NYRB win 2-1, Robles with a strong performance in goal
by Stephanie Lovelle, NY beat reporter
The New York Red Bulls took to the road this week with a visit to Mapfre Stadium to play the Columbus Crew, earning a 2-1 win and a jump to the top of the Eastern Conference table. This was the third MLS match of the season for both the Crew and the Red Bulls.
The Red Bulls would kick things off in the 9th minute with an open chance from Sal Zizzo that hit the crossbar. New York’s Lloyd Sam laid off a well-placed cross to Zizzo following a ball from midifelder Felipe Campanholi Martins. This stood as one Red Bulls’ best chance’s during a sloppy first half from both sides.
While the Red Bulls did well in their pressing and ability to smother chances from the home side, the Crew were able to get the Red Bulls on counter-attacks. In the 11th minute, Columbus threatened on the counter with a ball to the feet of Ethan Finlay. Damien Perrinelle would be the lone man at the back for the Red Bulls on the play, managing to get just enough on the ball to shut the chance down. Perrinelle then earned a yellow in the 17th minute, after being forced to bring down Columbus Crew’s Federico Higuain who had the space to break for the net.
Going forward, the New York Red Bull’s coach, Jesse Marsch will need to address the defensive issues that are still troubling the club. The Crew had potential to capitalize on several counter-attacks, that often left New York players scrambling to defend. In the 43rd minute, the Crew’s Higuain challenged New York again with a shot that was launched over the cross bar. The opening 45 minutes came to a close with the two teams at a scoreless draw.
What the first half had in effort from both sides, however, the second made up for in goals. Just two minutes into the second half, Wright-Phillips managed to find forward Sam in space. An eventual tackle from Crew’s defender Emanuel Pogatetz, would lead to a penalty that landed Wright-Phillips the opening goal of the match in the 49th minute. The Red Bulls responded to their lead with several attacking opportunities, including a breakaway by Zizzo in the 56th minute. A ball from Sam allowed Zizzo to play Wright-Phillips, who’s run was then blocked by the Crew keeper, Steve Clark.
Steve Clark and another great save
The New York Red Bull’s keeper, Luis Robles would come up strong in the 57th minute when he managed to make a kick save earning the Crew a corner. Despite the save, the poor marking issues would come back to haunt the Red Bulls. Higuain’s confident cross skipped past players towards ex-Red Bulls Tony Tchani who was left unmarked, allowing him to tie the game at 1-1 in the 58th minute.
So far this season, forward Mike Grella has yet to make a name for himself in the Red Bull squad. While he’s been showing that he is a hard worker on the pitch, fans have expressed early frustrations with him and his inability to produce.
If there was any moment, for Grella to start changing fan perceptions of him, though – the 67th minute against the Crew was that time. Grella came on in the second half for Zizzo and would ultimately become the difference maker in the scoreline. Michael Parkhurst, in attempts to break away from his opponent, would lose the ball which would take a bounce towards the feet of Grella who pounced on the opportunity with a beautiful chip into the back of the Crew net to put Red Bulls back up by a goal.
Matters would only become worst for the Crew as the Red Bulls would find themselves with the man advantage in the 83rd minute when Higuain was given his second yellow of the night after showing dissent due to a foul call by the referee.
Luis Robles solid in the air
But despite the man advantage, the Red Bulls would still need some heroics from Robles. The Crew came up with one last chance by way of a cross into the box that Robles was able to grab in the air, sealing the 2-1. However, already falling backwards from his grab, Kei Kamara took a tumble into Robles from the front causing the keeper to take a seemingly rough fall into goalpost. Luckily, Robles was able to get back on his feet within a few minutes.
Three games into the season and it’s been so far, so good for Marsch and his team. The question of how capable the Red Bulls would be without international stars Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill, and fan favorite coach Mike Petke may have since been answered for some but the season is young. The Red Bulls come away with the three points but they’d want to look back on the conceded goal due to Tchani being left unmarked.
The New York Red Bulls once again have a break in their schedule, returning to play in two weeks on April 11 for an away match against D.C. United.
