The Red Bulls returned home after a two game away stand, and got their 3rd win of the season to jump to the top of the Eastern Conference, and to remain the only unbeaten team in the MLS. Here’s how each player fared
Luis Robles – 7.5
Robles had a pretty quiet first half, his first couple saves came in the 32nd minute, and right before the half when he beat Innocent to a well timed lobbed pass that would have put the San Jose forward in Roble’s face. Despite the quiet first half, Robles kept his focus, and made 3 key saves in the second half. The first one, a foot save in the 71st minute after an initial block by Felipe, the other two inside the last 10 minutes of the game – a point blank shot from Innocent, and a closed angle shot from Wondolowski. Robles recorded his second shutout of the season and as yet to allow a goal at Red Bull Arena this season.
Chris Duvall – 7
In his post game presser, Jesse Marsch stated tonight’s game was Duvall’s best performance of the season. Committed to going forward, and taking advantage of the space given by San Jose, Duvall had a good amount of incursions into his opponents final third and created some good mismatches for the Red Bulls. Defensively, the second year player was also more consistent than in past games.
Matt Miazga – 7
If there’s a player that has shown a significant improvement in the Red Bulls’ first 5 games is Matt Miazga. Solid defending, aerial domination, and good positioning were all part of a good performance by the 19 year old. A couple suspect short passes out of the back need improvement, but other than that, Miazga looked very confident, evident by his willingness to dribble out of the back when pressed by an attacker, and looking for a streaking BWP with a long ball.
Damien Perrinelle – 7.5
If Matt Miazga has shown significant improvement, Perrinelle has asserted himself as the anchor of the Red Bull’s defense in the same period of time. Strong on the defensive end, and a significant factor on offensive set pieces, Perrinelle looks very confident, taking on attackers in his defensive end, and making crucial tackles. Perrinelle picked up a yellow in the 11th minute after a surgical foul on a threatening San Jose offensive transition, but even after picking up the yellow that early in the game, the Frenchman never looked to back away from tackles and challenges, and finished the game having committed only the one foul that earned him the yellow card, remarkable for a center back. A header in the 46th minute almost surprised Bingham.
Kemar Lawrence – 6.5
The Jamaican international seemed to have specific instructions to keep a close eye on Nyassi, prioritizing defense ahead of attacking. Lawrence had a solid game, defending Nyassi well, and keeping him from creating danger to the Red Bulls’ goal. A left calf issue looked like it would limit Lawrence’s performance right before the half, but Lawrence came out of the locker room for the second half looking unaffected by his calf, and finished the game with a respectable performance. Kemar’s shot in the 40th minute came close to being a goal of the year candidate.
Felipe – 8
If the new Red Bulls’ DNA revolves around its midfield, Felipe is perhaps the most important piece. The Brazilian’s play on both sides of the ball is quite impressive. From his assist to BWP in San Jose’s goalmouth, that Kljestan finished for the Red Bulls first goal, to the crucial sliding block on Thompson’s 70th minute shot from 8 yards out, Felipe’s play making efforts, and defensive plays throughout the game, including some crucial ones in the later stages of the game, could easily make him this game’s man of the match. Felipe seems to be omnipresent in the many facets of New York’s game, he is clearly the quartz movement that makes this Red Bulls team tick.
Dax McCarty – 7.5
While not as creative as his partner in the middle of the park, Dax’s role in this midfield shouldn’t be undermined. Last season his responsibilities tipped heavy towards defensive duties, and often found himself outnumbered in the midfield. This year Dax still has defensive responsibilities, but with Felipe at his side, he has the ability to keep the Red Bulls midfield a fluid and well oiled machine. From the slick heads up combinations with his teammates, quick touches to keep the Red Bulls in possession, to the tireless pressure on opposing players, Dax is so much more than the defensive midfield anchor he was last year. McCarty’s reads of the game, and his presence of mind to occupy the right spaces, were a big key for this Red Bull team to keep a balanced shape in this game.
Sacha Kljestan – 7.5
Sacha got his first goal of the season against San Jose, and while he admittedly felt he didn’t have a good game, Kljestan’s chemistry with the Red Bulls’ offensive trident, and his midfield partners continues to improve with every game. Kljestan may not be at the level he would like to be for this team, but his instincts as an attacking midfielder are slowly becoming more refined, case and point his positioning at the second post for the tap in that gave the Red Bulls their first goal. Kljestan’s decision making, and execution in the final third still lacks at times, but there’s a clear evolution from the box-to-box player he was at Anderlecht, to the attacking midfielder Jesse Marsch wants him to be.
Lloyd Sam – 7.5
Clearly one of the Red Bulls most dangerous players, Sam is enjoying his new role with the Red Bulls. Whether on the right, on the left, or dribbling into the middle, Sam continues to be the Red Bulls’ X-factor. His quick foot work on the right to keep his defender from blocking the cross that found Mike Grella on the second post for New York’s second goal, is just an example how Sam is making a difference in the final third. Sam’s speed, and explosiveness off the dribble gave the San Jose men a lot of trouble in this game. He came off injured in the 76th minute in what Jesse Marsch called a hamstring tweak that will need to be evaluated further to determine its severity.
Mike Grella – 7.5
Scoring his second goal of the season, his first in front of his home crowd, Mike Grella seems to have won his battle with Sal Zizzo, and cemented the right wing starting spot. A clear contrast from Sam’s style, Grella relied on his combination play with both the midfield, and the front line to pull off another solid performance. Grella proved that awareness, and putting himself in an opportunistic position can be just as valuable as a quick dribble to beat a defender.
Bradley Wright-Phillips – 7.5
BWP may have been blanked for his second game in a row, but his performance tonight was once again on target. Battling with the physical Bernardez and Goodson for the entire game, BWP’s involvement in the Red Bulls’ attacking maneuvers bordered on perfect. Whether checking into the midfield for an outlet pass, or making a diagonal run into space looking for a through ball, BWP’s performance tonight deserved a goal for the hard work he put in. He finished the game with a team high 5 shots, and was denied on a couple occasions by Bingham.
Sal Zizzo – 6
Zizzo came in for the injured Lloyd Sam in the 76th minute, had a couple touches on the ball but nothing that worried the Earthquakes defense.
Dane Richards -6.5
Came in the 78th minute for the exhausted Mike Grella, and tried to take advantage of the San Jose’s forward push. Richards was able to beat 2 defenders in the 89th minute but couldn’t put away what would have been the Red Bulls’ third goal of the game.
Sean Davis – N/R
The New Jersey native came in the 86th minute to make his debut for the Red Bulls
Alfredo Fumacas
