It might not be the result they were looking for when they arrived at Giants Stadium Saturday night. But the New York Red Bulls were certainly not disappointed with a 1-1 draw against the Kansas City Wizards, especially considering they equalized in the final 10 minutes down a man after Dave van den Bergh was sent off.
"I'm happy with the way they responded to my sending off," van den Bergh said. "I think everybody played their hearts out tonight and I think we got rewarded for our hard work."
The Red Bulls extended their unbeaten streak to five consecutive games and made it 12 in a row without a loss against the Wizards at Giants Stadium dating back to 2000. And they have a rookie midfielder from South Africa to thank for that.
For the second consecutive week, Danleigh Borman scored, this time leveling the game at 1-1 with a powerful first-time strike that went off of Kevin Hartman's hands and inside the near post nine minutes from full time.
As he did at The Home Depot Center after his first professional goal, he celebrated with a cartwheel and made the motion of an 'X' with his hands.
"I remember we discovered him in January in the Combine in Florida," Juan Carlos Osorio said of Borman, who played his college soccer at the University of Rhode Island. "At the time, I thought he was probably a good player with good potential and I think he's developing very well at the moment and he is contributing a great deal to our recent results."
Borman came on at halftime for Mike Magee as the Red Bulls switched from a 3-4-3 formation to a 4-4-2.
"He just said I needed to come in and be effective and try to make a difference in the game, to do what I do and take on players from my position, give it to Juan Pablo (Angel) and put crosses in," Borman said of his instructions from Osorio.
Borman's equalizer was one of the last things Osorio saw from the sideline. Referee Jair Marrufo sent the first-year Red Bulls coach off three minutes later and Osorio will not be allowed on the bench when the Red Bulls host his former club, the Chicago Fire, next Sunday.
"After being warned to conduct himself in a professional manner, Juan Carlos Osorio was expelled ... for inappropriate behavior for use of foul language," Marrufo said in a written statement. "After being expelled, Osorio continued verbal attacks to the referee and then to the fourth official while leaving the field."
Osorio, though, claims he didn't use profanity. That was one of the only things he said about his second MLS ejection in two years.
"I was issued a red card. I'm very disappointed with that decision," Osorio said after the match. "I think it's very unfair but that's as far as I comment about that."
Osorio appeared to still be steamed over van den Bergh's sending off in the 77th minute when the veteran midfielder was given a straight red card for elbowing Davy Arnaud in the face after he was grabbed from behind in the midfield. Arnaud was given a yellow card on the play.
"Obviously, my intention was never to hit him," van den Bergh said. "I don't think I did hit him. I think he had a good dive like he was in a swimming pool."
The Red Bulls rebounded well after being outplayed in a first half by a Kansas City side that deserved to take a 1-0 lead into the locker room. While the Red Bulls came into the game second in the league in goals against, they have been victimized off of set pieces and that was the case in the 20th minute when Jimmy Conrad's glancing header off Carlos Marinelli's corner put the visitors in front.
"I am very disappointed with that considering the height and the time that we dedicated to defensive plays during training," Osorio said. "But, give credit to the boys. They responded very well in the second half."
The Red Bulls peppered Hartman's net in the second half, but the veteran 'keeper did well to keep the hosts at bay, making seven saves. Arguably his best came in the 63rd minute when he robbed Angel from point-blank range, slapping away his attempt with his left hand.
The Wizards also twice cleared shots off the goal line. First was an acrobatic save by Jack Jewsbury to rob Jozy Altidore and the second was a header off the line by Sasha Victorine in the second half off a Kevin Goldthwaite shot following a wild scramble in front of goal.
Finally, the Red Bulls were rewarded for their effort nine minutes from full time on Borman's brilliant strike.
"Obviously to get David sent off changed the whole game and I think we got to give credit to the team that we came back and fought back even one man down," Angel said. "It was a great goal for him, (Borman) was in a great position and he took it well."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
