Minus Youri Djorkaeff and Jean Philippe Peguero, the New York Red Bulls headed to Gillette Stadium trying desperately to win their first road game and climb out of the Eastern Conference cellar. But the New England Revolution extended the Red Bulls' road winless streak to six games with a 3-2 win Saturday evening.
Clint Dempsey scored twice and Taylor Twellman added a goal for the Revs, who won their second consecutive game. Edson Buddle and Mike Magee found the back of the net for the last place Red Bulls.
Peguero was suspended for the first of two games, his ban upheld on Friday by MLS Commissioner Don Garber after he was sanctioned for violent conduct in the scoreless draw at midweek against the Columbus Crew.
But for Djorkaeff, it was more complicated. A day after being excused from the Red Bulls for what he said was a family illness, Djorkaeff was in the stands in Frankfurt, Germany, cheering on France against Brazil in the World Cup quarterfinals. It was a situation that stunned Red Bull New York.
"At no point did Youri state that part of his trip was to attend the World Cup game between France and Brazil in Frankfurt, Germany or that he had any ill-feeling towards the organization," Red Bull said in a statement released before the game. "We will be addressing the situation with Youri as soon as possible."
After dodging a bullet in the third minute, when Andy Dorman's driven cross caromed off the post and Jose Cancela put the ball over the crossbar, the Red Bulls fell behind 1-0 three minutes later on a gaffe by Jeff Parke. Dorman was again able to get a cross into the box where Parke tried to clear. But instead he sent the ball off Dempsey and it deflected into the net.
Dempsey nearly had a deserving second, but Tony Meola dived to his left to get a hand on his left-footed shot.
Without Peguero and Djorkaeff, Red Bulls interim head coach Richie Williams switched formations, abandoning Mo Johnston's preferred 3-5-2 for a 4-4-2, with Magee replacing Peguero up top, Amado Guevara moving into the attacking midfielder spot and Marvell Wynne starting as right back.
After a lackluster opening 20 minutes, the Red Bulls equalized on a brilliant solo effort by Buddle in the 24th minute. Receiving the ball near the corner, Buddle first dribbled around Dorman along the endline, then took on Michael Parkhurst before beating Matt Reis near post from an acute angle for his third goal of the year.
But the Red Bulls fell asleep defensively in the closing moments of the first half and it cost them dearly. One minute after being robbed by Meola, who made a lunging save, Twellman scored his sixth goal of the year in stoppage time, slipping by Wynne and diving to head home Dorman's cross from six yards out.
Dempsey had two solid chances near the hour mark, but he chipped a left-footed shot wide of the far post and then had Meola get a piece of his shot after being played through by Shalrie Joseph. In the 63rd minute, Meola made another stellar stop, this time on a full volley by Dorman from 20 yards.
Three minutes later, the Red Bulls leveled on some crisp passing between Buddle and Seth Stammler, who found Magee and his touch beat Reis inside the near post from 12 yards in the 66th minute.
In the 72nd minute, the Revs went back in front on Dempsey's second of the game. He collected a loose ball near midfield, ran untouched all the way across the top of the box and slid the ball past a flat-footed Meola.
The Revs were reduced to 10 men in the 83rd minute when Avery John was sent off for shoving Guevara in the face. The Red Bulls had one final chance to equalize but Buddle headed a sublime chip by Guevara wide to Reis' left two minutes from full time.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
