RED BULLS CONTINUE BUSY STRETCH WITH PAIR OF MATCHES
The New York Red Bulls (5-4-5, 20 pts.) continue their extensive road trip, when they first travel to Maryland to face United Soccer League's Second Division side, Crystal Palace Baltimore on Tuesday, July 1 at 7:30 PM ET in the third round of the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (No TV). Following this match, the Red Bulls will then head to Denver for a 4 th of July encounter against the Colorado Rapids (5-8-1, 16 pts.) at Dick's Sporting Goods Park with kickoff set for 9:30 PM ET (TV: MSG, Radio: WADO 1280 AM).
The New York Red Bulls start their quest for their first Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup when they take on Crystal Palace Baltimore at Lawrence E. Knight Stadium on the grounds of Broadneck High School in Annapolis, MD.
This will be the Red Bulls' first Open Cup match of the year after being put in the draw with seven other MLS teams. In 2007, New York dropped a 3-1 overtime decision to the Los Angeles Galaxy in a play-in match in the U.S. Open Cup second round at The Home Depot Center. After a scoreless 90 minutes, Landon Donovan put the Galaxy ahead with a penalty kick before Kyle Martino doubled Los Angeles' lead in the 109 th minute. In his debut as a Red Bull, Juan Pablo Angel scored off a free kick six minutes later, but Santino Quaranta sealed the deal moments from full time.
Crystal Palace Baltimore qualified for the third round of the Open Cup after defeating the Harrisburg City Islanders in penalty kicks on June 24 in Harrisburg, PA. After the game ended in a 2-2 tie with Crystal Palace goals coming from Kevin King and Matthew Mbuta, goalkeeper Matt Nelson was the hero in the shootout, stopping three penalty kicks.
Led by Gary Brooks, who has six goals, Crystal Palace is currently in third place in the USL Second Division, six points back of first-place Charlotte with two games in hand. Crystal Palace is unbeaten in its last five games in all competitions, going 4-0-1.
For New York, there are a couple of players who have connections with the area. Midfielder Seth Stammler attended the University of Maryland while goalkeeper Zach Thornton is from Edgewood, MD and attended Loyola (MD) University.
After facing Crystal Palace Baltimore, the Red Bulls make a trip to the Rocky Mountains to face the Rapids for the first meeting between the two sides in 2008. Last season, the Red Bulls split their series with their Western Conference rival. On May 13 at Giants Stadium, Colorado was able to earn a 1-0 win thanks to a Nico Hernandez first half goal. However, the Red Bulls earned revenge on July 8 in their first ever match at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, as John Wolyniec scored the only goal in a 1-0 win for the visitors.
Colorado is coming off a 2-1 loss at the hands of the Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium Saturday. After a scoreless first half, Guillermo Barros Schelotto put the Crew ahead on a penalty kick. Nick LaBrocca levelled the score later off a Conor Casey feed, but Emmanuel Ekpo's first MLS goal gave Columbus the full three points.
RED BULLS DRAWS WITH CHIVAS USA
Red Bulls midfielder Dave van den Bergh's team-leading fourth goal of the season was cancelled out by a first half stoppage time strike from Ante Razov, as New York earned a 1-1 tie against Chivas USA Saturday night at The Home Depot Center.
Van den Bergh put the visitors ahead in the 26 th minute when he blasted a free kick around the wall, through traffic in the penalty box and past goalkeeper Brad Guzan. However, the Goats equalized moments before the break when Razov was able to pick off a New York back pass and slotted it in.
The Red Bulls are now unbeaten in their last four matches (2-0-2) in all competitions.
LAST WEEK:
Red Bulls 1 vs. Chivas de Guadalajara 0 on June 25 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ
Red Bulls 1 at Chivas USA 1 on June 29 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA
THIS WEEK:
Red Bulls at Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) on July 1 at 7:30 PM ET (U.S. Open Cup third round - No TV/Radio)
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 1280 AM)
NEXT WEEK:
Red Bulls at Kansas City Wizards on July 10 at 8:30 PM ET at CommunityAmerica Ballpark (TV: MSG; Radio: WADO 1280 AM)
BERGHER CONTINUES ROLLING
Red Bulls midfielder Dave van den Bergh scored his fourth goal of the season against Chivas USA on Saturday, hitting a free kick past goalkeeper Brad Guzan in the 26 th minute. Van den Bergh leads the team in goals with four and broke his own career record for goals in a season (he had three with Kansas City in 2006).
