New York Red Bulls lucky with 1-1 draw against LA Galaxy

Championship teams have to be two things, good and lucky. It's not enough to be good because there will always be off nights where someone else has your number. Against the LA Galaxy, the Red Bulls certainly were lucky as they got an equalizing goal in the 2nd half to earn a 1-1 draw against a tough Galaxy side.

The Red Bulls started off with their now signature high pressure system to great affect, keeping the visiting Galaxy in their own end for most of the first half. The only real chance by the Galaxy resulted in the first goal by the young Bradford Jamieson IV who was taking the place of injured Robbie Keane. It was a cutback similar to Lloyd Sam's back in Week 1 that fooled not only Matt Miazaga but Dax McCarty that set up Jamieson's shot across goal that beat Luis Robles. The 9th minute goal was completely against the run of play as the Red Bulls had more than 60% of possession in the opening 10 minutes.

Giving up the goal did not seem to faze the Red Bulls as they continued to push forward, coming close a few times to scoring an early equalizer. Bradley Wright-Phillips had a chance not 5 minutes after the goal, connecting on a Sacha Kljestan cross, but was denied by a point blank Jaime Penedo save.

LA also seemed willing to invite the pressure, looking to play a counter attack against the Red Bull high pressure. Taylor Twellman made a point of saying that connecting 2-3 passes could break the Red Bull pressure. He was right, but for the most part, LA couldn't do it. Dax, Felipe, and the back line were quick to break up LA counter attacks. This willingness to counter produced exactly 2 shots on target for the Galaxy for the whole game.

In the second half, the Red Bulls were really lucky, twice. First, it was lucky that Felipe Martins was running where he was and his head was in the way of a deflected ball. If not for that, the Red Bulls might have suffered their first loss of the season. Instead, Martins finally got his first goal in a Red Bull jersey and save a point at home.

Later on, Dax McCarty should have seen his second yellow card on a tackle of Juninho late in the match. If he didn't have a yellow already, he would probably get one, and he'll be lucky the MLS Disciplinary Committee doesn't look at it and give a retroactive suspension.

Notes:

• Adrian Healey of ESPN twice mentioned the supporters of the South Ward, but failed to mention the Garden State Ultras (twice).
• Mike Petke joined ESPN's broadcast for halftime analysis. He was asked about being let go, and gave a politically correct answer. Did you know he still coaches though? It may be a youth team in NJ, but he does.
• The Red Bulls have scored at least 1 goal per competitive match dating back since being shutout on September 28, 2014 (15 games), which was a 4-0 loss to the LA Galaxy (8-3-4 record).
• LA's 8 total shots & 2 on target were the least of any Red Bull opponent thus far in 2015.
• The 7 blocked shots by the Galaxy is the most by any Red Bull opponent thus far in 2015.