The New York Red Bulls came away from Saturday night's match against the Philadelphia Union feeling like the better team lost, with a dominating display of possession producing no goals and leaving the struggling Red Bulls wondering how Philadelphia came away with another shutout victory.
The Union did concede plenty of possession to the pass-happy Red Bulls, but Philadelphia stepped up its pressure and played much better in the second half. New York's inability to finish came back to haunt the visitors as Roger Torres converted the Union's best chance to give Philadelphia a 1-0 victory at PPL Park in Chester, PA.
Red Bulls defender Tim Ream committed an uncharacteristic blunder, sending a pass right to Union forward Danny Mwanga, which sparked a counterattack that finished with Torres slamming home the game-winner just seconds after entering the match as a substitute.
New York's offensive woes continued, with the Red Bulls managing just one shot on goal. They came close to scoring twice, with Juan Agudelo hitting the woodwork twice.
Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe expressed his unhappiness with the result, stating that he felt his team dominated and went as far as to say there was only one team on the field. Union head coach Peter Nowak laughed off the claims, pointing out that all of New York's possession meant nothing if the Red Bulls can't score.
Scoring has been an issue for New York this season, with the Red Bulls managing just two goals through four matches this season. Thierry Henry's struggles continued as he failed to find a serious scoring chance throughout the match.
The win moved Philadelphia to 3-1, four points clear of the Red Bulls atop the Eastern Conference standings.
Here are the match highlights.
What did you think of Philadelphia's victory? Impressed with the Union's defense? Think the Red Bulls were the better team on Saturday? Starting to wonder if Thierry Henry will ever get going?
Share your thoughts below.
A shot on goal is a shot that would score if it wasn’t touched/deflected/saved by any player. So no, a shot on the frame is not a shot on goal.
Why they let Salou Ibrahim go for Luke Rodgers is beyond me. Salou was dangerous. Luke just sucks.
I am still waiting for Henry to start scoring. Only 2 goals since he joined the Red Bulls. Sorry that doesn’t cut it for the amount he is getting paid. He needs to start scoring and fast.
Attractive stadium. Not pleased with the result but was a fair result. Fun back-and-forths.
Maybe I missed something, but can someone explain how the Red Bulls had only 1 shot on goal but Agudelo hit the frame twice? Here’s the quote from the article:
“New York’s offensive woes continued, with the Red Bulls managing just one shot on goal. They came close to scoring twice, with Juan Agudelo hitting the woodwork twice.”
Isn’t the frame considered part of the goal? If a shot hits the frame, isn’t it considered a shot on goal? Just curious.
Thanks!
Being at the match last night, RBNY reminds me of Philadelphia Union from a season ago: the ability to possess and pass the ball around in the midfield, the lack of ability to make that final pass in the attack, and defensive blunders that prove disastrous.
Playing De Rosario as a playmaker has it problems. He needs the freedom to put the ball in the back of the net. He scored 15 last year.
I don’t think we need to get hysterical after this loss. It sucks, but NY is still a great team. They’ve only scored two goals, but they’ve only conceded two, as well. Ream is human and I won’t get on his case. The main issue is that we’ve made a fetish of passing the ball. We don’t seem interested in scoring, but rather playing keepaway. I’m not sure that possession-oriented soccer makes sense in MLS, where most teams hang back and defend and wait for the counter. You really need a Messi-type player to break down a defense. My suggestion would be to ease up on the slow-motion possession game a bit. Play more direct to Henry, Agudelo, and Richards and let them stretch the defense. NY just looks way too predictable on these slow buildups, and they haven’t scored a single goal from a buildup all season. Both goals were scored on breakways.
