NewYorkRedBulls.com Correspondent Craig Hutchinson continues his regular column on RedBullsReader.com today with a look back at an eventful week for the club.  He gives his take on the win over TFC, the impact callups will have on the match with RSL, and the announcement made by Mike Petke.  If you have a question or comment for Craig, share your thoughts in the comments section.

It’s been a busy week for the Red Bulls; Another solid victory over a playoff contender, another road game to an undefeated home team coming up, an international midfielder who chooses club over country and the announced future retirement of a New York legend.

Let’s look at these things in order.

Last week I wondered what the possible encore for the team might provide after their 4-1 demolition of Toronto on the road. The answer was an unchanged lineup, a similar performance, and a solid 2-0 win. It wasn’t all plain sailing efficiency, ex-MetroStars forward Cornell Glen was guilty of missing several decent chances for the Earthquakes in front of goal, while the Red Bulls themselves had other chances which fell by the wayside. Juan Pablo Angel perhaps the guiltiest, side footing a rebound against the post with nearly the whole goal to aim for.

It was pleasing to see a couple of season firsts with the goals. Dane Richards told me after his cracking goal in the Manchester City game he couldn’t figure out why he scores in friendlies but can’t seem to do it in the league. Against San Jose he finally managed it for the first time this season and it was worth the wait; receiving a header from Joel Lindpere he passed one defender, knocked it past another on the top of the box then casually rounded the ‘keeper to roll the ball into the empty net. A fitting goal by a man, who by his own admission, is in some of the best form of his career. The second goal was one of the most anticipated of the season, Thierry Henry’s first goal in Major League Soccer. He’s come so close to it on numerous occasions, even in this game he hit the post in the first half, had an audacious back-heeled volley and a regular volley saved in the second. When the goal arrived it was due partly to Dane Richards who tore down the right hand side and delivered the ball to the danger area in the middle, partly due to Thierry’s outstanding first touch and drilled half-volleyed finish and partly to the Earthquakes who allowed Henry some much time and space in the box (you’d think Frank Yallop would have spoke to his defenders before the game and said something like “they’ve got this guy who wears number 14, scouting reports say he’s quite good, make sure you keep a close eye on him”.)

It was well spoke of two weeks ago that Toronto had a long unbeaten home streak until the visit of New York. The team that has the longest home unbeaten streak is Real Salt Lake (21 games), the team the Red Bulls must travel to this weekend. They must do so without four international players who were called up by their country; Bouna Coundoul, Roy Miller, Dane Richards and Rafa Marquez. For most teams, losing players of this caliber and form would leave huge holes in the side, but one thing the Red Bulls have shown this season is that they have depth in their squad. Sutton and Borman are the logical replacements for Bouna and Miller, both of which have had some outstanding contributions to the team this year. For replacements in midfield, you can choose any two of Stammler, Robinson, Ubiparipovic or Kandji; four players that would be sure fire starters on most teams in the league.

The team could have had one further loss this week in the form of midfielder Joel Lindpere who was selected to represent his nation of Estonia only for him to decline the invitation. Club verses country arguments have gone on in many countries in different sports; do you represent your club, who you play for week after week and who pays your salary, or do you opt for the honor of representing your country. It’s a difficult decision for many and as much as Joel loves his country, he has decided to show his loyalty to his club team, much to the delight of Red Bull fans and dismay of Estonian fans. While most other leagues have a break in their schedule during international competitions reducing the chance of conflict, MLS does not. Commissioner Don Garber cited that skipping whole weekends of league action would cost the league in valuable revenue streams, which is understandable. But if the league is to take that next step and continuously look to recruit top talent from oversees, Mr. Garber may have to revisit this policy.

