RED BULLS TO BATTLE BOTH CHIVAS TEAMS:
The New York Red Bulls (5-4-4, 19 pts.) will hit the road this week with matches on Wednesday and Saturday. First, the Red Bulls fly to Arizona and will battle Mexican powerhouse Chivas de Guadalajara at the University of Phoenix Stadium at 11 PM ET in an exhibition match (TV: TeleFutura). Afterwards, the Red Bulls make the trip to Los Angeles and will face Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center at 10:30 PM ET in MLS regular-season action (TV: MSG, HDNet; Radio: WADO).
Announced on June 5, 2008, the Red Bulls-Chivas de Guadalajara match will be operated and promoted by Rezin Sports Marketing. It will be Chivas de Guadalajara's second match in the United States in 2008. On Jan. 13, they defeated Colombia's Deportivo Cali 2-1 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FL. Chivas is also scheduled to play FC Barcelona on Aug. 3 at Chicago's Soldier Field.
Mexico's most successful club of all time with 11 Mexican league titles, Chivas recently wrapped up a successful 2008 Torneo Clausura in which the Guadalajara club finished first in the standings, with a 9-2-6 regular season record, before falling to semifinalists Monterrey in the first round of the playoffs in mid May. The most popular club in Mexico, which fields only Mexican players, is home to some of Mexico's national team stars such as Ramón Morales, Alberto Medina, Johnny Magallón and Luis Ernesto Michel. The club will begin preparing for the 2008 Apertura season with the June match in Phoenix, its pre-season tour through Germany and its SuperLiga participation beginning July 12.
New York has faced Chivas three times. On Aug. 14, 2002, Chivas defeated New York, 3-1, at Giants Stadium. Prior to that, Chivas forfeited in Guadalajara on Nov. 21, 2001 and at Giants Stadium on Oct. 17, 2001. Both were default 2-0 wins for New York.
Following Wednesday's exhibition, the Red Bulls will battle Guadalajara's American counterpart, Chivas USA, for the second time this season. Chivas USA is coming off a 2-0 win over the Chicago Fire at The Home Depot Center last Thursday with goals from Sacha Kjlestan and Justin Braun. Kljestan leads the Goats in goals with five, while midfielder Jesse Marsch is second with four. Reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Brad Guzan currently boasts a 1.50 goals against average and three shutouts.
Earlier this year, the Red Bulls defeated Chivas USA, 1-0, at Giants Stadium on June 5. After a scoreless first half, forward Juan Pablo Angel headed home a Dane Richards cross in the 75th minute to give the hosts the three points. Chivas USA comes into Saturday's showdown in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 5-6-2 (17 pts.) record, just four points adrift of first place Los Angeles.
RED BULLS TOP FC DALLAS, TIE REVS:
Red Bulls defender Kevin Goldthwaite's 16th minute header was enough to give the Red Bulls a 1-0 win over FC Dallas at Giants Stadium on Saturday night. New York went ahead for good when Goldthwaite connected off a Sinisa Ubiparipovic corner and nodded it in from close range.
The Red Bulls limited FC Dallas to two shots on goal and when the visiting Hoops had their chances, goalkeeper Jon Conway made both saves to earn his fourth shutout of the season. The win came after the Red Bulls drew, 1-1, with the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium last Wednesday. Midfielder Seth Stammler scored his first goal in over two years while Steve Ralston tallied a late equalizer for New England.
LAST WEEK:
Red Bulls 1 at New England Revolution 1 on June 18
Red Bulls 1 vs. FC Dallas 0 on June 21
THIS WEEK:
Red Bulls vs. Chivas de Guadalajara on June 25 at 11:00 PM ET at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ (TV: TeleFutura)
Red Bulls at Chivas USA on June 29 at 10:30 PM ET at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA (TV: MSG, HDNet; Radio: WADO)
NEXT WEEK:
Red Bulls at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2)/Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) on July 1 at time TBD (U.S. Open Cup third round)
Red Bulls at Colorado Rapids on July 4 at 9:30 PM ET at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (TV: MSG; Radio: WADO)
KEVIN STRIKES GOLD:
Red Bulls defender Kevin Goldthwaite scored the only goal in New York's 1-0 win over FC Dallas Saturday night. The goal was Goldthwaite's second of the season and third of his career. His other goal came in the Red Bulls' first game of the season - a 2-0 win over Columbus on April 5.
Unfortunately, Goldthwaite had to be replaced in the 24th minute after feeling tightness in both of his hamstrings. Jeff Parke came on for him. Goldthwaite and goalkeeper Jon Conway are the only players who have played in each of the Red Bulls' 13 regular season games this season.
CONWAY KEEPS CLIMBING:
Red Bulls goalkeeper Jon Conway keeps moving up the club's record books. Making two saves and earning a shutout in the Red Bulls' 1-0 win over FC Dallas Saturday, Conway is in third place in wins with 18, surpassing Mike Ammann. Tony Meola leads the way with 48, followed by Tim Howard (37), Conway (18), Ammann (17) and Jonny Walker (13).
Currently with 13 clean sheets and four in 2008, the former Rutgers University product is two behind Tim Howard for second in the club's all-time annals. Tony Meola is the franchise leader with 25 shutouts.
PACK YOUR BAGS:
The Red Bulls are currently in a seven game span in which they play six on the road. The Red Bulls' match against FC Dallas Saturday was the only home game in that stretch. The run of games includes an exhibition match in Glendale, AZ against Chivas de Guadalajara on Wednesday and a third round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match next Tuesday. The Red Bulls are 1-3-2 away from Giants Stadium this season and 4-1-2 at home. The Red Bulls are 1-1-1 in that stretch.
