The Red Bulls came into BBVA Compass Stadium looking for their first win in 4 matches. Historically the Houston Dynamo have been one of New York’s favorite opponents with a 10-3-8 record in favor of the Red Bulls. The Red Bulls even went ahead on the scoreboard, but it’s not how you begin, it’s how you finish. The Dynamo fought back, and with a little bit of luck came out victorious in a hot, humid Friday night in Houston extending the Red Bulls win less streak to 4.
With Damien Perrinelle still out with an injury, Jesse Marsch lined up Roy Miller in the center of the defense along with Ouimette while Lawrence and Duvall were in their usual full back positions. In the midfield, the all too familiar triangle of Felipe, McCarty, and Kljestan backing up the front 3 – Grella, Sam and Wright-Phillips.
Despite being a pretty balanced half in terms of dominance, the Red Bulls threatened first in the 9th minute through Wright-Philips. Felipe found BWP with a long ball in the middle of the center backs, the Red Bulls’ forward touched it past a rushing Deric, but would have his ball cleared near the goal line by Houston’s Horst.
Houston controlled possession, while the Red Bulls remained compact in the back closing up passing lanes, and preventing the Dynamo from creating danger in the final third. While Houston controlled possession, and spent most of the half in New York’s half of the field, the Red Bulls would spring quick counters taking advantage of their fast offensive transitions.
In the 36th minute a quick restart by Kljestan found Duvall on the wing behind his marker, the right back put in a low cross into BWP’s path, BWP just missed getting a piece of the ball on a sitter for the Red Bulls. It was the Red Bulls’ best period of the half, but Houston was also finding space in New York’s final third. Luis Robles was called to action in the 40th minute after a driven shot by Alexander Lopez, the Red Bulls keeper responded with a save keeping the scoreboard from changing.
The scoreboard wouldn’t stay the same for too long as Kljestan would find BWP in between lines in the 42nd minute, the reigning golden boot attracted defenders to him, and dished the ball to Mike Grella, who beat Raul Rodriguez to the outside before putting the ball past Deric for the Red Bull’s first goal of the game. The Red Bulls were better in the last 15 minutes of the half, and the goal was the corollary of that dominance.
Right before the half Grella would once again hit the back of the net, this time from a training ground worked corner, but referee Marcos de Oliveira would call the goal back, leaving the Red Bulls scratching their head as to what the call was. The Red Bulls walked into the locker room content with the way the half went, but knowing the scored could have easily been 2-0 at the half.
Anticipating a strong start of the second half by the Dynamo, the Red Bulls took the game to the Dynamo, but it was the Dynamo’s half time substitution Boniek Garcia who would pull the Dynamo level in the 59th minute following a Ouimette deflection that beat Luis Robles. The Red Bulls had started better, Sam had forced Deric to the save of the night, but it was Garcia’s introduction into the game, and subsequent goal that shifted the momentum to Houston’s side.
In the 62nd minute another controversial call, as Grella was taken down in the box, and saw a yellow for his efforts. The Red Bulls looked “gased” and Houston was emerging as the dominating team. Jesse Marsch would refresh his left side introducing Richards for Grella, to which Coyle responded with Lovejoy, but it was Houston who continued to threaten. Ricardo Clark would finally put Houston ahead in the 72nd minute, after finding himself free of marking at the second post following a Houston corner. Clark had seen a similar goal waved off by the referee just a few minutes earlier, this time the referee pointed to the center circle.
The Red Bulls pushed forward but were unable to penetrate the Dynamo’s defense, the humidity, and the heat didn’t help the Red Bull’s cause either. It was the Dynamo who would take advantage of the Red Bull’s push forward as Will Bruin, with plenty of space, would add another goal to Houston’s tally following another fortuitous deflection, this time off of Lawrence.
80 minutes in, and the Red Bulls found themselves in a huge hole to climb out of. Abang, who had come in the 73rd minute for Felipe, would reduce the gap in the 90th, following a cross by the newly introduced Obekop, but it was yet another strike by Bruin on a counter that would put the Red Bulls away for good in added time.
The key to this game had to be the introduction of Boniek Garcia at the half by Coyle, the Honduran international, was an absolute headache for the Red Bulls, scoring the equalizer, and assisting on Houston’s second and third goal.
The Red Bulls will now have a bye week to get their heads together. They have allowed 7 goals in the last 3 second halves they have played, and have scored none. After a blazing start, which saw them be the last undefeated team, the Red Bulls find themselves on a 3 game losing streak. Their high pressure, possession game is no longer a surprise for opponents, and with the hot summer days approaching, the Red Bulls will find it hard to finish off games. Their depth is also questionable, and the situation can easily get worst for Marsch if they don’t get some reinforcements soon.
Alfredo Fumacas @talkingtodadoll
