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SBI MLS Team of the Week: New York Red Bulls

Bouna Coundoul 1 (ISIphotos.com)

There were a handful of teams that were worthy candidates of this week's MLS Team of the Week honor, but one stood out above the rest.

While the Los Angeles Galaxy impressed in beating Chivas USA, and New England showed great resolve in scoring a road victory against D.C. United, no team showed as much as the New York Red Bulls did in securing a 1-0 victory at Qwest Field against the Seattle Sounders in one of the best regular season MLS matches in recent memory.

The Red Bulls combined tenacious defending with strong midfield play to match the effort of a strong Seattle squad that never could break through despite a plethora of corner kicks and free kicks.

In case you missed the match, or would like to see highlights, here are highlights from the Red Bulls' 1-0 win vs. Seattle:

What did you think of the Red Bulls' performance this week? Which team got your vote for MLS Team of the Week?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. If team of the week isnt based soley on overall performance but on heart, and on team work then the red bulls deserved that this week. No disrespect at all to any of the other teams that won this week, and even more props to seattle who played a great game and made it one of the most exciting matches ive seen in mls. But for a team, to come into this season, under so much uncertanity,with so much change, with a stigma of just being an unsuccesful franchise, with fans who lost hope an expected a loss and at best a tie last season….for them to win on the road in the most hostile enviroment to play in mls right now, that takes heart, the players fought for eachother out there, they were a team.

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  2. Definitely a case of winning ugly. The Red Bulls are definitely a better team this year but it’s almost completely on the defensive side. They lack any sense of creativity and their buildups are non-existent. Both of their goals were the result of lucky bounces although Lindpere’s rocket was a thing of beauty. When other teams passing (like Seattle’s) improves they will find themselves out of luck. I feel sorry for Angel because he is going to get very lonely as the season wears on if Backe doesn’t develop an offensive strategy.

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  3. Oh, and one more thing.

    Erik Soler on the bench is truly disrespectful to the Bulls coaching staff and should back the f-off!

    HC

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  4. NYRB looked very good, but I wouldn’t put great value in the blank sheet. Sounders had 8 or 9 scoreless games last year, many at home. Sigi had a year to address the team’s finishing problems and he’s still months away. The staff has to accept some blame for nothing from 12 corners.

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  5. I have followed the MLS on/off since inception and being a soccer fan all my life. I have to agree that the game Sat nite was one of the best MLS games in recent memory. The pure passion of soccer was shown by both teams. While not highly technical, it was an “emotional” game were both teams really, really wanted to win.

    It left me wondering as to why it was such a good game. My theory is that the Sounders, with its quality and good management (on and off the field) is creating “real” rivalries for the first time. The “clasico” between Galaxy and Chivas is fake and bogus. The real “clasico”is/will be between any of the big teams: Sounders, Bulls, Chicago and Galaxy.

    HC

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  6. It was a great match to watch. I thought the RB were lucky to come away with the points. Seattle had some great chances but Freddie and Freddie did not play well. RB did well on the counter but the Defense had troubles connecting with the mids. RB looked tough.

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  7. Well, as a Red Bull supporter myself, I can see where RBNY’s organization prompted the Sounders to turn the ball over and I was more than happy to see that. As Scott47 mentioned, RBNY was very well organized and compact. But when NYRB would regain possession, their distribution and decision-making were mediocre (in the 2nd half). After seeing them knock the ball around so well during that Santos match, I think as supporters we can set the bar a little higher and expect some quality from this group. They have a lot of potential and Backe has already shown his influence. So to see them not get on the front foot and take it to a Seattle team that was lacking that extra bit of quality, I was a bit disappointed. BUT… 2-0, supremely organized, confidence is high and they can play some good ball. I’m a happy supporter right now.

    I’ve never been crazy about the whole Red Bull naming rights and I know there’s nothing I can do about it. But when I glance at the logo quickly, my initial thought is a cow. After last year’s debacle, they earned the right to be called Red Cow. It’s my “non-conformist” approach of rebellion. I want this club to make me eat crow this year.

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  8. That picture is a great example of why Bouna Coundoul just isnt very good despite making some amazing saves, terrible form and body control that causes mistakes on plays that most professional keepers as routine.

    on another note:

    I just want to say good for the Red Bulls.

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  9. Hopefully only the respectable Seattle fans (with whom I modestly include myself) will be able to get our voice out over the crazies. 🙂

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  10. I hope you did not bet any money, because DCU outplayed NE for most of the game. DCU had over 70% of possession and had numerous chances to score. Both goals came against the run of play. Hats off to NE for earning a win on the road, but the quality of their play was rather unremarkable.

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  11. Considering the play of the rest of the league on the weekend, I’m ok with Red Bulls being team of the week.

    I don’t watch a lot of RB games for whatever reason, but every time I do, Dane Richards impresses me only with his speed. He makes ol’ Roy Lassiter look skilled. :p

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  12. Agreed. This NY team is good, they should make a hard push in the east. But good lord, that keeper scares the life out of me, even as a Sounders fan. He made a few great saves, then shanked half his punts and is less than reliable with his hands. Was he injured? Why was Petke taking goal kicks? Goalie seems to the weakness of this team right now, but they are still looking good.

    Lindpere is a great addition.

    Sounders on the other hand, I’m worried that we are going to have difficulty finding the net. Zakuani is dangerous. Ljungberg is good for a few nice entry passes, not really a scoring threat. Montero needs to hustle. Evans is solid, not stellar and not much of a goal scorer. Alonso is plain awesome. Levesque (I love your hustle and personality, but sorry) doesn’t have the skill to be the field. Corners and free kicks are impotent, no wonder though, we have no aerial threat other than the center backs. Nkufo and Jaqua can’t get on the field soon enough.

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