Red Bulls beat RSL for first win of season

Kandji has goal, assist as New York beats Real, 2-0

Macoumba Kandji had his first goal of the season in New York's win over RSL. (Getty Images)

Despite playing the last 24 minutes with only 10 men, the Red Bulls saw off the challenge of a lackluster RSL side in a match which could kick-start their season.

Red Bulls forward Kandji gave the home team a dream start in the second minute, blasting the ball home from the edge of the six-yard box after Salt Lake 'keeper Nick Rimando could only parry Dane Richards' cross. The goal clearly instilled confidence in the home side, who went on to dominate the rest of the half.

Richards started the play when he beat Salt Lake defender David Horst to rookie Jeremy Hall's long throw-in. The speedy winger outmuscled Horst on the touchline and played a rolling square pass across the top of the goal area aimed for Angel that Rimando could only deflect out to Kandji.

Kandji should really have doubled the Red Bulls lead just 10 minutes later, when he latched onto a long ball from New York left back Alfredo Pacheco. The Senegal-born forward quickly closed in on Rimando's goal, but placed his cross-shot just inches wide.

After registering two losses and two ties in their first four games, the Red Bulls were sorely in need of a morale-boosting win, and looked much more composed than in previous matches.

Prior to Saturday's game, the Red Bulls had scored only once in four outings, and that an own goal courtesy of New England defender Jay Heaps.

With the pacy Richards a constant threat and Pacheco displaying great vision throughout, the home side started to display some of the attacking verve that characterized last season's run to the MLS Cup Final. Angel went close with two of his trademark headers during the first half, only to be foiled by Rimando.

Red Bulls midfielder Jorge Rojas was also unlucky not to get on the scoresheet early in the first half when his spectacular 30-yard free kick struck the crossbar with Rimando well beaten.

The visitors, who were looking for revenge after losing 1-0 to the Red Bulls in last season's MLS Western Conference Championship, have now failed to win any of their 10 games in all competitions against the New York side.

Real, however, came close to leveling the scores at the start of the second half, when forward Yura Movsisyan's deflected shot looped past Red Bulls 'keeper Jon Conway. A goal looked certain, but Kevin Goldthwaite came to the rescue, lunging acrobatically to clear off the line.

With that scare out of the way, New York made sure of the points just before the hour mark. Kandji held the ball up well outside the Real Salt Lake penalty area, and released Angel. The unmarked Colombian darted into the area before blasting an angled drive past Rimando for his first goal of the season.

Despite their two-goal advantage, the home side spent much of the last 20 minutes on the back foot as the visitors surged forward in the hope of an equalizer. The job was not made any easier when defender Jeremy Hall saw red from referee Ricardo Salazar in the 66th minute for his late challenge on Will Johnson.

The sending-off revitalized the Utah side and Real Salt Lake finally found their stride with Movsisyan and Kyle Beckerman starting to look dangerous.

Conway, who was making his first start after a 10-game suspension, nonetheless proved equal to the challenge, pulling off a string of late saves. Despite Real's attempts to claw something out of the game, the visitors lacked the bite which characterized their recent win against D.C. United and the Red Bulls defense stood firm.

The victory lifts New York off the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference, and will provide a massive boost ahead of Thursday's game at Kansas City (8 p.m. ET). Real Salt Lake return home to face the New England Revolution on Saturday.

James Rogers is a contributor to MLSnet.com.

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