Do Or Die for Red Bulls

Last Saturday the Red Bulls faced a huge uphill battle against the #1 team in the league, Columbus Crew, with their own playoff hopes riding on the line.  The Red Bulls were minus three of their usual starters.  Juan Pietravallo was forced to sit this match due to the red card he received in the Red Bulls’ previous match.  Also, goalkeeper John Conway and Jeff Parke were suspended because of the league’s zero-tolerance policy regarding positive drug tests for “performance enhancing substances.”

Also, Jorge Rojas, Dane Richards weren’t able to start the match as they had just been used in International play earlier that weekend (both eventually came in as subs in the 2nd half).

 Juan Pablo Angel did what the star of a team and someone making a case to be league MVP is supposed to do.  He scored two go ahead goals in the 2nd half.  Backup goalkeeper, Danny Cepero made his first start and came up with some pretty huge saves throughout the match.  Although the defense helped him out a great deal in didn’t surrender too many opportunities for the Crew.  And to cap it off, Cepero, sent a free kick 80 yards which bounced outside the box and had just enough bounce to make it over the Crew’s goalie and rolled right into the net to become the first ever goal scored by a goalkeeper in MLS history!!!  Go youtube it, it’s pretty amazing.

With the win, the Bulls gained 3 points and kept their own control over their playoff hopes.  They face Chicago Fire tonight and with a win they will lock up a wildcard spot.  However, if the Red Bulls lose they will need some help as Kansas City is with them at 39 points for the two final wild card spots.  Directly behind them, DC United and Colorado both have 37 points.  A draw for the Red Bulls would force DC and Colorado to have to win their matches to tie with points, but then the wildcards will come down to tie-breakers. 

This entry was posted on 23. October 2008 at 17:14 and is filed under Soccer, MLS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.