Saturday was a bit somber in the New York City Tri-State Area as we remembered those who lost their lives nine years ago as the World Trade Center was attacked and toppled down by terrorists. All morning long the families and friends came to hear the names of those who tragically perished in the Twin Towers. But on the other side of the Hudson and a little bit south, there was a match to be played at Red Bull Arena as the Red Bulls needed to get a win after a one goal loss to the defending MLS Cup Champions Real Salt Lake. The victims were the Colorado Rapids.

It was a strong start to the match for New York as they looked fresh and ready for action. The first goal came in the 17th minute as both Thierry Henry and Joel Lindpere were reading each other very well on the far side of the field. A couple of give and go’s, then Henry gets a great back heel ball and he shot it past Rapids keeper Matt Pickens and inside the near post for his second of the season.

In the 32nd minute the Red Bulls had a set piece as Rafa Marquez sent a nice soft, rainbow lob towards the near side where Tony Tchani gave a hard cross into the middle. Then out of nowhere Tim Ream sneaks in and smashes the ball past Perkins for his first goal in Major League Soccer. “It was a set play, we’ve been working on that play for the last couple of days now” said Ream. “I give all the credit to Tony [Tchani]. I think it was going in, even if I wouldn’t have touched it. He played a great ball.”

All throughout the first half you could see the club playing well and reading each other every single time they would make attacking runs including the back line as they were helping Bouna Coundoul to avoid giving up a soft goal. As the second half got started New York looked a bit lethargic and a wonder goal came out of nowhere from Omar Cummings. In the 52nd minute a 25yd blast headed straight for the far upper ninety and even though Coundoul got his fingers on the ball, it wasn’t enough as that strike should be considered MLS Goal of the week.

But Dane Richards has been improving his game as he told the reporters that if Omar was going to score, he was going to put one in himself. Six minutes later Richards did just that as Juan Pablo Angel picked the defenders pocket and passed the ball to Richards. He made one fake inside the area and then blasted his second goal of the season past Pickens and that would be the final nail in the coffin for the Rapids as the Red Bulls keeps on winning at home. “From this point on, and probably well before we got here, this is a very difficult place now to come play a game of football” said Rapids head coach Gary Smith. “We all expected a lot of pressure. You have that sort of talent on the pitch and you can start to throw out guys like Dane Richards, Joel Lindpere, [Thierry] Henry, [Rafa] Marquez and you’ve got a very aggressive and forceful front line that is being supported nicely.”

So for the Red Bulls their next match will be this coming Thursday at Pizza Hut Park as they face the red hot FC Dallas side that is unbeaten in thirteen straight.

Extra Notes
Former Welsh International midfielder Carl Robinson’s father passed away from cancer this past week, that’s why you saw the Red Bulls wear black armbands.

Former MetroStars owner John W. Kluge also passed away this past week as he along with Stu Subotnick were owners of MetroMedia in East Rutherford, NJ.

And to those from EPL Talk a good 300 Arsenal supporters came to fill up the far left upper corner to watch Thierry Henry play.