keeper Dario Sala couldn't hold Andy Dorman's rolling cross from the left, and Taylor Twellman found Ralston on the doorstep, who finally prodded the ball over the line on the second attempt after Sala blocked the first.
• The Hoops pulled a goal back in the 84th minute when Ruiz powered home a header from a Dominic Oduro cross on the right, but Smith scored a deserved goal for his work on the night in the 90th minute, lashing home a right-footed drive from well outside the area that beat Sala inside his right-hand post.
• Revolution head coach Steve Nicol made one change to the team that lost 4-2 at D.C. United the Sunday before. Jay Heaps was slowed by injury, and James Riley took his place in the back three.
• Here's Nicol's team (3-4-1-2): Matt Reis - James Riley, Michael Parkhurst, Avery John - Steve Ralston, Jeff Larentowicz, Shalrie Joseph, Khano Smith - Andy Dorman - Taylor Twellman, Pat Noonan (Adam Cristman 79). Substitutes Not Used: Jay Heaps, Marshall Leonard, Chris Loftus, Sainey Nyassi, Wells Thompson, Doug Warren
• "We really thought this was the start of our end-of-season run. We really need to start our season off again. We've been winning and losing, winning and losing, and it's not really our pattern. We wanted to impose ourselves," said Paul Mariner, standing in for Nicol on the sidelines after he was sent off in the 4-2 to D.C. United the weekend before.
TEAM NEWS
• A key to the match - and to the Revolution success generally - was the improved flank play. Two of the goals came from crosses, and right winger Steve Ralston had a goal and two assists while Khano Smith on the left had a goal and an assist. The all-time MLS assist leader, Ralston now leads the league with 11 assists - he has finished as the season assist leader just once, in 1999, when he had 18 for Tampa Bay Mutiny.
• We've worked very, very hard in training this week, emphasizing that we need to get the ball in out wide to Steve [Ralston] and Khano [Smith] and it just seemed like they both did exceptionally well tonight," Mariner said.
• Said Pat Noonan: "At halftime we made adjustments, people finding the ball more and finding the holes more with more movement, giving us more options and keeping the ball on the ground. We were able to do that. People kept moving off each other and we created opportunities. We got the ball wide, got some services and Khano (Smith) and (Steve) Ralston started taking guys on and played some balls in."
• While the Revolution have kept clean sheets in three of their last 10 games, over the same stretch they have allowed three goals in three separate games and four goals in another, as well as the two against FCD.
• "We need to get back to clean sheets. It's all about possession of the ball. As you can see, the quality of the league is improving. Carlos' (Ruiz) goal was a very good goal from their point of view, a very poor goal from our point of view. The service in was very good. Obviously we'll look at that on the DVD, but we need to start to address that," Mariner said. "But it's a collective thing; it's not just the back three and (Matt) Reis. It's a collective thing."
• Of the Revolution's five remaining games, three are on the road. But a victory at Giants Stadium would put them 11 points ahead of the Red Bulls with just 12 points available in the race for second place in the Eastern Conference and home-field advantage for the conference semifinals.
• "We have to win as many games as we can at home. We've found that most teams like to sit in a little bit on us, so we really do have to use the width (of the field) and we have to be a little more patient ... the players want to do well for themselves, and for the home crowd," Mariner said.
