NEW YORK RED BULLS v FC DALLAS
GIANTS STADIUM, E. Rutherford, N.J.
3 p.m. ET (Telefutura; MSG)
April 15, 2007 (WEEK 2) / MLS Game #12
FC Dallas continues their road show to start the 2007 campaign as they travel to the Meadowlands to take on the New York Red Bulls, who are hoping their home slate Sunday afternoon. FC Dallas is still undefeated on the young season, with a win and a draw from their first two games, both on the road. The Hoops face a difficult test in the Red Bulls, just three days after FCD defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy in Carson, with a cross-country flight in between. The Red Bulls opened their campai
gn last weekend with a scoreless draw at the Columbus Crew, the third season in a row the club has began the year with a draw.
REFEREE: Andrew Chapin. SAR (bench): Thomas Supple; JAR (opposite): Bill Dittmar; 4th: Jorge Gonzalez
MLS Career: 14 games; FC/gm: 29.3; Y/gm: 5.2; R: 4; pens: 1
Games involving Red Bulls: P2 W0 L2 T0; FC/gm: 30.5; Y/gm: 6.0; R: 0; pens: 0
Games involving FC Dallas: P4 W4 L0 T0; FC/gm: 30.3; Y/gm: 4.5; R: 1; pens: 0
INJURY REPORT: NEW YORK RED BULLS - OUT: MF Blake Camp (R ankle sprain): DF Taylor Graham (R hamstring strain: FW Mike Magee (R knee surgery recovery); MF Markus Schopp (sports hernia) ... FC DALLAS - OUT: MF Marcelo Saragosa (R knee); FW Roberto Mina (L MCL strain); DF Adrian Serioux (L knee surgery); QUESTIONABLE: MF Arturo Alvarez (lower back spasms)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
SUSPENDED: DAL: GK Dario Sala (through April 29)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (28 meetings): Red Bulls 12 wins (1 shootout), 38 goals ... FC Dallas 14 wins (0 shootout), 48 goals ... Draws 2
AT GIANTS STADIUM: (15 meetings): Red Bulls 6 wins (1 shootout), 18 goals ... FC Dallas 8 wins (0 shootout), 25 goals ... Draws 1
• This is the first of two meetings between the two teams this season, both coming in the first month of the season. The Red Bulls will make their lone league visit to Pizza Hut Park on April 26 on ESPN Primetime Thursday.
LAST YEAR (MLS):
5/24: NY 1, DAL 2 (Stammler 8 - Cooper 76; Ruiz 87)
7/8: DAL 2, NY 1 (Oduro 2; Wagenfuhr 33 - Magee 80)
• A season ago, FC Dallas claimed both meetings between the two teams, winning 2-1 both on May 24 at the Meadowlands and July 8 in Frisco.
• Over the last five seasons, the two teams have alternated winning the season series - Dallas winning on the even years, and the MetroStars/Red Bulls on the odd ones.
• Coaches record: Bruce Arena v DAL: P9 W4 L5 D0 ... Steve Morrow vs. NY: first game
NEW YORK RED BULLS
The New York Red Bulls began their 2007 season with a trip to Columbus, battling the elements and the Crew to a scoreless draw last Saturday evening. The two teams were left tied for second in the Eastern Conference with one point, behind the Chicago Fire (the only East team to win on First Kick).
LAST MATCH
• At Crew Stadium, freezing conditions also greeted the Columbus Crew and New York Red Bulls as they made their 2007 bow, with a rebuilt Red Bulls team taking on a Crew side looking to end a two-year run of failing to reach the postseason.
• But it was the goalkeepers who shone on the night. Crew 'keeper Andy Gruenebaum, who made three appearances a year ago in his rookie season, made three saves on the night, including good stops on Dave van den Bergh and Jozy Altidore just before halftime.
• Red Bulls 'keeper Ronald Waterreus was credited with five saves in the MLS debut for the former Dutch international - but was fortunate to see a Jason Garey chance two minutes from the end come back off the base of his left-hand post.
• Bruce Arena gave starts to all of his major offseason acquisitions - Claudio Reyna in the center of midfield, Dave van den Bergh wide on the left flank and former Dutch international 'keeper Ronald Waterreus in goal. With Markus Schopp injured, rookie Dave Richards started wide on the right.