Van den Bergh is also tied for the lead in the assists (2).
Recently, van den Bergh, now in his second season with New York after being acquired on Jan. 11, 2007 from the Kansas City Wizards for a 2007 third round Supplemental Pick, had a new addition to his family. His wife Alexie gave birth to Max Daniel van den Bergh on June 3, 2008 at 1:18 AM, weighing 8 lbs., 10 oz. The couple also has a son named Ryan. He had previously missed two games due to a red card suspension and the expected birth of his wife's second child.
PARKE, MAGEE MOVE UP
Defender Jeff Parke continued to move up the club's all-time games played and games started list. Parke is currently tied for third all-time with Steve Jolley with 120 appearances. He has also started in 114 games, third all-time.
Midfielder Mike Magee is fifth-place in the club's all-time annals in games played with 116 appearances. And John Wolyniec is currently seventh with 111 matches, one shy of Tab Ramos' 112.
Games Played (All-Time)
1. Mike Petke (134)
2. Tony Meola (125)
T-3. Steve Jolley (120)
T-3. Jeff Parke (120)
5. Mike Magee (116)
6. Tab Ramos (112)
7. John Wolyniec (111)
8. Amado Guevara (103)
Games Started (All-Time)
1. Mike Petke (129)
2. Tony Meola (125)
3. Jeff Parke (114)
4. Steve Jolley (112)
5. Tab Ramos (105)
BULLS BEAT CHIVAS DE GUADALAJARA
An Oscar Echeverry goal in the 22 nd minute gave the Red Bulls a 1-0 win over CD Chivas de Guadalajara at the University of Phoenix Stadium on Wednesday night in an exhibition match. Echeverry scored after a Sinisa Ubiparipovic run into the penalty box. Goalkeeper Zach Thornton made one stop to earn the shutout.
The Red Bulls are now 3-1-0 all-time against the Mexican club.
RED BULLS SIGN KLJESTAN
Red Bull New York announced Wednesday that it signed midfielder Gordon Kljestan to a developmental contract. To make room for Kljestan, the Red Bulls waived midfielder Kevin Mesa.
Kljestan came into the League after being drafted by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first round, 10 th overall in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft out of Seton Hall University. The Huntington Beach, CA native featured and started in six games for the Galaxy reserve team and logged 513 minutes. Kljestan was a 2006 All-Big East preseason selection and 2005 All-Big East honorable mention midfielder. Prior to signing with New York, Kljestan had started in two MLS Reserve League matches for the Red Bulls. Gordon, 24, is the brother of Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan.
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 on Saturday, June 21 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 Tuesday. The Red Bulls are 1-3-3 away from Giants Stadium this season and 4-1-2 at home. The Red Bulls are 2-1-2 in that stretch. The Red Bulls next home match is July 19 against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS ON SALE
Individual tickets went on sale for all remaining Red Bulls regular league matches, including the Los Angeles Galaxy match on July 19, on Monday, June 23 at 11 AM through Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com and the Red Bulls front office by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER.
Individual tickets for the FC Barcelona match go on sale July 1 through Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com and the Red Bulls front office by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER
THE BLOG
Get the latest in-depth and behind-the-scenes info through the New York Red Bulls' official team blog, Red Bulls Reader at http://www.redbullsreader.blogspot.com/ .
RED BULLS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS TO TRAIN IN YOUR TOWN
The Red Bulls, already a community relations leader among Metropolitan New York sports franchises, is now offering a unique opportunity for local communities. The club is now accepting applications to have the team hold a training session on at a local facility. This is an amazing opportunity for local communities to have a professional sports team hold a regular season training session in their town. Having MLS stars like Juan Pablo Angel, Claudio Reyna, and Jon Conway participating in a full training session on a local field is a chance that should not be passed up!
