Archive for the MLS Category
No Bull! NY Advances to 1st MLS Cup Appearance
17. November 2008 by critter.
With a 1-0 win over Salt Lake this past weekend, The New York Red Bulls have earned their first ever spot in the MLS Cup championship game! Dave Van den Bergh scored in the 28th minute of the match and the defense took over from there, shutting out their opponent for the next hour of play. It’s hard to imagine a team that was so cold leading into the playoffs, depending on a rookie goaltender, has been able to upset the conference’s #1 seed in an aggregate goals round and then shutout their second round opponents.
However, the Red Bulls are still huge underdogs as they roll into the championship match against #1 overall ranked Columbus Crew (who beat Chicago 2-1), next Sunday 11/23 @ 3:30pm. The Red Bulls might have a bit of a mental edge however as they took the season series from the Crew 2-1 (outscoring them 6/4). More noteworthy is their last meeting was just a few weeks ago in the 2nd to last match of the season as the Red Bulls dominated 3-1 to pretty much lock up their wild card spot. Best news of all is that the match will be played in a neutral stadium, so the Red Bulls won’t have to worry too much about the away-field woes that troubled them throughout the season.
They’ve already gone much farther than expected this year with their history of poor playoff luck, the numerous injuries, and the loss of key players throughout the season. But now all eyes are on Juan Pablo Angel and the rest of the squad to complete the Cinderella story.
MLS Cup 2008
Championship Match
East (1st) vs West (4th)
Red Bulls Win as Underdogs
10. November 2008 by critter.
The Red Bulls ended the Dynamo’s quest for a three-peat as they overpowered Houston, 3-0 in Houston this past Sunday. With goals by Dane Richards, Juan Pablo Angel and John Wolyniec, the Red Bulls took the aggregate goals series 4-1 overall and will now play at Salt Lake next Saturday for the Western Conference Championship. Rookie goaltender Danny Cepero was huge in blanking the defending champs.
Here’s a look at how the MLS playoffs look heading into the second round of action:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1st) vs. (2nd) 
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(3rd) vs. (4th)
MLS Playoff Update
3. November 2008 by critter.
The Red Bulls outplayed Houston for the majority of the match, but some huge saves by the Dynamo goalkeeper was what made the difference as the teams now head the 2nd match of the playoff round with a tie. Again, aggregate goal score wins the series so basically whoever scores more goals this Sunday will move onto the 2nd round. This season the Red Bulls have only won 1 match on the road, meanwhile the Dynamo have only lost 1 match at home.
Here’s a look at how the MLS playoffs stand after the first weekend of action:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1 goal) 0-0-1 (1 goal) 
(0 goal) 0-0-1 (0 goal) 
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1 goal) 0-0-1 (1 goal) 
(0 goal) 0-1-0 (1 goal)
2008 MLS Playoffs Set
27. October 2008 by critter.
The final playoff spot was claimed by the New York Red Bulls this weekend, when they backed into the spot thanks to DC United’s 1-0 loss on Sunday. Being the 2nd wildcard in the Eastern Conference, the Red Bulls are now shifted over to the Western Conference for the playoffs and will face the West’s 1st seed, Houston Dynamo.
The first match is this Saturday @ Giants Stadium and the second match in Houston on 11/09. Aggregate goals decides who will move on to the 2nd round.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) vs. (4) (2) vs. (3)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) vs. (4) (2) vs. (3)
Red Bulls: Mission Failed
24. October 2008 by critter.
The Red Bulls got whooped last night, 5-2 and watched control of their playoff destiny slip out of their hands. At the same time, Chicago Fire secured home field advantage for their playoff matchup against the New England Revolution.
Fire forward Chris Rolfe, sparked it all with 3 goals in the first half and assisted on both of the Fire’s other goals in the second. Juan Pablo Angel added his 14th goal of the season in an effort to throw another ballot into the league MVP box. Macoumba Kandji capped it all off with his first MLS goal in the 88th minute, but the Fire’s attack was too much for hurting Bulls (still missing their star goalie and defenseman from failed drug tests).
The Red Bulls loss allowed the Kansas City Wizards to secure the first wildcard spot. Now the Red Bulls focus ahead to the DC United vs. Columbus Crew game this Sunday, to learn their playoff fate. A United win will send the Bulls home for the winter. A loss or tie will give the Red Bulls the final wildcard spot and a first round matchup against the Western Conference’s top seed, Houston Dynamo.
Do Or Die for Red Bulls
23. October 2008 by critter.
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.
