By TYLER GRAY
SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake and the New York Red Bulls battled to a 1-1 draw in front of 20,295 on Wednesday night in a physical affair at Rio Tinto Stadium.
The home side opened the scoring through forward Joao Plata, but the Red Bulls equalized with a lethal, long-range strike from Thierry Henry.
Red Bulls midfielder Tim Cahill provided the equalizing assist when he saw Henry creeping towards the top of the 18-yard box.
The star of one of the World Cup’s most spectacular goals laid the ball off to Henry, who placed a perfect shot low and hard, beating RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando and knotting the match at 1-1.
Real Salt Lake’s opening goal was also a precise strike. After New York cleared out an initial corner, the ball fell to Javier Morales, who dribbled into the area and put a deflected shot on frame. The attempt was saved but found its way to RSL defender Chris Wingert, who played a quick pass to Plata. Real Salt Lake’s leading scorer hesitated before curling a shot that tucked just inside the far post put the home side up 1-0.
Robbie Findley’s headed effort was saved by Robles in the final minute of stoppage time and both teams walked away with one point.
Red Bulls defender Jamison Olave had a homecoming of sorts as he returned to Rio Tinto Stadium for the first time since he was traded to New York. The home side didn’t give him any preferential treatment, however, as he got hit in the face with shots and even mixed it up with RSL forward Olmes Garcia.
The draw marks three matches in a row without a win for the Red Bulls (5-6-10, 25 points), who sit in sixth place in the East. Salt Lake (8-4-9, 33 points) pulled within five points of first-place Seattle in the Western Conference standings.
Both teams are back in action this weekend. The Red Bulls host the New England Revolution, while Real Salt Lake visits the Colorado Rapids.
Here are the match highlights:
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What did you think of the match?
Share your thoughts below.
Thierry Henry. This is a post of pure appreciation. That goal was so sweet.
was there ever a clear shot of the olave / garcia confrontation? garcia went down like he was punched/grabbed below the belt
Looked like Olave gave him a little “tweak” below the belt, but Garcia so obviously overreacted that he got a yellow. He got mad, took enough time to shove Olave, and only then went down in a writhing heap. IMHO, he was not hurt at all, but instead (and appropriately) outraged and insulted. Look for the DisCo to act on this one.
To me, the most egregious part of that incident was Garcia’s reaction. Embarrassing. Olave will probably get a one game suspension though.
Garcia shoved Olave and then went down and rolled for half a county. After Dempsey’s suspension, Olave may get suspended for this, but Garcia’s behavior was absurd.
http://talksport.com/football/vickery-qpr-should-forget-about-ronaldinho-move-they-dont-need-him-140729104585
That’s the opinion of Ronaldinho from someone who knows what he’s talking about when it comes to Brazilian soccer. RBNY doesn’t need some fat has been waddling around RBA.
I agree though that Cahill on the bench might be the best lineup but unlikely to happen given the money they’re paying him and his DP status. If Henry retires, Cahill can move up front where he belongs. Going to be an interesting offseason for this team but I haven’t given up on this season yet, despite the obvious flaws with this team right now.
What about starting Cahill (over McCarty) and Luyindula in the center of the midfield? If Cahill has essentially been crowded out of the striker position by BWP, and if (as I think all will agree) he is a better player than McCarty, does it make sense to deploy him in front of the back line, where the team needs the most help? If he is not going to score bunches og goals for you, is it better to use his considerable skills where they are most needed?
Maybe, but not sure about Peguy going 90 on a consistent basis. I guess Dax could always come in for him in the second half.
Okay. You are leading the league in scoring goals and one of the worst in the league in goals allowed yet you want to play Peguy (a natural forward) at D-Mid? Does that make any sense?
He meant Cahill at D-mid.
I would love to see them add Ronaldinho too but yesterday I disappointingly read an article on Once A Metro stating that the club is not looking to sign him citing sources both from the team and the league.
True, I agree with those moves. However, even without those moves, Lyundula looks pretty good in central midfield. Honestly, Cahill should be a substitute for Henry or BWP. Red Bulls best lineup is without Cahill right now.
From watching this game, they do need ronaldinho or even jones. Henry drops too much and creates chaos, Henry does too much for the team. No wonder he’s retiring 🙂 he deserves an MLS cup