Photo by ISIphotos.com
The New York Red Bulls opened their new home in grand style, scoring a 3-1 exhibition victory against Brazilian club Santos in the inaugural match at Red Bull Arena on Saturday.
Joel Lindpere, Mike Petke and Dane Richards delivered first-half goals as New York's revamped squad showed off sharp passing and quality finishing that was sorely lacking in the team's nightmare 2009 season.
The new $200 million stadium was the star of the show, leaving spectators awed at its sightlines and acoustics. The proximity fans have to the field, coupled with the canopy roof, help create a loud atmosphere that should make future matches at Red Bull Arena that much more exciting.
The stadium's opening wasn't without its issues, from turf that hadn't quite taken root, to terrible traffic problems that will need to be sorted out in coming weeks, but overall the night was still a rousing success, both on and off the field, for the Red Bulls.
Boasting a diverse crowd that included thousands of Brazilian fans from nearby Newark, as well as countless New York-based fans who made the trip via the nearby PATH station, Red Bull Arena drew an impressive audience to its debut and entertained them with good soccer as well as festivities that included celebrity appearances and a fireworks display.
For the Red Bulls fans in attendance, the match marked a moment they had waited more than a decade for. On the field, the team also impressed. Goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul put to bed any questions about who the Red Bulls starting goalkeeper would be by making a pair of highlight-reel saves early in the second half to keep Santos from clawing back into the match.
The centerback pairing of Petke and Tim Ream looked solid throughout the night, thwarting a Santos attack that showed glimpses of ability led by the cat-quick Neymar. Petke and Ream combined on the Red Bulls' second goal of the night when Ream headed a cross toward goal that Petke side-volleyed into the net.
Just a minute later, Richards made the score 3-0 with a long-range blast off a perfect cross-field pass from Mac Kandji.
Lindpere showed off the two-way midfield ability that has him poised for a big season, while Costa Rican left back Roy Miller also continued his strong pre-season form with another solid effort.
The Red Bulls begin MLS play on Saturday vs. the Chicago Fire. With another sell-out crowd expected, the Red Bulls' second game at Red Bull Arena should boast excitement similar to Saturday night's opener, but the debut of Red Bull Arena is a night that won't soon be forgotten by soccer fans in the New York/New Jersey area.
Did you go to the stadium opening? What did you think of Red Bull Arena? What were your favorite moments? Plan on going back?
Share your thoughts below.
GREAT STADIUM… NIGHTMARE IF YOU DRIVE TO THE STADIUM… WILL TRY MASS TANSIT NEXT TIME…SEE IF IT WORKS FOR ME…
In fact, only Neymar is a regular player for the first team. The players who went to New York were mostly in the lower grades (under 18) and the veterans are at the end of career or returning from injury. The first team can not go to New York because he had a game worth the Paulista Championship against Ituano on Sunday. The score of the game was 9-1 for Santos FC. See the goals of the game in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdRaoMSwmY
I hope the American teams continue to invest in football who know one day Libertadores be extended to teams from the U.S.. It would be a beautiful championship.
In fact only the Neymar is the first team. Most of the time players were under 18 and older are at the end of career or returning from injury. These players were not in the reserve. It was not possible the first team to go to New York because they play cost the Paulista Championship on Sunday (day 21). The score of the game was 9-1 for Santos FC. The team is a national sensation. See the goals in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xklemW9NVg
Bruce Arena need tolearn from Backe. This is a much more exciting brand of football.
free pancake flavored energy drink would have been gross.
I was at the arena and it’s a beauiful stadium that is finally a reality. After years of BS from Nick Sackiwitz, BS from Jersey politics and BS from AEG, it’s great that there is a stadium for the NY/NJ team. Part of me wishes it was all red and black for Metro
I had seen you, Ives, walking out of Gate D, as I was waiting on the line to get in.
Yeah it was horrible the whole first half but corrected for the second. I don’t know why some games are like that. I have the same problems for some of the EPL games from time to time on the weekends. Maybe Ives can educate us.
This picture just gave me a huge adrenaline rush