Photo by ISIPhotos.com
There were no goals scored, but the New York Red Bulls' scoreless draw against Real Salt Lake on Saturday was far from boring.
The two MLS Cup title contenders played a fiercely-contested and highly technical match that saw Real Salt Lake hit the woodwork with two shots.
The match was a much more competitive encounter than the last time the teams met, a 1-0 victory by RSL at Rio Tinto Stadium last month.
The Red Bulls were playing without goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul and midfielder Dane Richards, but they weren't missed as Greg Sutton did well in goal while Joel Lindpere looked like a natural on the right wing.
The tie moved New York two points clear of the Columbus Crew atop the Eastern Conference, while leaving Real Salt Lake four points behind Los Angeles in the race for the Suppporters Shield.
Here are the highlights:
What did you think of the match? Hoping these teams meet again in the MLS Cup Final?
Share your thoughts below.
Red Bulls lack pace without Richards.
First off: How could you even know that? I can just easily say RSL will be stomping all over NY in 3 years.
Second: The whole arguement is null because Marquez and Henry will be scooting around in wheelchairs in 3 years.
What’s the deal with Henry? For a couple of games now, he’s been passive and out of it.
Listen to this RSL fan going on about his small market team that has been building for years and gaining chemistry LOL . dude Redbull has beena team for 3 months tops. players coming in and out. give us 3 years together and we stomp all over RSL’s head. Just saying
It would take five of your players to match each of the two “has Beens” you say RBNY have!
You have to give Jason Kreis alot of credit for turning this RSL side into a contending team and to be honest, they are a serious side to go far in the knockout stages of the CONCACAF Champions League.
But for RBNY, they did have a better second half and should’ve had at least a penalty or two, but Marrufo is an idiot of a ref after he was caught accepting a family friends jersey (Blanco)
This was a great match and both sides felt good with the scoreless draw. A lot of action.
Meh. It’s pretty lame to claim unfairness with regards to spending or whatever in sport. Other fans could complain about MLS giving smaller-market teams getting much bigger regions to draw from for their Academy teams. But it would just be irritating. MLS, like the NFL, does a pretty good job at keeping the playing field level for all teams.
Ya know, you’re right. I watched the replay and the flag didn’t go up until that rebound. I think an argument *could* be made that one of the offside players–Findley I think–stepped was interfering on the initial shot. But I’d feel aggrieved if that was called and I was a RSL fan. But yep, two shots off the post.
It was cagey, and reminded me a lot of Serie A matches from days gone by. But for the average fan there wasn’t a lot going on.
air max 2010
RSL with no DP’s has found some great talent but who puts this all together is Jason Kreis. He’s inspired his team even though RSL clearly has lesser resources but just as much talent as anyone with few exceptions (ie Galaxy). My hat is officially doffed.
RSL fan here and no way I’m going to shut up given the tie and RSL might not have dominated the ball in the game but had the clearer chances AND the last game in Sandy was all RSL. Henry didn’t seem to do much in either game.
hate RSL all you want but calling them overrated is ridiculous. Best offense in the league & best defense in the league.
Sorry our small market team has the gonads to compete with the mega markets.
Lol NY is the overrated team. People write them off as the number one team because a couple has beens. That is the definition of overrated.
RSL is overrated. RBNY controlled nearly the entire match. RSL is lucky the ref was in their corner, because it should have ended 2-0 RBNY just on penalties.
He’s in the States for vacation. Name me one person who likes to work on vacation. 😉
3 DPs just weren’t enough, huh?
Well, it’s also if you interfere with play like standing in front of the keeper while in an offside position. However, that was not the case.
Bahahahahaha, good point. SABO ftw.
A tense match but the 2nd half was a bit dull. I say this as a big fan of Thierry Henry — both me and my wife have Red Bulls Henry jerseys & basically worship the guy — but he’s seemed a bit off lately. Not a lot of hustle and lacking creativity. Hoping he’s better come the playoffs.
Angel had a lot of header that never got on goal. Maybe that’s why RBNY don’t want him back???
Why are you getting all butt-hurt?
I disagree but I guess you can say I’m biased. My heart was racing and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The crowd seemed to be into it as well. The match felt like it was a do or die game for both teams. Some sloppy play at times but what match doesn’t have that.
Nope it was 2 off the woodwork. A player isn’t offside until he plays at the ball and the offside players hadn’t played at the ball until after it deflected off of the post. Watch the replay the ref doesn’t raise his flag until the offside Real player jumps at it.
Sniffed the ball once or twice? The best chances of the game were played by RSL. Then two break aways were snuffed out by blatant fouls. As an RSL fan I almost never felt threatened by NY.
1 shot off woodwork. The other was a dead play because 3 RSL players were off.
If i were an RSL fan I’d shut up, your team sniffed the ball once or twice the whole game . just saying Redbull did miss Richards , he would have opened up the game alot more and Lindpere would be playing on the left where he is most effective.
Red Bulls also had 1 clear penalty and another very close one denied. Ref let everything go in that match.
That being said, the match was certainly not “far from boring.” Both teams were satisfied with that draw. It was cagey, and reminded me a lot of Serie A matches from days gone by. But for the average fan there wasn’t a lot going on.
RSL should’ve had 2 penalties. They also had 2 shots hit the woodwork.
Findley would still have played. I stand by the 100%
If Espindola and Wingert aren’t hurt than RSL probably wins. So I guess the Dane Richards thing is kind of pointless. Findley would have never even sniffed the pitch if Espindola was healthy.
Why do we want 3 overrated senior citizens?
Give RSL 3 DPs and they’re unstoppable?
Richards was absolutely missed. Put him in that lineup and the Red Bulls probably win.
Good luck next month RSL from NY. Maaaybe see you in November
2nd half was
Very much agree. Looked very energetic, somewhat creative. Certainly did nothing to disqualify himself, and he’s better than some of the dreck they bring off the bench (i.e. Salou).
+1
i thought the match was pretty boring
agudelo needs more minutes