Some players could view a Tuesday night U.S. Open Cup match as an inconvenience sandwiched between two Major League Soccer matches. But when a team is coming off a game like the New York Red Bulls are, having blown a two-goal lead in the final 10 minutes of regulation in Salt Lake City, the sooner the next game, the better.
"After a game like that, you just want to put it behind you, get right back out there and hopefully get a win out of the next game just to get the morale back up," Jeff Parke said.
That something else for the Red Bulls is a Tuesday night tilt with the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center in an Open Cup play-in match. It's the perfect elixir for Saturday night's frustrating end in a 3-3 draw with Real Salt Lake.
Leading 3-1, the Red Bulls allowed a penalty kick goal by Jeff Cunningham in the 90th minute and a remarkable strike by Chris Brown in the second minute of stoppage time.
"We can't give up two goals within three minutes in stoppage time of a game. It's unacceptable," Hunter Freeman said. "We're all disappointed we threw away two points. To get out and play right away is a good thing."
But the Red Bulls have left the disappointment in chilly Salt Lake and have renewed optimism in sunny Los Angeles. And while they might not necessarily field their regular starting lineup, don't think for a second the Red Bulls don't value the U.S. Open Cup.
"This club hasn't won a trophy in its 11 years of existence and we approach it with huge importance," Red Bulls assistant coach John Harkes said. "It's a challenge and we think we have a talented team and the possibility of winning championships and bringing trophies to our club is something that always goes into our thinking."
While goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus is out with a sprained left ankle suffered against RSL, Colombian international Juan Pablo Angel will likely make his Red Bulls debut against the Galaxy, although it is unknown if he'll start.
The former Aston Villa striker, who has been training and traveled with the team out to Salt Lake, received his work permit Monday.
"It's going to take him three, four, five games to really get back in the right kind of form," Red Bulls boss Bruce Arena told BigAppleSoccer.com "That's why it's important that we get him on the field tomorrow to play a little bit."
Deeper than they were a year ago, the Red Bulls may have a few players who haven't had much first team experience play against the Galaxy.
"The more competition for spots, the better," Freeman said. "No one can take things for granted, no one can take a day off. It's what makes individual players better. I think we're pretty deep and obviously we have a lot of options. That's good for us."
New York advanced to the U.S. Open Cup Final in 2003, losing to the Chicago Fire 1-0 at Giants Stadium. But since then, they haven't had much luck in the domestic club competition. Two years ago, they were bounced by the USL First Division (second tier) Rochester Raging Rhinos and last year, the Red Bulls lost to D.C. United in the quarterfinals.
"It takes a lot to win the Open Cup," Parke said. "Every club team in the country you're competing against. If we come out and win it would be incredible. Our goal is to come out and win, not to take the game easy like it's a practice game."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
