With both teams looking for their first wins of the 2006 campaign, the New York Red Bulls traveled west to Utah to take on Real Salt Lake at Rice-Eccles Stadium. At the end of the night they were still looking -- the teams played to a 1-1 draw Saturday in RSL's home opener.
Amado Guevara's rebound goal in the 77th minute gave the Red Bulls a late lead. But they couldn't hold it as Jason Kreis headed home a free kick in the 89th minute for the equalizing goal.
Every time the teams have played, they have failed to have one come out the victor. They played to a scoreless draw in the monsoon that was Real's first-ever game on opening day last year, and RSL pulled from two goals back in the final 11 minutes to get the 2-2 tie in July.
The Red Bulls' best chance of the first half came in the 24th minute with a blast from Edson Buddle. Youri Djorkaeff played a slow rolling ball diagonally through the RSL defense to a wide open Buddle. With plenty of time and space Buddle got off a powerful blast from 15 yards, but it was parried away by RSL 'keeper Scott Garlick.
Tony Meola helped keep the New York scoreline clean in the 34th minute making a save off an Andy Williams drive. Williams spun his way through a pair of Red Bulls defenders before getting a shot off, but Meola easily smothered the chance.
The U.S. international goalkeeper denied another RSL scoring chance in the closing moments of the first half. Williams floated a short cross into a rushing Jeff Cunningham who one-timed a volley on the run, requiring Meola to acrobatically dive to his left for the save.
The home side continuted to surge offensively in the second half as the Red Bull defense absorbed their advances.
In the 62nd minute Cunningham slipped a roller past Meola that was cleared off the line by Taylor Graham. The very next minute Williams found himself racing in alone on Meola. The Red Bulls 'keeper effectively cleaned the ball from Williams' feet as he tried to dribble him and saw it cleared out of danger.
Djorkaeff had an increasingly rare chance for the Red Bulls when he slipped in behind Carey Talley in the 66th minute with only Garlick to beat. But Talley was able to recover and put the New York forward off his balance enough to not allow a solid shot on goal.
Yet it was Guevara broke the stalemate in the 78th minute. From the top of the box Guevara found Buddle and played a perfectly slotted ball in behind the defense to the Red Bull striker. Buddle's shot was deflected away by Garlick, the rebound falling to an oncoming Guevara who easily put away his first goal of the year into an open net.
An unnerving situation occurred in the 84th minute as Meola and Graham collided, sending both players to the turf. Goalkeeper and defender were each rushing to play away a cross from Andy Williams when they met forcefully. Meola made the save, but both players were down for a few minutes before they were able to get up and play on.
Just before the end, when it seemed the Red Bulls would get their first win of the season, second-half substitute Kreis scored in the 89th minute. Chris Klein stood over a free kick just outside the penalty area on the end line, and he lifted a cross into the heart of the area where Kreis powered a header into the the far side netting.
Both teams had glorious chances to settle the score in the final seconds. Thiago Martins turned a first-time shot on goal from a low cross, but Garlick popped the effort up into the air before he was able to catch it.
Then Klein came bearing down all alone on Meola from the right flank, but he put his shot well over both 'keeper and crossbar.
Scott McAllister is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
