Good evening folks. The New York Red Bulls take on Chivas USA at Giants Stadium tonight and I will be doing a running commentary on the match.

Let’s get started:

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FINAL- RED BULLS 1, Chivas USA 0. A hard-fought win from the Red Bulls, who desperately needed these three points. The defense delivered a strong performance and the offense woke up after a terrible second half to play a more inspired second half, led by Dane Richards and Angel, who delivered the game-winner.

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92nd minute- Mendes for Richards, who came off with a knock.

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91st minute- Mendes is set to come into the match.

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89th minute- Three minutes of stoppage time coming and the Red Bulls are attacking with the lead.

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85th minute- Richards gets my vote for man of the match. He’s beaten Mendoza regularly, though to be fair to Chivas USA, Mendoza has been playing left back for about three weeks. No matter, Richards put on a strong second half.

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82nd minute- Sassano with a nice dribble forward. Sassano came in for Borman after the goal and should help provide some better possession in midfield.

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80th minute- Much better second half all the way around from the Red Bulls. More passion, tougher on challenges and Van Den Bergh and Richards have sparked the attack.

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77th minute- Richards was due to beat Mendoza and he finally did.

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75th minute- GOAL RED BULLS. Angel with header goal on a perfect cross from Richards.

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70th minute- 9,521 is the attendance. Not many people and not much action.

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66th minute- Van Den Bergh with a dangerous chance but sends it wide and nobody is there to finish.

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64th minute- Borman with the Red Bulls first shot on goal of the game. Guzan smothers it.

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60th minute- At least the Red Bulls accomplished one thing, they halted Jorge Flores goal-scoring streak.

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52nd minute- Slightly more promising stuff from the Red Bulls this half. Still not clicking, but better offensively.

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49th minute- Van Den Bergh came oh so close with a cross turned shot. Someone needs to latch on to that and finish it.

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48th minute- And we’re back (And no, you haven’t missed anything.)

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HALFTIME- Red Bulls 0, Chivas USA 0, level of excitement at this game 0.

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45th minute-  Conway with a clutch save on a Kljestan shot. Red Bulls fell asleep on that one.

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41st minute- Chivas USA knocks the ball around very well when they want to, but they almost seem to be sitting back.

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35th minute- To their credit, the Red Bulls defenders have been sharp tonight.

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32nd minute- Van Den Bergh and Magee are struggling to get any of the ball. Between that and the wings failing to provide any service, Angel is starving for looks.

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30th minute- Angel missed a golden chance there. He finishes that chance a year ago.

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26th minute- The Red Bulls just look flat tonight. Luckily for them, Chivas USA doesn’t seem to be forcing the issue.

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22nd minute- Dave Van Den Bergh raises his hands helplessly, not too happy with the lack of movement by his teammates.

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21st minute- Richards with a sweet move to get into the penalty area, but his shot misses by inches.

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14th minute- Chivas USA with a nice attacking sequence that is eventually halted. The Red Bulls get the ball and promptly boot it forward aimlessly.

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12th minute- Juan Pablo Angel is starving for service. Danleigh Borman’s last cross was terrible.

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11th minute- Yes, that is Brad Guzan in goal, just a day after playing 45 minutes against Spain in Spain. He landed at Newark airport at 2pm after a nine-hour flight from Barcelona.

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8th minute- Red Bulls are knocking it around in the back, but any time they pass it beyond the midfield stripe they lose it.

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5th minute- Red Bulls just can’t keep the ball. Chivas is sitting back right now.

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2nd minute- And we’re underway here.

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PRE-GAME- For those of you wondering, Dave Van Den Bergh’s wife gave birth to a baby boy named Max earlier in the week. He weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces. No word on whether he’s left footed.

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PRE-GAME- Red Bulls going with the four-man back-line tonight against a Chivas USA attack that has been playing very well of late. The Goats essentially use three forwards.

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PRE-GAME- We’re close to kicking off here.

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PRE-GAME– Here is the Red Bulls starting lineup:

——————–Angel———————–

Borman———–Magee————Richards

——Van Den Bergh—–Stammler———-

Goldthwaite—————————Leitch

—————–Parke—Boyens————-

BENCH– Thornton, Mendes, Freeman, Sassano, Wolyniec, Ubiparipovic, Mesa

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PRE-GAME– Here is Chivas USA’s starting lineup

Harris———-Braun————–Flores

—————–Kljestan——————

———-Marsch—–Nagamura———

Mendoza—————————-Burling

————-Curtin—Talley—————-