As momentum shifted towards the Kansas City Wizards after a controversial penalty kick put them level with visiting New York on Saturday night at Arrowhead Stadium, forward Scott Sealy broke away from the Red Bulls' defense and went one-on-one with goalkeeper Tony Meola. Though the chips were stacked against him, Meola stood tall and pounced on the ball at the edge of the penalty box in one catlike motion.
"I think he thought it was easy to dribble past an old man," the 37-year-old goaltender said with a chuckle.
With a typical save in a typical night in his illustrious career, Meola kept his team in the game, helping ensure that New York left Kansas City with a point. While he could not do anything about Jose Burciaga's penalty kick to tie the game, Meola spectacularly stopped consecutive shots from Jack Jewsbury and Ryan Pore late in the second half and was steady throughout the evening.
"He comes up big in every game we play," said midfielder Chris Henderson, who scored the Red Bulls' lone goal. "He can play as long as he wants. He's one of the best goalies this country has."
While it was just another away game for many of the traveling Red Bulls, Saturday night's contest proved to be somewhat of a homecoming for Meola, who played for the Wizards from 1999-2004 and led Kansas City to its 2000 MLS Cup championship. Though he is planning to spend more time and settle down more in the New York area, Meola had a contingent of over 100 members of his family and friends supporting him at Arrowhead Stadium.
"This will always be a special place for me," Meola said. "I've spent seven years of my life here and I certainly have a lot of fond memories here."
Meola, who recently earned his 100th cap for the U.S. national team, made six saves on Saturday. The goaltender was not the only former Kansas City player to suit up against his former team. Others included Henderson and defender Taylor Graham, who both played in Kansas City for two seasons, and current Red Bulls head coach Mo Johnston.
But Johnston, who was a Wizard for six years, brushed aside any emotions relating to his old club.
"I told these guys I'm not sentimental," Johnston said. "We want three points and that did not happen tonight."
Henderson, Jolley lend a hand
Henderson's goal in the 30th minute was his first of the season. The midfielder, who had found the back of the net 48 times through the first 10 MLS seasons, scored off a volley from in front of the right post.
"It's good to finally a goal," Henderson said. "I always like playing back here. The fans are good and I like the field."
Defender Steve Jolley's assist on Henderson's opening goal was his first since June 29, 2002 in a 2-0 win over New England. The helper was on a Mamadou Diallo tally during Jolley's first stint with New York.
Though it might be rare to find Jolley's name on the assists list, all he really is concerned about are wins.
"I don't really care about assists, goals, that kind of stuff," he said. "For me, it's results. I don't build my career on points or anything like that."
Red Bulls grounded by Mother Nature
Even though the Red Bulls had the looming obstacle in the form of the Wizards on Saturday night, their trip to Kansas City was a challenge all by itself.
While the flight from Newark to Kansas City takes a little less than two hours and 20 minutes, the Red Bulls players and coaching staff found themselves stuck on the airport's runway for almost three hours on Friday after delays due to inclement weather.
To add salt to the wound, the plane had to make a 30-second stop in Louisville, Ky., because it needed more fuel to complete the trip. After the entire ordeal, the players finally arrived to their hotel at around 10 p.m. CT Friday.
The mood on the delayed flight was positive, however, with players chatting, reading books and magazines and perhaps most importantly, catching up on some much-needed sleep.
