The reaction to Danleigh Borman's celebration of his first professional goal was mixed last weekend in Los Angeles. Surely, though, the New York Red Bulls thoroughly enjoyed the celebration for his second Saturday night because Borman's spectacular strike was the late equalizer for the hosts in a 1-1 draw against the Kansas City Wizards at Giants Stadium.
After falling behind on Jimmy Conrad's team-leading third goal of the season on 20 minutes, the Red Bulls rallied to tie the match on Borman's second professional goal eight minutes from full time.
Borman's strike also came five minutes after Dave van den Bergh was shown a straight red card by referee Jair Marrufo for elbowing Davy Arnaud in the head after being grabbed from behind in the midfield. Marrufo also sent off Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio in the 84th minute.
Jozy Altidore flicked on a throw-in to Juan Pablo Angel and he controlled it before sliding it under a defender and into Borman's path on the left, who rifled it off Kansas City goalkeeper Kevin Hartman and inside the post. The South African midfielder, who came on at halftime for Mike Magee, then ran across the field, did a cartwheel and made the motion of an 'X' with his hands.
The goal came after a sustained New York attack in the Wizards' defensive third for much of the second half. The Red Bulls saw two balls cleared off the line by Kansas City defenders over the course of the evening.
The Wizards, who came into Giants Stadium having scored just three goals in their last five games, jumped in front on 20 minutes when Conrad beat Jon Conway with a glancing header off a Carlos Marinelli corner kick.
It was the central defender's team-leading third goal of the year, moving him up the league's scoring charts. Conrad is now one goal shy of matching his career-high for goals scored in a season.
The Red Bulls would have equalized nine minutes later if not for an acrobatic goal line clearance from Jack Jewsbury, who kicked aside Altidore's shot from 14 yards out. Hartman dove out to grab Dane Richards' cross off a Wizards turnover in their defensive third.
The Red Bulls have owned the Wizards at Giants Stadium, going 5-0-7 in the last 12 games dating back to 2000.
With Roger Espinoza serving a one-game ban after being sent off in the Wizards last game against Columbus May 3, Sasha Victorine made his first start of the year, while Ryan Pore made his first start since breaking his nose April 9.
Osorio tweaked his starting lineup following a 2-1 win against the Galaxy last weekend, giving Andrew Boyens his first start of the year, playing on the right side of New York's three-man backline.
New York came close to tying the match early in the second half, when Victorine headed a shot by Kevin Goldthwaite off the line following a wild scramble in the box in the 54th minute. Just four minutes later, Borman found himself open at the back post, but Hartman did well to come off his line and make the save.
In the 63rd minute, Hartman made a left-handed save of Angel's shot from point blank range. Four minutes later, Hartman dived to his left to punch away Angel's free kick from 22 yards out. New York rookie Luke Sassano headed the rebound over the crossbar.
In the 72nd minute, Angel flicked a Goldthwaite throw-in just wide of Hartman's right. Moments later, Hartman punched away an attempt by Dane Richards. He made seven saves on the night, while Conway was forced to make just one save as the Red Bulls extended their unbeaten streak to five consecutive games.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