Finally, as most of you are now aware, central defender Mike Petke announced this week that he will be retiring from professional football at the end of the season. Since then, many accolades have already been posted by fans on various websites paying tribute to Mike Petke and his service to the New York franchise. Tributes well deserving giving his list of achievements with the team; Franchise leader in games started, games, minutes and was also named to the team’s All-time Best XI announced this year. Mike himself cited the main reason being that he does not feel his body is physically and mentally capable of playing up to the required standard of this league any more. As you will probably remember, Mike was the starting CD for the first half of the season before being dropped for Carlos Mendes in the game against Chivas. At the time Hans Backe said it was to rest Petke’s legs after playing two games in a week, but there was also a dip in form leading up to that. Petke’s effort, attitude and ability to win a ball from an opponent remains as strong as ever, but his declining ability to track runs off the ball were beginning to become an issue and a few goals were conceded at the time as a direct result. Long time New York fans will remember the bleached blonde rookie, his “Crime of the Century – Revenge is Coming” t-shirt and grimace at the fact he was traded to arch rival DC where he won a title. But the Bohemia, NY native is back where he belongs in New York to end his career on his own terms. Personally I wish Mike the best in the future endeavors; he has a fun and engaging personality so it would be good for both Mike and the club if he stayed on in some capacity, but that’s for the future, he’s not gone yet and we still have the rest of the season to finish. I can’t think of a more fitting finish to his career than to end it at the club he began it with and with a new championship ring on his finger.

If that scenario is to play out, the next step towards it is in Sandy, Utah this coming Saturday.

Until next time, I’m Craig Hutchinson…

Craig hails from the town of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England and gained a BA honors degree in Sports Studies and Physical Education at the University of York St. John, North Yorkshire, England. After graduation, he worked for five years as a professional youth soccer coach throughout the United States. He joined the New York Red Bulls in 2008 as a coach in the youth Training Programs and Regional Development Schools. He became the team’s video broadcaster at the beginning of the 2010 season.  Craig’s opinions do not necessarily reflect those of RedBullsReader or the New York Red Bulls.

New York legend Mike Petke announced Wednesday that he would retire from professional soccer at the end of the 2010 MLS season.  Yesterday we shared the first part of our exclusive sit down with the defensive standout.  Today we post the second and final portion of our interview.  Enjoy.  What are your favorite Mike Petke moments?  Share in the comments section.

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“After many months of contemplation, I know that this is the best choice for me and my family,” Petke said. “When I first started playing in MLS, I could have not imagined the type of career I was so fortunate to experience over these past 13 years. I am indebted to my family, current and former teammates and coaches and the fans for their support and encouragement. I am at peace with my decision and blessed that I am able to end my career in a place where I truly call home.”CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

Petke talks about his decision: Part 1

Petke’s New York Best XI video:

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Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, Sept. 3 at 10:00 a.m. ET by calling 1-877-RBSOCCER, logging onto www.redbullarena.us or visiting the Red Bull Arena Box Office, Delgado Travel stores and other usual tiendas in the metropolitan area.

Red Bulls Season Ticket Holders have an exclusive pre-sale window to purchase seats for the match starting tomorrow Thursday, Sept. 2 at 10:00 a.m. ET and ending on Friday, Sept. 3 at 10:00 a.m. ET. Season ticket locations are not guaranteed for this match and seats will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.

Discounted four-ticket packs for the match can also be ordered online or by calling 1-877-RBSOCCER.

Both teams will feature new head coaches. Ecuador is led by Colombian Reinaldo Rueda, who coached the Honduras national team in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, while Colombia will be coached by Hernán Darío “Bolillo” Gomez, who returns to the national team after leading them to the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

The Ecuadorian team features international stars such as Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia, Santos Laguna (Mexico) forward Christian Benítez, Rubin Kazan (Russia) midfielder Christian Noboa, and Villareal (Spain) midfielder Jefferson Montero.

Some of the renowned Colombians playing abroad include the dangerous FC Porto (Portugal) forward Falcao Garcia, AC Milan’s veteran defender Mario Alberto Yepes, Racing (Argentina) midfielder Giovanni Moreno, and Wigan (England) forward Hugo Rodallega.

This marks the first time that Red Bull Arena will host two South American teams and the match will commemorate the Guayaquil Independence Day of Ecuador (Oct. 9).

