E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - It might be a different year, it might be a different team, but the formula for success remains the same for the New York-based MLS team: Clint Mathis scores and New York wins. It happened with the MetroStars four years ago and it happened again Sunday for the New York Red Bulls in a 3-0 win against FC Dallas at a rain-soaked Giants Stadium.
Mathis set up a Jozy Altidore goal after 18 minutes and scored his first in a Red Bulls uniform before the first half was out as New York improved to 21-0-4 when Cleetus finds the back of the net. Dave van den Bergh added a third just before the stroke of full time.
Bruce Arena tweaked his lineup from last Saturday's scoreless draw in the season opener against Columbus. The most noticeable difference was the absence of Claudio Reyna, who failed a fitness test after missing training all week with a left thigh contusion. Dema Kovalenko wore the captain's armband, Seth Stammler pushed up from central defense and Jeff Parke started alongside Carlos Mendes in the back. Hunter Freeman started in place of Marvell Wynne on the right side and Mathis started in place of John Wolyniec, as Arena went with a 4-5-1 formation.
Playing its third game in eight days, FC Dallas made two changes from its starting lineup Thursday night. David Wagenfuhr replaced Chris Gbandi in the back and Arturo Alvarez started in place of Marcelo Saragosa, who injured his right MCL in the first half against the Galaxy.
But for the second consecutive game, FCD was forced to make a substitution because of an injury in the first half as left back Wagenfuhr left the game with a possible concussion after taking a Mathis shot to the head from close range.
With the Hoops yet to make a change and down a man, the Red Bulls capitalized. Altidore beat Drew Moor to the ball and flicked Mathis' near post header past Shaka Hislop to put the Red Bulls in front in the 18th minute.
One minute later, Gbandi came on for Wagenfuhr, who was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center for X-rays.
Despite playing in a driving downpour, the teams combined for plenty of offense in the first half. Kenny Cooper pressed Ronald Waterreus into action in the 26th minute, but the Dutch goalkeeper dived to his right to stop the low, hard shot from 24 yards out.
After van den Bergh put the ball off the outside of the post on the half hour, the Red Bulls doubled their lead four minutes later on Mathis' first home goal at Giants Stadium since July 2, 2003. Dane Richards made a tremendous run to keep Kovalenko's pass in play, saving it by the end line.
Altidore touched it to Mathis, who beat Hislop from eight yards out for his 10th career goal in nine regular season games against Dallas. It was also his first goal for New York since Sept. 6, 2003, when he scored a double at Kansas City.
Van den Bergh missed a golden chance to put the Red Bulls in front 3-0, but he missed a sitter from eight yards out in the 45th minute.
Jon Conway replaced Waterreus, who came down with an illness, at the start of the second half and the Hoops made their second change in the 48th minute when Bobby Rhine came on for Clarence Goodson. FC Dallas, which suffered its first loss of the year, made its last change in the 72nd minute when Dominic Oduro replaced Alvarez.
Altidore had three great chances to add a second goal, but he was stopped by Hislop and put the ball off the side netting in the 57th minute and Hislop made another save on a low shot in the 74th minute on the 17-year-old. Eight minutes from full time, Mathis nearly had a brace of his own, but his twisting shot sailed just over the crossbar from 16 yards out.
Van den Bergh made up for his earlier miss, adding an unassisted insurance goal seconds from the final whistle to end the game.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
