E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - On their first game on the newly installed FieldTurf at Giants Stadium, the New York Red Bulls scored their first penalty kick of the season Friday afternoon and won their first game of July, beating the Colorado Rapids 1-0.
In his best game in a Red Bulls uniform, Amado Guevara scored the game's only goal in the 34th minute as the Red Bulls ended a three-game losing streak and a five-game winless slide. The Rapids, who were victimized by several defensive giveaways in the first half, saw their two-game winning streak come to an end.
The Honduran midfielder showed what he promised after the Red Bulls' last home game - a scoreless draw against Columbus on June 28. He was the old Amado, dominating the center of the park with stellar distribution. If he finished half of his chances, the Red Bulls would have won in a laugher.
He could have had a first-half hat trick as Guevara was the benefactor of three Colorado defensive gaffes. On the half-hour mark, Guevara stripped Pablo Mastroeni near midfield and was freed towards goal. But his shot sailed well over the bar.
Four minutes later, Guevara set up the Red Bulls' goal on a quick start of a free kick. After the Red Bulls lost possession in the box, Mike Magee regained and Chris Henderson took the ball away from Eric Denton, who then pulled Henderson down. Referee Jair Marrufo pointed to the spot and carded both Denton and Dan Gargan. Guevara beat Joe Cannon, who guessed the wrong way, to his left in the Red Bulls' first penalty kick attempt of the season.
Two minutes before the break, Guevara again had a chance, this time after he took the ball away from Mike Petke. But his attempt again went over the bar.
He wasn't done there, though. Twice in a one-minute span late in the second half, Guevara put the ball wide of Cannon's left.
The Red Bulls had the better of possession in the first half, a marked improvement over the last four games, but they were unfortunate to only lead 1-0 at the break. In the 20th minute, Marvell Wynne slipped a pass to Edson Buddle near the top of the box but his low shot was wide of the far post. Eight minutes later, Guevara had a chance off a nice combination between Buddle and Magee, but his shot deflected out for a corner kick.
The Rapids' best opportunity in the opening half came in the 43rd minute when former Red Bulls forward Thiago Martins leapt over Marvell Wynne at the far post but his header was off target.
The Rapids had the first good chance of the second half as Kyle Beckerman did well to save the ball from going over the end line and then sent it back into the box. Jovan Kirovski's dummy freed Martins, but his open shot from 12 yards was wide to Conway's left.
The Rapids made their first substitution in the 64th minute as Dedi Ben Dayan replaced Martins. Both teams made changes in the 69th minute with former MetroStars forward Clint Mathis coming on for Kirovski, who a minute earlier just put the ball wide to Conway's left. Rookie Jerrod Laventure came on for Buddle, who lost the ball after a sweet spin move by Guevara two minutes earlier.
Rapids head coach Fernando Clavijo made his last substitution in the 80th minute, bringing on Jacob Peterson for Gargan in an attempt to get the equalizer. But with the exception of a couple of free kicks late that were blocked by the Red Bulls wall, the Rapids weren't dangerous.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
