The Red Bull 1st XI huddle before kickoff in Houston
Red Bull Player Ratings
Starting Eleven
GK: Robles: 5.5
Four goals on the stat sheet looks pretty bad. In truth though, two of the goals were deflections, and two were the result of his defense losing focus at crucial moments. The last goal was an opportunity to step up and make a save during a one-on-one with Bruin that Robles simply did not take, but he also made some great saves earlier in the game that reflected his true quality.
Duvall: 5
Duvall seemed to put himself in positions to provide dangerous delivery’s throughout the match, but that delivery was simply poor. Should have delivered a sitter to BWP in the 37th minute but his delivery failed him, as it would for much of the rest of the game.
Ouimette 4.5
Played well most of the game, making a host of clearances in the box, and yet was part of a defense that let in four goals. While a keeper may get off easier for a deflected goal, the central defense is culpable for just giving up the space for that shot to occur.
Miller: 4.5
Sharing with Ouimette the blame for the Red Bull’s defensive collapse will be Roy Miller. The amount of free space that Will Bruin had before his extra time goal was criminal on the part of Miller and Ouimette both.
Lawrence: 5
Lawrence put in a solid shift at left back, winning his 50/50 battles in the air and on the ground, yet did not offer much going forward like his right back counterpart.
Sam: 6
The former Charlton Athletic man was sharp on the ball and looked hungry, nearly having a great strike from outside the box in the 56th minute. However, it feels like Sam has yet to actually break out into his final gear.
McCarty: 6
For much of the game, the Red Bull’s defensive mid bulldog had a typically strong performance, spreading the ball quickly around the midfield, constantly hounding the Houston attackers, and making crucial tackles all over the pitch. Then, Dax was beaten by Ricardo Clark on two successive Houston corners, and the ball ended up in the back of the net on both occasions. While only the second goal counted, a player of Mccarty’s experience should not have let that happen.
Felipe: 5.5
While the Brazilian provided good cover in front of the back four for most of the game, and showed tidiness on the ball, Felipe’s impact on the game was otherwise limited. Though he has little blame for the first two Houston goals, he was consequently sacrificed after the second goal for a more attacking option.
Kljestan: 6.5
Kljestan’s vision and subsequent passing was clearly a class above the rest of the men on the field Friday night. He was unlucky that his terrific through ball to Grella ended with Grella being booked for a dive rather than a deserved PK.
Grella (MOTM) 7
Continued his good run of form Friday night, notching a quality goal in the 41st minute of play. Grella really was one of New York’s most dangerous players before being subbed off, and absolutely should have earned a penalty after a terrific run through the Houston defense was cut short by a mistimed tackle from Houston’s goalkeeper, Tyler Derick
Wright-Phillips: 5.5
Wrights-Phillips had a decent game, connecting well enough with his midfielders and putting himself in dangerous positions. Yet, a forward like BWP is judged on the chances they take, and he did not take his chances today. Specifically, BWP botched a guilt edged chance in the 8th minute where he woefully under-struck shot took ages to roll to an open goal, before easily being chased down and cleared by the Houston Defender
Subs:
Dane Richards (65’): 4.5
Subbed in for Grella to save New York’s best player on the night from a second yellow, Richards provided little more than speed for the Red Bulls, failing to make any real offensive impact for the Red Bulls.
Bertrand Abang (74’): 6.5
At just 18 years old, Bertrand came on and provided a good attacking edge for the Red Bulls, and even getting on the end of a cross from fellow Cameroonian, Obekop, for a goal in the 90th minute.
Marius Obekop (86’): 6.5
Though Obekop only played four minutes of the match, it was enough to record an assist, providing the cross for Bertrands goal in the 90th minute.