Fans and media are encouraged to use public transportation provided by New Jersey Transit and via the PATH train to arrive at Red Bull Arena, the 25,000-seat home of Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls. Please visit www.njtransit.com and www.panynj.gov/path/ for train stations and schedules or www.redbullarena.us site for more information.

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The NYPD Soccer Team won the Mayor's Cup with a 3-1 win over the FDNY. (Getty/RBNY)

The New York Fire and Police Departments battled Saturday night for bragging rights in the 2nd Annual Mayor’s Cup. Despite a hard fought match between the two teams, the NYPD came away victorious by a score of 3-1. The match was held at Red Bull Arena immediately following the New York Red Bull’s 2-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes on August 28.

This friendly rivalry benefits the New York City PBA Widows’ and Children’s Fund and the Firefighter Sergio Villanueva Soccer Foundation. The New York City PBA Widows’ and Children’s Fund benefits the widows and children of New York City police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The Firefighter Sergio Villanueva Soccer Foundation honors Sergio Villanueva who gave his life in the line of duty on September 11, 2001. “Sergio was a friend and a teammate. It is almost 10 years now that we lost Sergio,” said FDNY head coach, Joe Brosi. “Sergio was a police officer for eight years before he came over to the FD. That blood runs through both departments.” 50% of the revenue from tickets sold went to the two foundations.

The two departments have played for the Mayor’s Cup in several other sports including hockey and baseball, but this is only the second time the Cup has been awarded for a soccer match. “There is a great rivalry on the field, but we have great friendships,” explained Brosi. “We’ve been through a lot of stuff together. A lot of good and a lot of bad. And we’ve picked each other up. When it’s out there, it’s all game. But off the field we do a lot of great stuff together.” Last year’s Mayor’s Cup was won by the FDNY in a 3-0 shutout. This time, despite allowing an own goal early in the first half, the NYPD powered their way to a 3-1 victory over the Fire Department.

The match got off to a quick start as a NYPD defender scored in his own net in an attempt to clear the ball from the goal line. Shortly after, in the 21st minute, Daniel Brandi scored to level the match, 1-1. 15 minutes later, Carlos Villacres scored off of a clear shot from the front of the net, as the NYPD took a 2-1 lead into the intermission. The final tally came in the 71st minute. Justin Bernstein of the NYPD scored off a great pass from teammate, Tom Helly, who was named the MVP of the match, for a final score of 3-1. “It was tough. FD’s got a tough squad,” said Helly. “The coach has been practicing with us for a couple months now getting ready for them. We worked together as a team and got it done.”

As soon as the match was over, the competitive rivalry quickly ended as the two departments came together to celebrate the event. The Mayor’s Cup trophy was presented to the NYPD in front of hundreds of their friends, family, and fans. “For us, it’s an honor to play here. It’s such a beautiful stadium. It’s a soccer specific stadium,” said NYPD head coach, Ronald Mejia, after the game. “We just want to thank the Red Bulls for having us here and helping us and the Fire Department raise money for the charities.”

-Annie DaValle is a contributor for RedBullsReader.com.

New York Red Bulls midfielder Joel Lindpere released this statement today in regards to representing his native Estonia in international competition.

“I have decided to respectfully decline call-ups by the Estonian National Team for the rest of the year to focus on the remainder of the MLS season. I feel that it is important to help the Red Bulls firstly, qualify for the playoffs and secondly, compete for the MLS Cup championship.”

Lindpere will be available when the Red Bulls travel to Sandy, UT, to take on reigning MLS Cup Champion Real Salt Lake on Saturday, September 4.

Márquez was called up for Mexico’s upcoming friendlies on Sept. 4 against Ecuador in Guadalajara, Mexico and on Sept. 7 versus Colombia in Monterrey, Mexico. Márquez has represented Mexico 95 times, and captained the team at the 2002, 2006, and 2010 FIFA World Cups. Márquez signed with the Red Bulls as a Designated Player on Aug. 2, and scored his first goal for the club on Aug. 21 in a 4-1 victory over Toronto FC.