RED BULLS KICK OFF OPEN CUP ACTION:
The New York Red Bulls will enter in the third round, facing either the Harrisburg City Islanders (USL2) or Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL2).
Should Harrisburg win, the Red Bulls will play the City Islanders in Landisville, PA, on July 1 at 7:05 PM. Should Crystal Palace Baltimore win, the Red Bulls will play in Cantonsville, Maryland, on July 1 at 7:35 PM. Both potential opponents are members of the United Soccer League's (USL) Second Division, the third tier of professional soccer in the United States.
STAMM STUNNER:
Red Bulls midfielder Seth Stammler scored his first goal in over two years against the Revolution last Wednesday in New York's 1-1 tie against New England. Stammler's last goal came on May 24, 2006 in a 2-1 loss to FC Dallas at Giants Stadium. At that time, Stammler scored two goals in the Red Bulls' previous match on May 17, 2006 in a 5-4 win over Chivas USA.
With the absences of Juan Pablo Angel and Claudio Reyna due to injury, Stammler has now worn the Captain's Armband four times this season, including in the Red Bulls' 1-0 win against FC Dallas.
STAYING THE SAME:
For the first time this season, the Red Bulls used the same Starting XI in consecutive games (against New England on Wednesday, then against FC Dallas on Saturday. The Starting XI are: Jon Conway, Kevin Goldthwaite, Andrew Boyens, Hunter Freeman, Dave van den Bergh, Seth Stammler, Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Carlos Mendes, Dane Richards, Mike Magee and Oscar Echeverry.
NEW YORK TAKES SECOND HIGH SCHOOL CUP:
New York's and New Jersey's premier soccer players wrapped up storied high school careers on the Giants Stadium turf last Saturday night as part of the second-annual Red Bulls High School Cup presented by adidas. The match followed the Red Bulls 1-0 win over FC Dallas.
New York was the superior team, generating chances throughout and defending as a unit for a full 90 minutes, winning the showdown 2-1. New York striker Nathan Bourdeau (Baldwinsville HS) opened the scoring off a simple clearance from defender Pat Cantwell. A New Jersey defender misread the header, and Bourdeau was there to hammer it home passed Jersey keeper Ryan Goettel.
New York then went up 2-0 only four minutes later on a perfect cross from midfielder Byrant Knibbs (Pine Bush HS) from the right flank, headed home by Sayville product and Man of the Match Craig Santangelo. New Jersey drew within a goal on a CJ Crooks (Seton Hall Prep) penalty kick in the 72nd minute.
Players were selected based on nominations from a variety of media outlets, coaches and individuals familiar with New York and New Jersey high school soccer.
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS ON SALE NOW:
Individual tickets went on sale for all remaining Red Bulls regular league matches, including the Los Angeles Galaxy match on July 19, starting on Monday, June 23 at 11 AM through Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com and the Red Bulls front office by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER.
PARKE, MAGEE MOVE UP:
Defender Jeff Parke continued to move up the club's all-time games played and games started list. Parke has now played in a total of 119 matches. He has also started in 113 games and took over third place from defender Steve Jolley with his start against D.C. United on June 14.
Midfielder Mike Magee is fifth-place in the club's all-time annals in games played.
Games Played (All-Time)
1. Mike Petke (134)
2. Tony Meola (125)
3. Steve Jolley (120)
4. Jeff Parke (119)
5. Mike Magee (115)
6. Tab Ramos (112)
7. John Wolyniec (110)
8. Amado Guevara (103)
Games Started (All-Time)
1. Mike Petke (129)
2. Tony Meola (125)
3. Jeff Parke(113)
4. Steve Jolley (112)
5. Tab Ramos (105)
RED BULLS TO PLAY BARCELONA:
Red Bull New York and Soccer United Marketing (SUM) announced on Friday, May 30 that 2006 UEFA Champions League Winner FC Barcelona will play the Red Bulls at Giants Stadium on Aug. 6 as part of the club's U.S. Tour. Game time is slated for 7:00 PM ET.
This will mark Barcelona's third trip in the last five years to the United States, as the team toured the US in 2003 and 2006. The two sides matched up during the 2006 tour, with Barcelona emerging with a 4-1 win in front of a near-record breaking Giants Stadium crowd of 79,002 on Aug. 12.
Barcelona will be making their first trip to the United States since 2006, when they took part in a three-game summer tour of the United States. FC Barcelona played at the Los Angeles Coliseum (1-1 vs. Chivas de Guadalajara on Aug. 6), at Reliant Stadium in Houston (4-4 vs. Club America on Aug. 9), and the fixture against the Red Bulls. Following the matches this August, the team will return to Spain to continue its preseason ahead of the kick-off to the 2008-09 La Liga season.
TRYOUTS FOR RED BULL ACADEMY TEAMS:
The New York Red Bulls Youth Academy is looking for the best soccer players in the tri-state area. Tryouts for the U-14, U-15, U-16 and U-18 youth academy teams will be held in May and June and are by invitation. For more information log onto www.newyorkredbulls.com or send an e-mail to academy.tryouts@newyorkredbulls.com with the following information: name, address, phone numbers, email, date of birth, current club team, position and any soccer honors. Players completing an application will be notified if they have been invited to the tryout along with the location and other pertinent details. For further information, please contact the New York Red Bulls Academy at (201) 583-7025.
RED BULLS HOST VIEWING PARTY FOR CHIVAS USA MATCH:
Nevada Smith's, located on 74 Third Ave. (between 11th and 12th streets) in Manhattan will be hosting a viewing party for the Red Bulls' match against Chivas USA on Saturday at 10:30 PM ET. There will be drink specials and giveaways during the match. For more information, call the Red Bulls at 1.877.RBSOCCER or log onto www.newyorkredbulls.com.