• Here's Arena's team (4-4-2): Ronald Waterreus - Marvell Wynne, Carlos Mendes, Seth Stammler, Todd Dunivant - Dane Richards (Sinisa Ubiparipovic 84), Dema Kovalenko, Claudio Reyna, Dave van den Bergh - John Wolyniec, Josmer Altidore (Clint Mathis 61). Substitutes Not Used: Sal Caccavale, Jon Conway, Hunter Freeman, Jeff Parke, Joe Vide
• "The first half performance was pretty good and we're at fault for not finishing some of our chances," Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena said. "In the second half the Crew made some adjustments and played better and it was a pretty even game in the second half. We gave the ball away when we could have held it up a little better. I think we were too anxious to get behind them and we needed to be a little bit smarter in picking our spots and keeping the ball."
TEAM NEWS
• The Red Bulls held their collective breath just about a quarter of the way into the match, when Dane Richards collided with Claudio Reyna and the former U.S. international crumpled to the ground holding his left leg. But after shaking off the injury, he lasted through the remainder of the match, and is expected to be available this weekend despite missing training much of the week.
• "To be honest it was really sore and it's completely swollen up now (after the game). It wasn't ideal," Reyna said. "I felt pretty good getting into the game, especially in the first half. As soon as that happened it threw me off and I had to sit back a little more and just help the team defensively. It's disappointing, but I think in four or five days it should be OK. It definitely did affect a little bit running around and passing, because it was my planting foot."
• Reyna showed the kind of vision he possesses before the game was two minutes old, finding Dema Kovalenko with a wonderful ball, though Kovalenko cracked it over the bar.
• "When you get the chances like you do away from home in the first half, it's so key to get a goal because then you put the home team immediately under pressure and we just didn't do that," Reyna said. "In the end, the result was probably fair because both sides created chances."
• If Reyna is unavailable, it could mean extended time for Clint Mathis, who came on as a second-half substitute and played 29 minutes. Arena said: "I would like to have seen a little more out of Clint. We were planning on giving him some minutes regardless and he just needs to get into it a little more." Still, the Red Bulls boss acknowledged by the time Mathis came on, Reyna was playing in a slightly more defensive posture and was also slowed by the first-half collision.
• It was the third consecutive year the Red Bulls/MetroStars opened the season with a draw, all with a different coach. In 2005, the MetroStars, led by Bob Bradley, played to a scoreless draw with Real Salt Lake. Last year, with Mo Johnston at the helm, the Red Bulls left D.C. United with a 2-2 draw.
• "At the end of the day, we don't have anything to show for it and it's been too much of a pattern throughout the preseason," Red Bulls boss Bruce Arena said. "We need to do a better job in finishing our chances, of being a little cleaner in the last third of the field to produce plays where the ball ends up in the back of the net."
FC DALLAS
FC Dallas remained on the road to begin the 2007 season, and stayed undefeated, going to The Home Depot Center and coming away with a 2-1 victory against the Los Angeles Galaxy - the club's first-ever win against the Galaxy in Carson. FC Dallas lead the Western Conference with four points from two games heading into the weekend, a point ahead of the Colorado Rapids and Chivas USA.
LAST MATCH
• In nine previous trips to face the Galaxy at The Home Depot Center, FC Dallas had gone 0-for-9, losing eight times in league play and once in the 2005 U.S. Open Cup Final (they had defeated Chivas USA twice on Victoria Street).
• While the Galaxy had much the better of the early exchanges, a little bit of good fortune gave the Hoops a 35th-minute lead. Juan Toja sent a shot goalward after skipping through a host of Galaxy defenders, and after it hit Ty Harden's arm, referee Terry Vaughn immediately pointed to the spot.
• Carlos Ruiz nestled the ball into the back of the net, just past the outstretched dive of Galaxy 'keeper Joe Cannon. It was the first Ruiz has scored as a visitor at The Home Depot Center and third overall he's bagged against the Galaxy. His previous two goals against the Galaxy were at Pizza Hut Park. As well, it was FCD's first penalty kick since September 2005.
• Eight minutes later, the Hoops doubled their lead. Ramon Nunez swung in a free kick from the right, and Kenny Cooper stabbed home a volley off the turf into the roof of the net. The goal marked the seventh time overall and second in as many weeks that Cooper and Ruiz each scored a goal in the same match.