I disagree with you, glaing. every time I see Luke play he brings a certain hunger to score that I don’t see otherwise on our team. The problem is that we need more of a concerted team effort when attacking so we present a threat in all fronts> Right now we have individual efforts that are not giving us results and either Hans addresses this immediately or we will be the biggest dissapointment of the season. I agree that If Thierry is going to play like this, start Luke, Corey. We need TH14 to play as a forward and not try to be a midfielder. On Saturday, he seemed to have player confusion and try to play in Dero’s position. Agudelo is an awesome striker but he needs to play in a more centrally role and encouraged to run up the defense so maybe he can draw a penalty if unable to score. There are many ways you can attack but based in the way we play using only the wings to do it make us too predictable. Dero can be more effective if he connects more often with the offense but that will take a bit more time to develop.
RBNY dominated play last night, but the Union played in a defensive shell and struck gold on the one chance they got on the counterattack off a Ream mistake. Soccer often doesn’t reward the better team. It’s just the nature of the game. There are always huge upsets in soccer — just look at the USA vs. England 1950 World Cup game.
The big question for RBNY is whether Henry is ever going to wake up, because right now he looks like a huge bust. He spends all his time going to Knicks and Rangers games and looks completely uninterested on the pitch. It’s not fair to guys like Agudelo, Lindpere, and Tainio who play their hearts out every game.
Yes. Last year was the same thing. Hot Brazilian chicks in RBNY gear. I may switch allegiance.
Ream brings tears of happiness to my eyes. He is poised he is fast he heads well. I saw that 95% of his passes were on target and he never booted the ball to no one in particular. Love this guy on the USMNT. My belief is that he will be the best defender the USA has ever had.
Have to also say I would have liked to seen a young, athletic guy that can produce moments of brilliance (notwithstanding his weaknesses) like Mac Kandji coming off bench last night instead of Luke Rodgers or Ballouchi. Say what you like, Mac put in some goals, could challenge defenders and was good with a strong cast around him. I’ll stop beating up Rodgers and Ballouchi, I just hate to see us trading young talent with special abilities despite their youth (I’d include Tchani with Mac) for older / more “proven” players that may not have half the natural talent, and a much shorter shelf life…
that’s the risk you take when you are confident enough to hold the ball rather than boot it. it’s a risk worth taking for him to continue to develop as a centerback who is comfortable playing out of the back.
That guy was the lone bright spot for NY last night. that guys is tremendous. creative technical and tireless.
games don’t have to be beautiful to be effective. just ask Mourinho. i for one will not look a 9 points gift horse in the mouth. it’s a very different brand of Phillyfooty from last season, but hey it’s working so far! That said, I would like to see more linkup from the midfield to the strikers. Perhaps play le toux as a CAM behind Mwanga and McIverny with Torres and Daniel on the wings with Carrol as a CDM
Union packed it in narrowly behind the ball. RBNY kept trying to give and go down the middle (barcelona style) but there were just too many defenders waiting for it. RBNY then started going wide and banging in crosses, but the union were just beating RBNY to the ball. RBNY didn’t seem to have the offensive battlers to get their head on the end of a cross (like Angel?). Thiery and Juan seem more comfortable with the ball at their feet. Sort like watching an Arsenal game (when Fabregas and Nasri are injured and they lose on a set piece).
Wait, hot brazilian chicks are traveling supporters of RBNY? do not compute..
His movement off the ball is a strength. Not sure which Juan you’re watching. Its Henry that can not/will not move so that he can receive the ball going towards goal.
The Red Bulls dominated possession but definitely not the game. They only had a couple scoring opportunities and the Union countered fairly well. Le Toux blunders a 3 on 2 sequence to Mwanga in the 80th minute which easily could have made it 2-0 not to mention the Calif open net miss and the Coundooul almost own goal. But it is easy to dominate possession when a team plays without a true forward. Half the game Agudelo was receiving the ball behind DeRo and then trying to create, DeRo was then in no mans land. Henry kept doing similar things on the left side and getting in Lindpere’s space. Agudelo or Henry need to commit to playing up top and the other needs to commit to making angled runs from either side of the field because right now DeRo can’t do anything with all the forwards who want to be attacking midfielders.
