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Red Bulls rock Juventus 3-1

JeremyHallZebina (HowardCSmithISI)

Photo by ISIphotos.com

BY MIKE NASTRI

The Red Bulls pulled out a commanding 3-1 victory over Juventus behind three second half goals by Jeremy Hall, Conor Chinn and Juan Pablo Angel.

The Red Bulls starting XI was most of the reserve team that has been playing US Open Cup matches. And once again this "other squad" showed it can get results. Although Juventus had a shorthanded team due to the World Cup, it still boasted many stars including Alessandro Del Piero and Diego. 

"They played with, in the first half or first 60 minutes, at least four or five high profile players, world class players," said head coach Hans Backe. "And they don't like to lose."

These stars would shine in the first half, especially Diego. The Brazilian midfielder controlled the pace of the entire first half orchestrating the Juve attack. Under Diego's command, the Italian side held the possession advantage in the first 45. Del Piero and Jonathan Zebina created fits for Hall and Danliegh Borman on the left side. But ultimately the Italian side couldn't take advantage on the score sheet. 

The second half would begin with Roy Miller at left back and the Juventus attack was not the same. Miller held his own on the left side and allowed Hall to play more offensively.  And Hall did just that, putting the Red Bulls up in the 50th minute. The University of Maryland product half-volleyed home a rebound off a rocket shot by Irving Garcia.

"Irving had a great shot, hit the crossbar," said Hall. "We've been talking about getting in the box when the ball's on the opposite side, the outside midfielder has to get into the box and just be ready for it."

"I saw a guy coming at me, so I just hit hard and low and it went in."

The second goal came just five minutes later. Roy Miller streaking down the wing past Zebina, found a wide open Conor Chinn with a beautiful cross. Chinn would calmly take the ball down and hammer it home for the 2-0 lead.

"The wings crossed the ball back post, and Roy did a gret job, and luckily I was there," said Chinn. "I felt like I was able to put my chance away, so it was good."

Juan Pablo Angel came in with Dane Richards in the 68th minute and seven minutes later the two combined to put the icing on the cake. Richards found Angel who put the Red Bulls up three with a touch of class past Juventus keeper Alex Manninger.

Amauri ruined the clean sheet for keeper Greg Sutton in the 90th minute, but overall the Red Bulls played well enough to get a win over a quality Juventus side.

"The Red Bulls definitely played a great game, but we are disappointed with the result," said Juventus forward Alessandro Del Piero. "As time went on we started feeling tired from the long trip and the entire season."

This Red Bulls reserves continue to show their own quality and composure with their 3rd straight victory (including the two USOC matches). And some of these reserve players are pushing Backe to see some time in regular MLS matches.

One of those players is Irving Garcia, who could have been the man of the match despite not finding his name on the score sheet. He had two rocket shots and was fearless against a great defender in Fabio Grosso.

"He was a little nervous in the beginning as a draft pick, and just played safe," said Backe. "But the way he played today, to take players on, he gave me something to think about, that's for sure."

Garcia and the rest of the second squad will have a USOC against the Rapids on Wednesday to build on this performance and to show that they may be worthy of seeing regular MLS time. But for now, Backe will continue to use these younger players as he has been, but he has been encouraged with their progress.

"They need time, they have a lot to learn, but still I can say that the depth is good in our squad"

Comments

  1. This is well said. Red Bulls used to give the friendlies as part of the package, now I understand why they now want to charge, but to overcharge the season ticket holder by doubling the price kept me home as well. I would have considered at the regular price point.

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  2. LMAO are you a sounder fan or something. Read up on the history of the NY team before you start babbling about attendance figures. This club has gone through hell compared to all other MLS clubs.

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  3. Are you a mind reader???? Why is it the same BS excuse everytime any team from outside the US plays an MLS club and Loses. Its always ohh they didnt care or it was our b Squad c Squad but they still didnt care and they are tired. Ok so Juve was tired ill give you that.NY played a game on thursday. NY started their B squad as well Why is it because were Americans we know nothing about the sport. Same ol eurosnob BS. Not saying this win proves MLS is on par with the italian league. But it does prove that MLS clubs aren’t crap or pub teams like all eurosnobs and latin snobs try to make it out to be.

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  4. Now this gentleman is a REAL Juve fan not just putting on the kit and calling himself a fan. The Juve team lost and jayrod takes it without any mention of attendance or juve “excuses”. Thank you Sir, and please come out and support your local NY club!

    That is what will lead the beautiful game to come to us (MLS). Some people don’t seem to understand that if they really are soccer (football) fans that they would support a domestic league that tries to get this game into the US sport lexicon.

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  5. Agreed. There were a number of factors going on. RBNY wasn’t at full strength and neither was Juventus; however both had some quality players. Say what you will, but if RBNY had Diego, Trezuguet, Del Piero, and Amauri people would expect them to dominate MLS even at half speed! No, it’s not the same motivation as playing for the Serie A title, but no professional wants to lose. With changes coming their way they have their spots to play for and one of the main reasons teams play these friendlies is to build and maintain their support in the states. They aren’t doing it by losing 3-1. They may have underestimated RBNY, but there is no doubt that they wanted to win this game and failed.

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  6. I made it to the game yesterday, and I feel like Juve mailed it in, which is understandable but a shame. They played OK for the first 30 minutes or so, and didn’t get the goal they wanted, and after that a far more motivated Red Bulls team played pretty good ball. Even with the subs, once the sun popped out in the 60th minute or so, you could literally see the Juve player wilt. Though Juve didn’t play their best ball, the Red Bulls deserve credit considering this was mostly a reserve side. Also happy to see Angel get a goal during the run of play, hopefully that gives him a boost.

