Red Bulls Edge the Sounders

After a solid second half to get a point in Columbus three days before, the New York Red Bulls came home to face a Seattle Sounders side that looked to try and catch the Red Bulls on the counter. The home side edged the Sounders two goals to one.

Stephen Frei and Luis Robles were trading saves in this game until the 37th minute when Daniel Royer nails his fourth of the season. Ethan Kutler springs Florian Valot down the near side for an attacking run.

As soon as Valot gets along the near side of the Seattle area, he bends a beautiful ball across the goal mouth towards a sliding Bradley Wright-Phillips who missed the ball, but Royer made his back post run and buried the ball.

The halftime whistle blew and the Red Bulls went back into the locker room with the one goal lead. But not to worry Red Bulls fans as BWP would have the chance to bury his own shot in the second half.

The Red Bulls earned a corner kick in the 52nd minute along the near side and Sean Davis delivers a solid ball, but it went over everyone’s head. It remained in play as Kutler retrieves the rebound. As soon as Kutler delivers his own cross to the middle of the area, a slight flick header by Wright-Phillips nails the back of the net.

For the Englishman that goal was his tenth of the season, and his 96th career MLS Goal as he is now four shy of reaching a century of league goals. Another miraculous moment for Bradley Wright-Phillips and the career he is having in Major League Soccer.

Harry Shipp who has always been a thorn in the Red bulls side wither for the Chicago Fire, Montreal Impact, or the Sounders pulled one back with a steal and a chip shot inside the back post. But after it was all said and done, the Red Bulls earned the full three points and will now travel to Philadelphia and face the Union in the 5th Round of the US Open Cup.

But sadly the Red Bulls should’ve done better with their chances as they left a lot on the field. So many chances where the score line should’ve been a lot more with Royer, Valot and Etienne Jr had plenty of moments to put the game out of reach but Stephen Frei kept his side in the match.

“I mean, you know, there’s some frustration that we don’t handle the game better because if we are better on the day, it can be much more in hand. I told the guys, there’s no negativity right now. They have all had to dig so deep.” said Jesse Marsch.

“Tyler and Tim coming back across the ocean and then a bunch of guys who had to play a game, after game, after game, turn around, different demands. So the three points is massive and as much as on another day we could've been much better, like right now the focus is to be happy to have the three points.

I already rewarded them on the effort as I gave them three days off after the Open Cup game, but we need to turn it around and find guys who are ready for the challenge on Saturday down in Philadelphia on Saturday.”

So on the short end a quick trip to Chester to face the Philadelphia Union and then get ready for another league match as FC Dallas comes to town and faces the Red Bulls both sides have bought into their youth academies.