Few chances, solid defending, big saves. It all resulted in a goal-less draw for two teams in need of a win.
The New York Red Bulls and Portland Timbers saw their first and only meeting during the 2016 regular season end in a 0-0 tie on Sunday night after neither side was able to find the necessary sharpness in the final third. The two clubs combined for eight shots on goal, but none of those found the back of the net in a tight affair at Red Bull Arena.
New York are now 7-9-3 and in fourth place in the Eastern Conference while Portland are 6-6-7 and in seventh in the Western Conference. Both teams face short turnarounds before playing again on Wednesday night.
Box Score
- GOALS: none
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Three Things
- MISSING QUALITY: Aside from the final few minutes when the game opened up with the home team throwing numbers forward, neither club was able to create many clear-cut chances in front of goal. The absence of injured playmaker Diego Valeri was evident for Portland, while New York just could not muster up the necessary sharpness and creativity in a new 4-2-2-2 formation.
- STRONG IN NET:Starting goalkeepers Luis Robles (New York) and Jake Gleeson (Portland) were not overly busy during the course of the 90 minutes, but each came up with some nice stops to record clean sheets. Gleeson had a couple of key saves for the Timbers in the second half, including on one good-looking chance from Felipe inside the penalty area in the 77th minute. Robles, meanwhile, made a big block on Lucas Melano early in the match.
- EARLY INJURIES: Both the Red Bulls and Timbers suffered early losses in the match because due to injury. Speedy Jamaican winger Darren Mattocks had to be removed less than a minute into the match after a collision with New York's Connor Lade, while Red Bulls center back Gideon Baah was replaced by Damien Perrinelle in the 22nd minute after a non-contact knock. It was Perrinelle's first appearance in league play since last October.
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