The Red Bulls will figure it out, they are too talented not to but the Union are definitely solid and did not luck out a win. They toughed one out, they contained nearly all Red Bull offensive possessions and sprayed the ball around the field on counters but lacked quality from Ruiz and Le Toux. The Union defense is very good, the own the air and cover a lot of ground. Once the turnover machine Migs is removed and a reliable forward pair is determined the Union will be turning 1-0 wins into 2-0 or 2-1 wins.
Totally agree. If you’ve watched Agudelo at all this season, moving off the ball is actually one of his strengths. He consistently works to involve himself in the play. It actually highlights how little Henry does off the ball and how disinterested he seems in getting involved. Pushing Angel out in favor of Henry is looking like a huge mistake. At least with Angel we always knew we were getting 100% effort. Henry seems happy to coast.
+1, unless Javi means to imply that Nowak’s game plan was to be dominated and luck in to a win.
I agree with Juan and disagree with Tony about Agudelo. He occasionally makes rookie mistakes (usually because he’s overzealous), and his passing sometimes lets him down (usually when he’s trying to deliver a killer final ball), but he moves well off the ball, presses well when not in possession, and every time he touches the ball he has a great first touch and dangerous attacking ideas. He is definitely not part of the problem.
I would say it really didn’t “work”, i mean they scored on a awful mental mistake by a USA defender…otehr that that the Union were not anything close to a threat. Philly was playing for a point the whole game and lucked into 3 points. The story of this game was the inability of NY not the ability of Philly.
Understand the point but to suggest that Agudelo is one of RB’s “problems” seems a stretch to me. The game last night showed that he worked very well off the ball – created first post shot by coming back to midfield, pushed/ distributed calmly to DeRo on wing, then positioned himself perfectly for the cross. Also did well to position himself for second shot/post. From what I saw JA was the only guy attacking (and beating) defenders to create chances. The other experienced players on the RB couldn’t find the frame once or even get a shot off. He definitely needs to continue to develop, but for this league he is one of the most dangerous players up front and I still don’t understand how you take him out with a few minutes left in game. I am more concerned with Henry (as you point out), overall leadership (coaching and on field), and fact that our team is content with bringing a 5’7″ 30yr journeyman from the lower English divisions into the game at a key stage. Fact that Luke Rodgers was a Notts County player under Backe raises concerns for me that personnel decisions are not based on merit and talent alone. We need better management towards end of an important game like last night. RB were by far the better team.
Ream sure had a lol moment, haha.
Linpere is better off in the middle
All the talk is about the Red Bulls dominating and being “unable to finish,” bu they only produced two or three dangerous scoring chances! Yes, they dominated possession and played the “better” soccer, but more credit needs to be given to Nowak and the Union for setting out a gameplan and executing it very well. They planned on being opportunistic and allowing the Red Bulls to hold most of the possession in order to avoid dealing with a potentially dangerous New York counterattack. Guess what, it worked!
Couldn’t agree more with your comments
Yeah, like Bent in the EPL.
Not the most talented or gifted striker in the world, but the dude can finish.
Big shout out to the RBNY fans who made the trip down to PPL park last night. Away supporters always add something special to the atmosphere. The per capita number of hot Brazilian chicks doubled when the buses pulled in.
This is going to be unpopular, but…
Part of the problem with the Red Bulls is that Agudelo is not yet a good player. He’s great in one on one situations where he has some space, takes great shots andis going to be a tremendous player. He makes a great effort. But there is an intelligenct wiht his off the ball work and passing that will come with experience but right now it hurts their attack.
As for Henry, he looks tentative. He looks like he hasn’t decided what his role is. He needs his pride challanged. Backe or some one needs to delvier the message “So this is the great Henry? Not what we expected” and get him fired up. They need to make him take responbsiblity for the attack on himself.
Other than that, they dominated to a ridiculous extent in everything but the score
Backe takes out our only real threat up front – Agudelo – with a few minutes left in the game and red bull pressing. For ballaouchy???? As Ives said, looked like throwing in the towel. Even if Ballouchy did ok, we still took out our best scoring threat with the game still in question. Unless Agudelo was hurt, that’s a very questionable move.
