Red Bulls preview: Colorado
Team looking to extend unbeaten streak to four matches
Red Bull New York Media Relations
The Red Bulls continue to thrive as they await the return of injured forward Juan Pablo Angel. (M. Stobe/Getty)
The latest result - a 1-1 draw with Chivas USA on the road on June 28 - saw another match in which attackers Juan Pablo Angel and Claudio Reyna were sidelined due to lingering hamstring injuries, and remain unlikely to play on Friday against Colorado.
"It has been difficult but I think we have managed to get some good results without (Angel and Reyna) and we're very pleased with the team spirit and the team effort," head coach Juan Carlos Osorio said following the team's match with Chivas USA.
Through a stretch in which Angel has been unavailable in the Bulls' last four games, New York's defensive unit has given up six goals over that stretch, which includes a game at RFK Stadium on June 14 against D.C United (4-1 loss), a site in which the Red Bulls typically struggle. If you discount that match, New York's back line has only given up two goals during Angel's absence. The Red Bulls have had legitimate chances to obtain results (1-1-2) thanks to savvy play from the back.
While New York could have easily fallen behind in a congested Eastern Conference, the Red Bulls have kept pace. If the season ended today, New York would have secured the fourth wild card playoff spot. With help on the way in the form of Venezuelan national team midfielder Jorge Rojas and Argentinean midfielder Juan Pietravallo, it appears as those Osorio has delivered on his promise to scout and field international help.
While excitement is certainly present moving forward, New York isn't playing to tie.
"We defended properly, we had our breakaways, they had had a couple opportunities through set pieces but other than that we didn't give them a whole lot, so I'm disappointed," said Red Bulls midfielder Dave van den Bergh after the match against Chivas USA. "We give up one goal, and usually when you give up one goal against Chivas on their field it's not that bad, but when you give it up like this, it is a bit."
Friday's Independence Day opponent, the Colorado Rapids, is a team headed in the opposite direction. The Rapids have taken only one point away from their last four games, yet still only sit five points out of first place (Los Angeles Galaxy) in a bottom-heavy Western Conference.
The Rapids are desperately in need of three points at their home facility, as three of their last four have been on the road. Colorado is 4-1-1 at home this season, and 10-1-1 all-time on Fourth of July games, which has been played on every year of the team's existence. In fact, the Red Bulls have played the Rapids twice on Independence Day - with Colorado emerging victorious both times. The last time the teams faced each other prior to fireworks was on July 4, 1998.
