CARSON, Calif. - The New York Red Bulls and Chivas USA played to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday morning in their final scrimmage in Los Angeles. Todd Dunivant and Jozy Altidore tallied for the Red Bulls.
"We created a lot of chances today, but we should have finished more," said Red Bulls assistant coach Richie Williams. "Overall though, we saw a lot of things to build on and a lot of encouraging signs. I think our guys put in a good effort today."
One of the encouraging signs had to be captain Claudio Reyna, who played the full 90 minutes for the first time in the '07 preseason. Reyna controlled play in the middle and helped set up a number of scoring chances for his teammates. He assisted on the team's first goal in the 53rd minute when he struck a well-placed corner kick from the right side towards the back post. Defender Todd Dunivant was there and headed it past Chivas 'keeper Brad Guzan to level the match at 1-1.
Then in the 81st minute, Reyna almost had his first tally of the preseason with a 28-yard blast from the right channel that just curled over the upper 90.
"Claudio looked very good out there today," said Williams. "He hasn't played 90 minutes in a while but he played well on both sides of the field, offensively and defensively. We are going to need that from him throughout the season."
Despite having the majority of the chances in the first half, the Red Bulls found themselves trailing at the break. Chivas scored when trialist Lauren Merlin managed to stay onside and got past the Red Bulls' backline and put away a low cross from Ante Razov.
After Dunivant's goal, Chivas went up a goal again in the 68th minute when Matt Taylor tracked down a Jorge Barrera through ball and dribbled around a diving Jon Conway to score Chivas' second goal of the game.
However, Altidore equalized three minutes later. Marvell Wynne beat his man down the right flank and sent a cross through the box. Altidore made a run towards the back post and was able to one-time the cross into the net with a right-footed shot while sliding on the turf.
Altidore nearly had the game-winner in the 87th minute when Reyna hit another dangerous cross towards the back post that Altidore headed over the crossbar.
With the draw, the Red Bulls moved to 4-1-4 in the '07 preseason. Their next tune-up will take place in Charleston, S.C., against the Charleston Battery on March 24 at 8 p.m. ET.
Scoring Summary:
CHV: Lauren Merlin (Ante Razov) 9'
NYRB: Todd Dunivant (Claudio Reyna) 53'
CHV: Matt Taylor (Jorge Barrera) 68'
NYRB: Jozy Altidore (Marvell Wynne) 71'
Discipline Summary:
NYRB: Stammler, Caution, 38'
NYRB: Reyna, Caution, 63'
New York Red Bulls: Jon Conway, Eric Denton (John Wolyniec 46') Todd Dunivant, Taylor Graham, Marvell Wynne, Seth Stammler, Dema Kovalenko, Claudio Reyna- captain, Dave van den Bergh, Dane Richards (Sinisa Ubiparapovic 70'), Jozy Altidore
Chivas USA: Brad Guzan, Orlando Perez (Jorge Barerra 46'), Claudio Suarez- captain, Jason Hernandez, Lawson Vaughn, Francisco Mendoza, Jesse Marsch (Erasmo Solorzano 75'), Amado Guevara (John Cunliffe 59'), Sascha Kljestan (#36 59'), Lauren Merlin (Matt Taylor 59'), Ante Razov (Maykel Galindo 59')
