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Red Bulls vs. Sounders: Your Running Commentary

NY_Primary_COL  SEA_Primary_COL

The Sebastien Le Toux era for the New York Red Bulls kicks off Sunday, with the new acquisition taking on one of his former teams when the Red Bulls host the Seattle Sounders at Red Bull Arena (4 p.m., ESPN/ESPN3.com).

After being sent to New York from Vancouver on Friday night, Le Toux is in the starting lineup for New York, as is new goalkeeper acquisition Bill Gaudette, who replaces injured rookie Ryan Meara (hip). Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez are also in Hans Backe's starting XI.

For the Sounders, who are fresh off clinching a berth in the U.S. Open Cup final for the fourth straight year, Fredy Montero remains on the bench as Sigi Schmid goes with hot hand Eddie Johnson (five goals in last six league games) alone up top in hopes of securing the club's second straight win after a nine-game winless stretch.

The match is also significant in that Ben Olsen's MLS All-Star Game matchday roster and MLS comissioner Don Garber's two All-Star selections will be revealed at halftime.

If you will be watching today's game, please feel free to share any thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below. Enjoy the action.

Comments

  1. Great boot far above the head of Alonso, compliments of Henry, at the same time. A fair non-call for anyone non-biased…

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  2. If they are not going to support the local squad in that soccer palace they have as much “soccer knowledge” as a pea brained Rangers supporter.

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  3. The guy who made it, who neither loses nor gains from lying, at the end of the day, claimed it was from the moment the ball changed direction. So you can either believe that someone did that, or believe that he decided to fake Ozzie’s innocence for a few internet ‘points’.

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  4. That proves nothing. It’s a blurry frame grab that misses the contact. I think I see big foot in the background though.

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  5. Attendance was 19k+. That’s not a sellout, but it’s certainly respectable. The crowd at RBA tends to arrive late, but I don’t think that’s your point. It’s really kind of pathetic to judge a team by imagined standards of “fan culture.” I get that it’s a small-market fan trying to level the playing field. But the poster who ironically mentions New York’s “cultured soccer fans” truly doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I know MANY very knowledgable soccer fans in the New York area who would never dream of watching MLS. Let alone giving a ßhit about the Lamar Hunt Open Cup.

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  6. Reported attendance 19,400, a lot of no shows and to tell you the truth the heat was unbearable so i dont blame. Also you have to remember that RBA really holds like 27000 not 25500 so its going to appear more empty than most MLS parks.

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  7. That did seem to be case for the last 10 minutes – would have been pretty displeased if I was one of the several dozen RB faithful that paid for tickets.

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  8. I really hope The Don can shake down someone for a $100 million franchise fee. It will be great for MLS. But let’s face reality, today is a preview of what NY2 will be. Empty stadium, apathetic supporters, etc.

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  9. LOL, And what about those cultured NY soccer fans who can’t be bothered to support a loaded roster playing in a soccer palace?

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  10. Hand ball could have been, but not conclusive. High boot from Henry, blatantly obvious. A fair non-call wash for me.

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  11. Was he swinging at the cross or swinging at Henry’s leg (that was close to hitting him in the face)?

    That said, the calls were incongruous: either its a goal kick (out on Henry) or its a red card or at least a PK.

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  12. His arm was fully extended and swinging at the ball. How can you say that’s not intentional?! Swinging your arm at a cross behind you is a natural motion?

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  13. You lot are mad. The handball wasn’t intentional and Henry has no right to whine about any handball calls.
    How is Eddie Johnson an All-Star but Kenny Cooper is not? Baffling.

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  14. Learn the rules.

    An intentional handball to stop a clear goal scoring opportunity is a straight red card. He punched the ball off a wide open Henry’s foot mere yards from the goal.

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  15. Wow don’t know what to say about that…. intentional swinging punch to stop an henry goal and not even called?! How do you miss that?

    That was Maradona bad.

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  16. Sounder fan, obviously looking for some justification,
    is that Alonso handball okay if he’s protecting his head from Henry’s boot?

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