Red Bulls win comes at a price

After that huge draw down in our nation’s capital the New York Red Bulls were looking to get more than just a point this time around, as they were back home at Red Bull Arena to take on the defending MLS Cup Champions in Toronto FC.

While the opening half wasn’t as spectacular as the second half, the Red Bulls did the job they had to do and defeated Toronto FC by a final of two goals to nil. In the 70th minute the Red Bulls finally broke through with a huge goal by their playmaking midfielder Kaku.

Derrick Etienne was attacking down the far side and when he cut across towards the Toronto area, he tried to loop a ball so Bradley Wright-Phillips could try to head it in but missed. Then Kaku sneaks in behind a defender, took a shot and the ball deflects off a Toronto defender and into the back of the net.

“On the play you see that I am trying to look for the far post, but it got a little to far from me, so I tried to overran it and I tried to put it on frame and then two of their players the ball went in between them and in.” said Kaku (thru a translator).

Then in second half stoppage time the Red Bull put the icing on the cake as Derrick Etienne converted on a lovely chip past Alex Bono to secure the three points. Bradley Wright-Phillips sent a looping ball down the field.

As Eriq Zavaleta tried to back track and defend the cross, he fell down and that gave Etienne Jr. the space to attack and when he got close to the six yard box, it was a delicate chip that taps the bottom of the crossbar and into the back of the net.

“It felt really good, I’ve been waiting for that one for a very long time. I’ve been pushing at it and pushing at it, I know it’s been coming and it felt really good to finally get it.” said Derrick Etienne Jr.

“To be honest I was thinking that my teammates wanted me to take this to the corner, but I went with my instincts and went for it. When I saw the keeper go down I opened my hips and knew it was going to be a tight angle and just dinked it in.”

Luis Robles made some solid saves to keep the clean sheet and it was a fantastic result for the home side that many thought were going to celebrate and enjoy the win. Sadly this win came at a price where a single yellow card knocked out a big player for next week.

Bradley Wright-Phillips was on yellow card warning and throughout the entire match he was getting hacked, fouled and interfered many times over. Once again he was the one frustrated and when he had an explosion at near side assistant Brian Poeschel.

That’s when Kevin Stott who gave no verbal warning to BWP jogged over to the nineteen goal man and pulled out from his front pocket the yellow card and booked him for dissent. BWP will now be suspended for yellow card accumulation and will miss the showdown for the East and the shield next week against Atlanta United.

“It’s unfortunate that he will miss the game, of course things are said all the time. But Bradley Wright-Phillips is not the guy who ever crosses the line. For us to see certain guys get away with verbally going after referees and Brad respects the game respects the referees.” said Chris Armas.

“In games we believe he doesn’t get a lot of leeway and the benefit of the doubt at times. That goes for fouls and even tonight, it didn't sound as bad so we know that he respects the game and it’s tough to lose a player like that for next week.”

Once again the result was a positive one, but it was a tale of two halves where they had a great opening fifteen minutes and then a bout of miscommunication developed. They corrected their mistakes and played a much better second half.

Sadly losing a player to dissent and booked for it to get a one match suspension has put a damper on things and we shall see how the Red Bulls can over come this bump in the road when Atlanta United comes to Red Bull Arena next week.