NEW YORK RED BULLS 1, NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 1
NEW YORK RED BULLS HEAD COACH JUAN CARLOS OSORIO
On the game:
"I think that we limited a very good team to one chance. They scored on a free kick. If I'm honest, as I was in the locker room, I could probably live with the foul, but I cannot live with anybody on the end of the wall turning their back on the ball on an inside shot. I am very disappointed with that. I think that we did what we needed to do; we created enough chances to win this game. John (Wolyniec) had a perfect opportunity on Danleigh's (Borman) cross, then on another chance on Dave van den Bergh's cross, so I think we did enough, but that's football. You don't finish your chances, and you allow that to happen, that's what is going to happen."
On whether he is frustrated:
"Very, but it's only the third game. I think we showed today some good playing at times, we kept the ball for periods of time very well and the team looked quite well. Again, I think that New England is a very good team, when I look at the sideline and the chances that we had, I have to be disappointed, yes, because we let two points go. In general, I have to be optimistic and think that we are improving."
On whether the team seemed to play better prior to New England's red card:
"Probably -- I also think that Claudio (Reyna) got hurt and I think we started losing the creativity that we had in the first half. You always expect that a team comes back and tries, especially when they're down by one and [the other team] has a goal. You look at the chances, and I only recall one chance, that was it. The first half there were two shots, one from (Amaechi) Igwe from long distance and that was it."
On his thoughts on the free kick and whether or not it was a foul:
"I promised my wife that I would not talk about the referees. So, I am disappointed at the wall and I think that we had enough numbers in the wall, but it's an inside shot, not even instep. It wasn't a hard shot, it was down low, and if I had been standing in the wall, I would have put my face through that ball and that's what I expect from my players, and they know that."
On how he felt Jozy Altidore performed:
"He played well, but if I'm being honest, I think he has played too much football in the last three months and I think we are paying for that. When he is rested up and taking people on, he is very good, but when he starts dropping in between the lines and he is not rested, he is not as strong as he normally is, and that's why he loses the ball."
NEW YORK RED BULLS DEFENDER CARLOS MENDES
On the team history against New England and tonight's game:
"In the past, we haven't done too well against them, but we came out and gave it a good effort tonight. The team played well and didn't give them anything in the way of chances. We are disappointed with the tie -- at home and all, we should get the W."
On New England's team:
"Even in the past, I thought we have played well against them at times. They have a lot of good players and they are a good team, and good teams get good chances."
On playing against a team down a man:
"I thought they did pretty well sitting in and packing people in the box and playing for the tie. That makes it even more disappointing because you are playing up a man and you play well the whole game, they have one shot on goal I think on a free kick in the second half, but that's how it goes. There were good things, but we need to look forward now."
NEW YORK RED BULLS FORWARD JOZY ALTIDORE
On the team's overall play:
"We had encouraging play throughout the game and they gave us a gift letting us go up a man and it backfires and they score a goal while we are up a man. It was definitely a bit unfortunate, but the effort was there from all the guys and we'll just try and build from here."
On New England defensively:
"You know, when you play New England when they have three in the back, there are always holes on the flanks and back, and we try to exploit it as best as we can. We just missed getting over the hump in those last 20 minutes. I could have been more effective than I was tonight, a lot more effective actually."
On his play:
"I am not a guy for excuses, I just thought I could have been more effective and added more to the game to get a victory. I recognize that now and it's too late, so I need to recognize that through the game."
On his goal:
"There was a ton of space there, and I went at the guy, and I knew his strengths and weaknesses and had a good shot."
On the importance of beating New England:
"It was definitely a big game for me personally and the team as well. I haven't beaten this team yet and we haven't beaten them in a long time so the guys are in the same situation as me. We wanted to win this game tonight but we were unfortunate again and we have to write ourselves a different story next time."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION HEAD COACH STEVE NICOL
On the game's physical play:
"For me the whole night, the referee gave the front two no protection. It's the same every week now, the two guys up front are getting pushed and shoved and kicked and they're getting away with it. We can't expect them to hold balls when there's someone on their back."
On the defensive strategy late in the game:
"When you get late in the game, there comes a point where you keep what you have. It's a great point. It's a tough field to play on, the ball is quick. I think tonight, it helped them more than it helped us."
On the significance of the tie:
"The guys showed you tonight what they're all about. Only 10 men and one-nil down, we get a point. It shows you the character of the club."
On the play of goalkeeper Matt Reis:
"He's a great goalkeeper and I certainly don't want anyone else between the pipes in this league other than him. He's the best goalie in this league, that's for sure."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION MIDFIELDER JEFF LARENTOWICZ
On the game-tying goal:
"There was a lot of traffic up front and I think it was tough for the goalie to see it and I just put it right through there. It's so close, you're not going to be able to go up and over the wall. There's more of a chance to be accurate with the inside of the foot for a placement shot. When it's that tough for the goalie to see the ball, you just got to put it in a spot."
On being down a man:
"It's a tough situation. All things considered in the Chicago game, we were a little behind the 8-ball in a lot of ways. Tonight, we came together as a team and they started throwing us forward as they always seem to do here when we're up a goal. It goes to show that we've dealt with it before and I think we dealt with it again."
On the Red Bulls attack:
"They've got dangerous guys up front and they brought up some quick guys on the wing and as a credit to us, we were able to deflect a lot of pressure."
