BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – They may have created history, but they couldn’t create a goal.
Thierry Henry, Rafa Márquez, Juan Pablo Angel and the New York Red Bulls played Freddie Ljungberg, Nery Castillo and the Chicago Fire to a 0-0 draw in front of a record crowd of 21,868 at Toyota Park Sunday night. It marked the first time five DPs ever took the field in the same match.
The Red Bulls missed several golden opportunities throughout the course of the game. Their best chance came in the 47th minute when winger Macoumba Kandji missed an easy sitter.
Substitute midfielder Dane Richards set up the play when he broke free from the Fire defense in the right side of the area. The Jamaican international cut in on the end line before playing a perfect ball to Kandji, who inexplicably missed the open net from close range.
The Fire’s best chance came in the 43rd minute. Forward Brian McBride hit Ljungberg – who was making his home debut for Chicago – in stride with a fantastic low cross at the penalty spot, only for the Swedish midfielder to hit the ball wide left.
The Fire started the match brightly, nearly going ahead in the eighth minute. Ljungberg delivered a curling free kick from the right flank onto the foot of unmarked midfielder Baggio Husidic at the back post. But Husidic couldn’t take advantage of his free shot, sending his 8-yard effort into the body of a Red Bull defender.
Henry created New York’s first chance in the 21st minute. The French DP danced around several Fire defenders to free himself in the left side of the area, but couldn’t muster enough power on his shot to bother Fire keeper Sean Johnson, who comfortably saved the Frenchman’s shot.
Ángel and Henry nearly connected in the 29th. Henry split the Fire defense with a fantastic diagonal run through the arc. Ángel tried to play him through, but his pass was too hot for the former Arsenal man to handle and the chance evaporated.
Henry had to be subbed off with a groin strain in the 45th minute and was replaced by Richards. Kandji moved up to forward to accommodate the switch.
The start of the second half saw the Red Bulls take control. They dominated the Fire in the second frame, practically living in the Chicago half. But Fire keeper Sean Johnson came up big on several occasions, keeping the draw intact.
The match was the MLS debut for Márquez and Castillo, the latter of whom came on to a standing ovation and fireworks in the 56th minute.
Scoring Summary:
None
Discipline Summary:
CHI – Baggio Husidic (Yellow Card) 31’
NYRB – Tim Ream (Yellow Card) 32’
NYRB – Carlos Mendes (Yellow Card) 80
Lineups:
Chicago Fire: Sean Johnson; Dasan Robinson (Steven Kinney, 59’), C.J. Brown, Wilman Conde, Krzystof Krol; Marco Pappa (Deris Umanzor, 92’), Logan Pause Baggio Husidic, Mike Banner; Freddie Ljungberg; Brian McBride (C) (Nery Castillo, 56’)
New York Red Bulls: Bouna Coundoul; Chris Albright, Carlos Mendes, Tim Ream, Roy Miller; Rafael Marquez (Seth Stammler, 61’), Tony Tchani (Salou Ibrahim, 80’), Joel Lindpere, Macoumba Kandji; Thierry Henry (Dane Richards, 45’), Juan Pablo Angel
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Referee's Assistants: Daniel Belleau; James Conlee
4th Official: Abiodun Okulaja
Time of Game: 1:51
Weather: Clear and 85 degrees
Attendance: 21,868
