Edson Buddle didn't do anything differently Saturday, even after getting the phone call from New York Red Bulls boss Bruce Arena that he was benched against Real Salt Lake in favor of recently acquired John Wolyniec.
While his preparation was the same, his attitude was different. The pressure to score, which has been there all season, was off his shoulders, even when he came on at the start of the second half at Giants Stadium.
The 6-0 result was stunning. Buddle scored a natural hat trick in a six-goal second half barrage, tying a club record for goals scored in a game. And it happened exactly six years after the MetroStars scored six against the Dallas Burn.
"Sometimes you press and try to go after it and some nights like tonight where it just comes to you," Buddle said.
"I had a lot of rest yesterday, went home, saw a couple of my friends, relaxed and stayed put," he added. "I woke up this morning, didn't do anything different, had breakfast with my mom and came in."
As great as Buddle's performance was, the turning point of the game was the eighth minute red card to Real Salt Lake's Jack Stewart. The defender took down Wolyniec from behind on a breakaway and was immediately ejected.
"Obviously the early red card was the story of the game," Arena said. "I think it was the right decision by the referee. I think once we got the first goal, it took the wind out of their sails and gave our team some confidence. I think the second half certainly, [was] mentally a better performance on our part. I think we're really pleased tonight with the performance and the result."
But it took a while for the Red Bulls to capitalize on the advantage. They spent the final 37 minutes of the first half pressing for the goal, trying, as Wolyniec said, "to hit the home run ball."
"I think we were too anxious to try to make the one pass to kill the game, to win the game," Arena said. "We needed to be a little bit more patient, play more balls to feet. I just think our approach to playing with an extra player in the first half was pretty poor."
In the second half, though, the Red Bulls were more patient and got better service into the box. Buddle tapped in Todd Dunivant's cross to the far post in the 54th minute, snapping a goalless streak of 11 total games dating back to July 1.
"I think it's a perfect situation for him to come into a game like that and be able to stand in front of the goal and get some service and put one in the back of the net," Arena said. "Hopefully that's something that gives him confidence and he can move forward from here."
Buddle struck again in the 61st minute with a Sierra Mist Goal of the Week candidate, heading a Marvell Wynne cross past RSL 'keeper Jay Nolly from 15 yards out.
"Amazing, I was at a loss for words. EPL (worthy)? I don't know," Wynne said of Buddle's finish. "I just wanted to hug him."
Buddle then completed the natural hat trick, beating Nolly to a deflected ball at the near post, turned and lofted a left-footed shot into the net in the 72nd minute.
"He's an amazing talent and obviously he showed that in the second half today, coming on the field and scoring three goals in one half," Wolyniec said. "If he's going to play like that, this team has a lot of potential and can go real far."
But the Red Bulls weren't finished there.
Moments after entering the game, Jordan Cila scored his first league goal of the year, Dunivant made it 5-0 with his second career goal, tapping in a Wolyniec pass to the far post and then Wolyniec scored his first goal back at Giants Stadium on a gift from Real defender Willis Forko in the 86th minute.
"It was great to get three points, I'd probably say it's a lot more important than getting a goal," Wolyniec said. "Even though it was the sixth one, it's still nice to get on the board and get off to a flying start. It's a great win."
The Red Bulls now play their next three games on the road, all against Eastern Conference rivals starting Wednesday night in Kansas City.
How would Arena feel about coming out with three wins?
"Three wins would make me drunk, I'm sure," he said. "I think if you get four points out of three games on the road would be terrific."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
