CARSON, Calif. - Jozy Altidore scored in the 16th minute, the teenager offsetting a 15th-minute Galaxy goal as the New York Red Bulls finished their 2007 regular-season campaign with a 1-1 draw against the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center on MLS Primetime Thursday.
The Red Bulls will next play host to New England in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Oct. 27. The draw also made things difficult for their opponents; the Galaxy must defeat the Chicago Fire and hope either the Kansas City Wizards lose to FC Dallas, or the Colorado Rapids fail to defeat Real Salt Lake, if they are to reach the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Despite their playoff position and opponent set, the Red Bulls fielded a strong side as coach Bruce Arena did not rest any of his top available players. Altidore started on the left side of midfield as Juan Pablo Angel paired with John Wolyniec up top.
Jon Conway started in goal after an impressive performance in Saturday's 2-1 win against Kansas City.
Although the hosts had everything to play for, it was the visitors who took command of the match from the start. In the second minute, Altidore slipped a pass from the left flank to the center of the penalty area but Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon darted off his line and beat Juan Pablo Angel to the ball.
Angel had another attempt one minute later but pushed a header just wide of the right post.
The Galaxy had hardly any meaningful possession until the quarter-hour mark, when they took the early lead. Landon Donovan found the ball at his feet after an unsuccessful corner kick and sent a cross from the left flank right into the front of the six-yard box. Troy Roberts rose up at the back post and powered a header into the back of the net.
With celebratory confetti still raining down on the crowd and many supporters still on their feet after celebrating the goal, the Red Bulls struck. Dave van den Bergh whipped a cross from the left side to the front of the goal where Altidore easily redirected it past Cannon.
Instead of picking up in intensity after two goals in two minutes, the match hit an unexpected lull. Goalkeepers Jon Conway and Cannon took turns punting balls back and forth to each other.
Angel had a pair of chances inside the penalty area the remainder of the first half. The first, a side volley in the 28th minute, was right to Cannon and had little steam on it. His second attempt, however, nearly paid off. Angel collected the ball near the penalty spot and shook off Galaxy defender Mike Randolph. But Angel was just a bit off balance and sent his shot over the crossbar.
Galaxy forwards had problems staying onside in the first half as the Galaxy were whistled for offside six times in the first half compared to twice for the Red Bulls.
The Red Bulls made one change at halftime as Chris Leitch replaced van den Bergh.
Early in the second half, Richards continued to frustrate the Galaxy's defense. In the 49th minute, Richards found space in the Galaxy's defense and fed Angel but the striker took too much time to settle the ball and Roberts blocked his 12-yard attempt.
Richards ripped a shot from 12 yards out on the right side but Cannon dived and parried the ball over the end line in the 54th minute.
Angel nearly put the Red Bulls up on a 27-yard free kick in the 61st minute but his bending attempt hit the outside of the net.
David Beckham finally entered the match in the 70th minute. Initially, Beckham did not distinguish himself but the Red Bulls defense gave him plenty of opportunity to do so. In the 77th minute, Beckham took the first of three successive corner kicks but Conway stopped the Galaxy's best attempt over that span, a soft 22-yard shot from Josh Tudela.
Altidore nearly ended the Galaxy's season when he slipped a shot just wide of the post in second-half stoppage time.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
