This was the kind of game that rewarded fans who stuck with it until the seemingly bitter end. During a tumultuous 94 minutes, the ol' emotion-meter swung from elation to depression and back again for both sides. At several points, it seemed like a newly goal-bolstered Houston Dynamo were set to sew it up on the road.
But after every Houston goal, the raging Red Bulls managed to snatch back an equalizer to stay alive. Felipe picked up the third in minute 77, and then -- just six minutes later -- he proved to be the night's superhero. His curled beauty finally put the home team back ahead, the goal helping to net RBNY their first (home) victory of 2016.
Much credit goes to the Houston Dynamo, though, who boasted their own brace courtesy of the Dancing Bear, Will Bruin. Alex also picked up a sweet Boniek Garcia assist in the 65th minute for the team's third goal.
Yet the Red Bulls can't rest easy: their side suffered a spate of hamstring injuries; Gonzalo Veron, Ronald Zubar, and Gideon Baah all left the field hurt, the last in unabashedly devastated, gushing tears.
Box Score
- 22' -- NY -- Sacha Kljestan
- 35' -- HOU -- Will Bruin (Boniek Garcia)
- 41' -- HOU -- Will Bruin
- 63' -- NY -- Mike Grella
- 65' -- HOU -- Alex (Boniek Garcia)
- 77' -- NY -- Felipe (Sacha Kljestan)
- 83 -- NY -- Felipe
- Full box score
- Stats
- Watch Full Highlights
Three Things
- VERON THERE, THEN OUT AGAIN: The Red Bulls' versatile Argentine DP Gonzalo Veron triumphantly entered the game after healing from a preseason hamstring injury. Unfortunately, the happiness proved short-lived--at 32' Veron took a knock and left the game, replaced by Mike Grella.
- BAAH LOOKED BLEAK, TOO: Ghanaian center back Gideon Baah also celebrated a spot in the starting lineup, part of a long, strange trip starting with reality TV in his home country. But at the 44th minute, he, too, fell victim to a hamstring injury--and he expressed the most palpable feeling of personal defeat of the night. He openly wept as he hobbled off the field, his future playing time hanging in the balance and unclear for now.
- BRUIN'S STILL A BEAR: Houston forward Will Bruin, with a brace, celebrated his eighth multi-goal game, the last one against New York in 2015.
They Said It
Next Up
- NY: Fri., Apr. 1 at New England Revolution (7 p.m. ET, UniMas, MLS LIVE)
- HOU: Sat., Mar. 26 at Vancouver Whitecaps (10 p.m. ET, TSN, MLS Live, Root Sports SW)