Agree with you on your points, however, I have to question why we got Luke. He looks like he is lost out there. It seems like his style/strengths don’t mesh with what the Red Bulls are trying to do. I’m concerned that we have no reliable subs for the front line. Henry needs to get forward and go forward with the ball. There was numerous times that he was deeper than Tanio, he is a forward not the holding mid. Plus he seems more interested in setting up other people with one-timing everythhing away. He needs to take on people or maybe he has lost so much pace that he feels he can’t do that. In that case we have a big problem, we let go of a striker that could already do what Henry is doing (Angel.
Bouna needs to go. I’d rather play the new signing (who played with Columbus). Coundoul is a disaster. The goal was not his fault (it was Ream’s). But I have no faith im his abilities. Sutton should be our #1. Or use the last DP slot to get a world-class keeper.
I think other acquisitions should have an opportunity to show an attacking spirit and a drive to win (Hertzog, Kassell, Rodgers, Rooney). Maybe sit Henry for a game. He needs a time out. He looks extremely sluggish. Way too laid back. I still have hope, but he hasn’t yet found his groove here. He needs to stop trying to tone down expectations and just create and score.
There are definitely guys I like: Teemu has been superb thus far, for example. The possession game is great, but when they reach the final 3rd you have to finish. With all
the talent though they will gel. We don’t have a lot of te though. As one who thinks the supporter’s shield is the most important title, I’m very worried. As for MLS Cup, still possible, as it only takes a team to click for a two-week period late in the season.
Mondragon is making a huge difference for the Union–they’re so much more organized defensively.
I wonder if RBNY is regretting their decision to let Angel go? I know, I know….older, expensive, injury-prone, no longer at the top of game. But the man could finish. And right now, for all the style and flair and ball possession, RBNY has trouble putting the ball in the net. I know there’s a tendency to think that goals will come from Henry…and maybe they will and he’s just getting warmed up. But some guys are goal scorers who are great players…and some are great players (who happen to score goals) and I always saw Henry in the latter. He’s still very polished and smart and technically sound and impressive physically…he’s still a fine player. But it may be a mistake to count on him to be a prime goal scorer (maybe). In which case, the team is counting on an 18 y.o. (who may be gone for a chunk of the summer) and who has almost no professional starts prior to this year (I’m counting NT starts as “professional starts”).
At the game last night. It was a great victory for our Union but I wish the blunder had been committed by someone other than Ream. He was outstanding all night other than that one moment.
Novak fielded a defensive team with 2holding mids (Miglio and Carrol). Okugo replaced Carrol (injured) very early and made a number of mis passes turning over to an already dominant NY. At around the 60th min Nowack switche to offensive mid Torres and the Union scored and began gaining some possession. Did we deserve to win? Well last year we were on the other side of that question, losing a number of games we should have won. So yea we deserved to win, look at the final score.
GO UNION!!!!!!!
It’s the curse of MeRo!
agree with your points here. If Henry looks this old, tired and disinterested now, how will he look in year 3-4 of his contract – yikes.
The Red Bulls need to take more shots and to put more shots on goal; sometimes their movement in the final third was too slow which allowed the Philly players to recover and provide support in the box.
Very strong performances by Teemu, Rafa and Jan and Bouna can’t be blamed for the goal. Joel (generally passes) and Juan (being dangerous) had moments when they were effective but ultimately their efforts fell short and did not result in a goal.
I think it is time to sit Thierry and give Luke a chance to start. Thierry picked it up a notch but only after the goal was scored. I expect Thierry to be more active from the opening whistle especially being the captain and being paid $5 million to score goals.
Dwayne caused a number of turnovers the first half and was largely invisible the second half.
Roy was okay (and there’s no option now off the bench anyway). Outside of the huge blunder, Tim’s game was strong but the error cost the team a point.
Despite the long pre-season training, the team needs more time to gel.