Red Bulls Draw Closer to Playoffs
10. October 2008 by critter.
Last night the Red Bulls visited Real Salt Lake to open their brand new soccer stadium. The Red Bulls dominated in the first half, earning nearly 10 corner kicks. Dave Van den Bergh in his first start since surgery for a sports hernia, ripped a rebound from outside the box that must’ve sped by atleast 5 players.
Unfortunately it only took Salt Lake one corner kick to tie it up as Jamison Olave snuck past defenders and redirected the ball to the far corner. The match was extremely heated (over 20 fouls called and 5 bookings) and physical. The 2nd half was much more even, until Juan Pietravallo was called for a red card in the 83rd minute as he threw his leg up at a ball Clint Mathis was attempting to head and gave him a nice gash in the top of the head. I personally thought it was a crap call. Pietrevallo didn’t kick his leg up much higher past his waiste, and Mathis was bent over in attempt to head a ball that was a little lower than his chest. Several minutes of a referee on the brink of getting jumped by 5 or 6 angry Red Bulls followed suit. And then a good 10 minutes of the Red Bulls fighting off hard attacks by the Salt Lake offense.
The match ended with a 1-1 draw, giving the Red Bulls one more point to their total, now 36. The point puts the team 3 ahead of Kansas City and DC United. The Red Bulls sure could’ve used the 3 points from a win, but they’ll have to make due with what they have. With two more matches against the Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire, the Red Bulls need to be on top of their game. The only extra hope they have is both teams may be resting their stars as the Crew has already clinched a playoff spot and the Fire are merely a point away from clinching.
Red Bulls Fall Hard
6. October 2008 by critter.
Well, this weekend served as a must-win, pointswise, for the Red Bulls who hosted the last place Toronto FC. With just four game left and the final three coming against teams with better records (including first place Columbus Crew) the Red Bulls really could have used the 3 points from a win to pull ahead in their wildcard lead (and close in on a top 3 playoff spot).
Instead, the Bulls’ defense collapsed and allowed atleast 3 goals for the third straight match and conceded their fourth loss in the past five matches.
Thanks to a couple of draws around the league, the Red Bulls still hold that first wildcard spot, but only by a single point to Colorado and FC Dallas. This loss really was a bad blow to the Red Bulls at home. Just weeks removed from one of the hottest streaks in the MLS and now have cooled off and will face tough opponents who they would likely have to face a second time if they’re able to make the playoffs.
Things don’t look so great from where everything stands just now. Unfortunately they just get a few days to rebound from this loss until their next match @ Real Salt Lake on October 9th.
Red Bulls Lose Heartbreaker
29. September 2008 by critter.
In a match that saw a tied record for 7 total goals in the first half, the Red Bulls saw a much-needed point slip away in the 90th minute of play when the Colorado Rapids knocked a long cross into the net and pull ahead in a 5-4 victory.
It was a poor defensive effort on both teams part’s and the Red Bulls slipped just a little bit more than the Rapids in losing only their 2nd match at home this season.
With 4 more games left in the regular season, the Red Bulls find themselves still stuck in 4th place in the Eastern Conference and 6th overall. In MLS, the top three teams from each conference automatically make it into the playoffs and two wildcard spots are given to the the two teams with the most points out of the teams reamining (both can come from the same conference if need be). So as of right now (as it’s been for the past several weeks) the Red Bulls would hold the spot for the first wild card with 35 points. And then Real Salt Lake with the 2nd wildcard with 34 points.
HOWEVER, DC United and FC Dallas are a draw away, each with 33 points AND Kansas City trailing just behind those two with 32 points. The Red Bulls will go up against last place, Toronto, next; but then face the other current wildcard holder, Real Salt Lake, before taking on #1 overall, Columbus Crew; and finish off against the red hot Chicago Fire (no pun intended).
It’s going to be a tough couple of weeks and if the Red Bulls make it through to the otherside, I’m afraid they might be a little too tuckered out to play with the big boys in the playoffs. Let’s hope….
Red Bulls Take 4th Place
16. September 2008 by critter.
This past Saturday the Red Bulls hosted Real Salt Lake. RSL took the lead in the first half with a goal in the 38th minute. But some great 2nd half play saw Juan Pablo Angel notch his 9th goal of the season and Dave van den Bergh tally his 6th and his 2nd game winning goal of the season.
Solid play and great 2nd half defense helped the Bulls reach 8-1-2 at home for the season, and 4-1-1 in their last 6 matches. The Red Bulls are clearly one of the hottest teams in the league right now between the great additions they’ve made during the season and with Juan Pablo Angel back to the top of his game.
The Bulls @ 4th place in the East with 35 points will travel to Columbus this Thursday to face the Crew (1st place in the league with 44 points). This will be a true test for the Bulls who will most likely have to go through the Crew at some point if they hope to bring home a championship.
