Hans Backe said that last week’s home draw was a step in the right direction. Well after a good week of training at Montclair State University, you would think that this would be the case. A trip to a house of horror’s in Gillette Stadium was in store as New England Revolution is always prepared to take on a New York Red Bulls side.
The continued improvement from Dane Richards has been a good sign in these last two games. He earned two assists at home against Chicago Fire; Somehow he was able to step up and earn a brace by saving another point.
Down by two, Richards got a great ball from Tim Ream in the 53rd minute and the flag stayed down. Of course on field turf the ball was bouncing a lot, but Richards was able to settle it and struck it hard past Bob Shuttleworth. The second goal came in the 87th minute as Joel Lindpere was on the far side and sent a solid cross to Richards who just put a leg on it and equalized late.
The Revolution’s newest Designated player in Milton Caraglio just became the newest member of the Metro/RBNY killer club with his two goals in the first half. In the 15th minute he was able to slice thru the defense and took a big rip. Bouna Coundoul made a fantastic diving save, but unfortunately the rebound went back to Caraglio and he found the back of the net.
The defenders who were supposed to be helping Coundoul gave up on him as they allowed Caraglio to get a second bite at the apple and scored. But the second goal they allowed once again is a problem that keeps on popping up. Set pieces kills the Red Bulls.
In the 37th minute Kenny Mansally was able to get a free kick from distance and when he crossed the ball, out of nowhere was Caraglio who leapt in the area and headed the ball past Coundoul again. It was Caraglio’s first two goals in Major League Soccer and by no surprise it was the Red Bulls that gave him those chances.
After ninety minutes once again the Red Bulls ended their night with another draw. Another two goal draw that dropped another two points that they couldn’t afford. Their first half was a pathetic display of attack and defending. They allowed Bouna to get hung to dry and if it wasn’t a halftime speech by Hans Backe to get back into the match, they would’ve been in a worse position.
The big question marks of this match was the two potential penalties that was taken away from the Red Bulls. Dax McCarty was taken down in the first half by Shuttleworth and pointed to the spot, but after talking to his assistant he took it away and gave a booking.
The next one in the second half, McCarty gets an elbow to the head from a New England Defender and when he looked up, there was no call from the referee either. Whatever the Red Bulls need to get a big goal and over the drawing hump, it’s not coming from the ref.
But to be fair the Red Bulls need to find a way to earn three points and in a hurry so they won’t fall out of a playoff spot, it’s getting very close to being at the bottom of the line.