• The Galaxy had a flurry of chances just after the break, but they couldn't find a way past FCD 'keeper Shaka Hislop until the 86th minute, when Landon Donovan sent in a corner and rookie substitute Robbie Findley rose up to nod it home for his first professional goal.
• FC Dallas head coach Steve Morrow made three changes from the opening game, a 2-2 draw with Real Salt Lake five days earlier. Dax McCarty came into a reconfigured midfield, replacing Arturo Alvarez, while Alex Yi and Chris Gbandi came into the back four, in place of Bobby Rhine and David Wagenfuhr respectively.
• Here's Morrow's team (4-3-1-2): Shaka Hislop - Drew Moor, Alex Yi, Clarence Goodson, Chris Gbandi, Dax McCarty, Marcelo Saragosa (Aaron Pitchkolan 29), Juan Toja - Ramon Nunez (Bobby Rhine 82) - Kenny Cooper (Dominic Oduro 73), Carlos Ruiz. Substitutes Not Used: Arturo Alvarez, Ray Burse, Abe Thompson, David Wagenfuhr
• "It's our first win at The Home Depot Center, and that's a big positive for us. Also I think it's good for the team mentally to overcome that hurdle and we spoke about that before the game. I threw out to the players that hadn't won here and challenged the players to come out here and enjoy that challenge and they did," Morrow said. "I'm pleased with the results, pleased with the win. I think there's more to come from this team. We defended very well going forward we can possess the ball a lot better and cause teams even more trouble."
TEAM NEWS
• Throughout the preseason, much was made of Morrow's change to a 4-2-3-1 tactical scheme, especially how it increased attacking flow for the Hoops. But in just the second game of the season, Morrow changed the system, partnering Carlos Ruiz and Kenny Cooper as strikers, with Ramon Nunez still in behind, and a trio of midfielders who were really tucked in.
• "We played a slightly different way against Salt Lake on Saturday and made a couple of little adjustments," Morrow said. "For me the adjustments were for the positive side and for the good of this team and how we can get out of other teams."
• In addition, while Chris Gbandi coming into the team was a straight switch at left back, the addition of Alex Yi as a center back meant Drew Moor moved to right fullback, after playing as a center back in the opener.
• "It's something that we talked about all preseason," Morrow said. "We tried a couple of slightly different styles of play in terms of our formation. I clearly wanted to identify the strengths of all the players and identify the strengths of all the talent that I've got and get people in their right positions and get the most out of them."
• While not having the usual wide options in the 4-2-3-1, for Nunez, there was little change. "My position was pretty much the same role as opposed to other formations. I felt I got the ball often and when I got the ball we created things," he said.
• Said Morrow: "Ramon's another guy who played well tonight and fitting nicely with what we're trying to do. He's been very good on the ball. He's been in the league a few years now and I don't see him as a young player anymore. I told him that he needs to be mature and needs to be the guy getting on the ball for us in the middle of the field. So far, he's responded very well."
• For Ruiz, his first-ever goal against his former club at The Home Depot Center brought a measure of satisfaction. "Scoring against them is not like scoring against other teams," Ruiz said. "This is the team that I had success with and won a championship with and won an MVP. The Galaxy is a great franchise but I defend FC Dallas' colors now."
• Still, the win was tempered somewhat by the loss of Marcelo Saragosa. The midfielder went down in the 25th minute when his knee buckled near the right sideline on a seemingly innocent challenge. Saragosa was replaced by Aaron Pitchkolan and later diagnosed with possible damage in his medial collateral ligament.
• "It looks like it could be a bad injury," Morrow said. "It puts a bit of a damper and a bit of a negative on the whole game tonight. It's good to get the win but at the back of our mind it's bad to lose Marcelo."
• Coming away with the full three points made the cross-country trip to New York and the quick turnaround much easier to deal with.
• "It would be the same if we had a good amount of recovery time. We had the game in Salt Lake City, went to Dallas, came out here and now we're going to New York. That's practically three games in one week. It's going to be difficult and draining on us," Ruiz said. "We're looking at it as four points out of nine so anything we get from New York to take back to Dallas would be a bonus."