    The atmosphere was great, really wish some of the Juve fans would make it back out for MLS games. They really made it fun. Lots of cheering in the first half, and then it got ugly as the Red Bulls eagerly made them pay for the lax mentality. I don’t understand Italian, but it was pretty clear they were pissed…

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  7. My bad-mobile version of SBI kind of tricky on Safari-was meant for those who claimed Juve wasn’t trying coz I clearly saw the frustration in Amauri’s face for not getting any decent service in the box yesterday…

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  8. Here is a specific: Goal #2. The ball was lost in the Red Bull half. The Juve player played a very lazy / mis hit ball that had no conviction. In a Serie A game that type of laziness is met with less future playing time. Compounding that he didnt try to chase the ball down the flank. The Red Bull defender brought the ball a good 30 yards before anyone tried to close him down. The ball played was beautiful and finnish good, but again no one was really marking Chin. Again if a defender in a real game defended like that he’d be risking future minutes.

    Having said that, I do think this is a good win for NYRB and MLS. It does show that the class is not far enough ahead that they can simply go through the motions. Remember as well that a lot of the game it was Red Bull B team.

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  9. Ives… i read in your ‘running commentary’ that you called Irving Garcia, “raw”…. How is he “raw”? i think of raw as a player whose skill is unpolished, usually very athletic or strong.. I coached against him in HS ball and have always thought, and watched him become every bit of a very skilled player.. maybe not as fast, or strong as others, but VERY technically sound…. what are his weaknesses and what must he improve on to play more often?

    Tahnks,

    Steve

    (SBI-Steve, just because you took the word to mean that doesn’t mean that’s how I meant it. I was talking up Irving Garcia when he was an unknown at the MLS Combine, talked him up on draft day, and in pre-season with New York, so I was on the bandwagon very early on. I think he’s a talented kid with great skill. What I mean by raw is he’s a rookie who needs to learn the pro game and how to play in a structured system. In college and before that he was allowed to freelance and do his own thing. As fun as that may be to watch on that level, playing on the pro level requires a much better tactical understanding of the game. He’ll get there with some good coaching, but right now he’s still like an unpolished diamond who has the potential to be very good. That clear enough for you?)

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  10. Actually I found juves play today to be more sluggish that regular mls. Except when in the box players had lots of time with the ball, lazy tackles, and were slow to close down. Ok, I get it, juve doesn’t care about this game. The concept of a professional must be different in Europe than in the US. I don’t care if ts 2am Monday morning after winnin MLS cup the Sunday before, when RSL plays a USL team I expect them to win and play there hearts out to do it. If the starters can’t get up for the game then some second stringers damn well better. It would blow my mind to see Jasen Kreis OK with a loss due to lack of motivation because “we would win if we tried”. Not gonna happen… because he’s a professional. if those are the kind of proffesional footballers that fill big teams in top leagues the I’m more proud of MLS than ever.

    As a fan I’m more accepting of a loss to a better team (on the day right) than loosing because my team played lazy. For juves fans sake I hope t was the former and not the latter.

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  11. “What exactly do you think these teams do or don’t do in these friendlies compared to a ‘normal’ match?”

    Not to disrespect RBNY, but the big difference between the Juve we saw today and the Juve that you see in Serie A is the absence of many of their major stars who are away at various national team training camps. Having half your best players missing will hurt any team. A few were still at this game at least.

    MLS is a way better league (notwithstanding any arguments on the inherent catch 22 of competition within a single entity structure) than its given credit for. LA almost stuck it to Barca and Milan last season. And today’s mutually starless win for the Galaxy over CABJ is further evidence of that.

    I think the better MLS teams wouldn’t do too terribly in the Copa Libertadores with another bump in the salary cap and a few more roster spots for squad players.

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  12. i’m a partial season ticket holder and i paid 30 for tickets that were normally 22—tell me how you got charged double?

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  13. Hey Jayrod1111, come out to the Red Bulls during the regular season, too. It’s a good time supporting the local team. 🙂

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  14. For real. Attendance at RBA has been very respectable this year, if you take the previous years into account. If Red Bull were getting New England or Dallas-like numbers people would have an argument, but for now they should just STFU.

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  15. to follow up, OBVIOUSLY its so important that people support their local teams, i just think its interesting how much it actually gets brought up here.

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  16. why is everyone obsessed with attendance? All the time? How many people where there, why does the stadium look empty, they suck at marketing the team, etc etc. I just find it interesting that literally every MLS game thread someone comments on attendance.

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  17. Regardless of attendance…wins or losses…It was wonderfull to see my beloved Juve in game action in person…I got to see Trezeguet who is my fav all time player and the rest of the Juve squad…That was enough for me…I had a great time and the new Arena is amazing…For those of us who are big Juve supporters its nice to just be able to see the team in action…Thanks to the Red Bulls for organizing this…It was an amazing day!!!

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  18. Sounders fans were there (kudos) but by no means enough to impact attendance really. You bring up good points, and I think people should check the stadium out more too, but they’ll be fine. This is just a friendly. Most RBNY fans weren’t massively into it and it was expensive. It was for the Italian Juve fans

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  19. Ives,

    Break it down for me: How does RBNY lose 1-0 to the Crew and then beat Juve?

    (SBI-The Red Bulls first team has been playing badly for weeks, while the Red Bulls reserves have been playing well for a while now in Open Cup action. Also, Juve’s in mail-it-in mode. They’re coming off an awful (by their standards) regular season and are being force to go on this tour, so I can’t imagine they’re that motivated. That, along with the fact they’re missing a bunch of players to the World Cup should keep folks from getting too worked up about this result. Still, there was some promising stuff today.)

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  20. Another great performance by the NYRB Reserves. If they continue to keep this up I think Backe is going to have some very difficult decisions to make this season.

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