Juan Pablo Angel's first goal of the season erased a Los Angeles Galaxy equalizer scored just one minute before and led the New York Red Bulls to a 2-1 victory Saturday night at The Home Depot Center.
Danleigh Borman scored his first professional goal in the 21st minute to give the Red Bulls the lead at the half. But Alan Gordon pulled the Galaxy level in the 77th minute, before Angel latched onto a Dane Richards pass and rounded L.A. goalkeeper Steve Cronin before firing the ball high into the goal for the game-winner.
Despite worries that the Red Bulls would travel without their teenage superstar, Jozy Altidore traveled with and started for the club against the Galaxy. Altidore was effective early on as he created space for himself and his teammates among the Galaxy's backline. Altidore nearly scored in the first quarter hour but Galaxy rookie Brandon McDonald stopped a potential goal when he knocked a ball away from Altidore after the Red Bulls standout scurried past the Galaxy defense.
Borman put the Red Bulls ahead in the 21st minute. Angel headed on a Hunter Freeman throw-in and Jozy Altidore collected the ball. Altidore slammed a shot on goal but Cronin was in position to block the shot. The ball bounced out to Borman, though, who was unmarked and coolly slotted the ball into the back of the net.
The goal was Borman's first career MLS tally. The South African is not necessarily known for his offensive prowess. During his four years with the University of Rhode Island, Borman scored seven goals.
Although the Galaxy tried to break down the Red Bulls' defense from the right side, the visitors did well to stand their ground. In the third minute, Gordon found the back of the net with a glancing header from the right flank that he nestled inside the far side netting, but the flag was up for offside.
Galaxy forwards did not have much space inside the penalty area and Landon Donovan was kept under wraps. Donovan had one near-chance in the first 45 minutes but a late run into the box produced nothing.
The Red Bulls conceded three corner kicks in the first 10 minutes of the second half but none of the three led to anything. Red Bulls defenders easily cleared away the first two while the third ball lofted over nearly everyone inside the penalty area.
Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio went to the bench for the first time in the 58th minute, when he called on Carlos Mendes. The defender replaced Borman on the field and added bulk to the New York backline.
The Red Bulls did not have much offense in the first quarter hour, however. It wasn't until Angel's 62nd-minute shot that the club tested Cronin. Angel controlled the ball inside the penalty area and ripped a shot on goal. However, Angel fired from a difficult angel and Cronin made the save.
Dave van den Bergh was the recipient of a hard challenge by Beckham in the 67th minute. As van den Bergh looked to pass the ball out of the Red Bulls' defensive third, Beckham upended the Dutchman. Beckham was booked for the foul.
Red Bulls defender Kevin Goldthwaite was booked in the 75th minute after he knocked Donovan down from behind some 40 yards out. On the ensuing set piece, Beckham sent the ball into the penalty area but Luke Sassano cleared the ball out of danger.
The Galaxy equalized in the 77th minute when Randolph found Gordon inside the penalty area. In between a pair of Red Bulls defenders, Gordon trapped the ball with his back to goal, turned and slipped a ball past Jon Conway and into the back of the net.
On the next trip into Galaxy territory, though, the Red Bulls regained the lead. Richards sped past McDonald and placed the ball on the left side of the penalty area. Angel ran onto the ball, faked around a charging Cronin and powered his shot high into the back of the net over a sliding Galaxy defender.
Minutes later, Osorio replaced Richards with John Wolyniec.
Conway kept the Red Bulls ahead in the 84th minute when he turned Randolph away with a diving save. Randolph held the ball with space on the left side of the penalty area. Conway charged towards the Galaxy midfielder and was ready for Randolph's shot. He parried the ball away and helped maintain the lead. The save was Conway's third of the match and guaranteed the Red Bulls would leave with the full three points.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