Richards has been called in to the Jamaica National Team for its upcoming friendlies on Sept. 5 against Costa Rica in Kingston, Jamaica and on Sept. 7 versus Peru in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Richards has appeared 17 times for Jamaica, and has scored one goal, which he notched in his last appearance for the “Reggae Boyz” against Trinidad and Tobago on Aug. 11. Richards has appeared in 19 matches this season for the Red Bulls, registering one goal and three assists.

Coundoul, who has three caps for the Senegal National Team, has been called up for Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Democratic Republic of the Congo on Sept. 5 in Lubumbashi, D.R. He last featured for Senegal in a friendly against Cape Verde Islands on Aug. 11. Coundoul, who leads Major League Soccer in saves this season, was acquired by New York on June 29, 2009.

Miller was called in for Costa Rica’s upcoming friendlies on Sept. 3 at Panama in Panama City, Panama and Sept. 5 at Jamaica in Kingston, Jamaica. Miller has 15 caps for Costa Rica. The defender was signed by the Red Bulls on Jan. 8, and has played in 19 matches this season for New York, registering one assist.

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Last week’s game against LA left some uncertainties around the team despite some positives that I highlighted in my last piece. Two of the biggest concerns were centered around the Red Bulls inabilities to finish chances and the less than impressive performance by Rafa Marquez in his home debut. Both of these concerns were thankfully just about laid to rest in Toronto.

Hans Backe said after the Galaxy game that he was pleased with the team’s overall performance and backed up his words by naming an unchanged side just seven days later. However despite the final one sided score, Toronto started the brighter of the teams and had chances to take the lead themselves several times; that was before Rafa stepped up and showed us all what he can do. I assume by now you have all seen his sublime half-volley by now, a very worthy winner of the MLS Goal of the Week (Brian Ching’s goal received a lot of votes, but I don’t respect bicycle kicks as much when they come from a bouncing ball, Rafa’s was technically far more difficult to execute).

If the first goal was exceptional, the second was fortuitous.  Joseph Nane was unsighted by his own teammates and had no time to react as the ball hit his legs and deflected into the goal. New York had other opportunities to completely wrap up the game creating several chances in the final minutes of the first half, but must have been feeling very confident heading in the changing rooms after 45 minutes. Those missed chances could have been punished after Toronto pulled one back after the half (a goal Bouna will no doubt be wishing he could have done better with), but Nana Attakora contributed the major turning point of the second half with a blatant and unnecessary handball in the box, resulting in a penalty goal for Angel and a red card for his troubles. The fourth goal was certainly the icing on the cake and I was personally delighted for Carl Robinson to notch up his first goal for the club. Robbo would have probably started most of the games this season if it hadn’t been for injury and he showed in this game the sound technical gifts he brings to the team. Additionally, with his father’s ailing health and the fact it was back at his former club, there was not a more fitting player to wrap up the win.

Aside from the score line, there were performances from certain players that caught the eye too. Tony Tchani in particular caught my eye. For most rookie players, their first priority is to not mess up and lose possession, therefore making a lot of safe sideways and backward passes. Tony was no different at first, but you can see he is now oozing confidence and is turning into a very talented playmaker looking to link the whole team together. Marquez’s performance, although not quite at his best, was a vast improvement and despite Henry’s missed chances, he is starting to look very sharp. Dane Richards continues his recent run of good form and the aforementioned Carl Robinson showed he is more than capable of filling in for Marquez should the situation arise.

A good game, a strong performance and an excellent result for the Red Bulls. It’s a game that made the rest of the league take notice, with many now worring about the potential that this team, with it’s collection of star players, may now be coming together and gelling in time for a run at and into the playoffs. Additionally, I still feel that the team is not yet firing on all cylinders and that Rafa and Thierry still have a couple more gears they can click into over the next few weeks. The prospect of further improvement from this game is exciting for all that follow the team and the league. Indeed, there will be a lot of interest as to what the encore performance will be this upcoming Saturday against San Jose at Red Bull Arena. The Earthquakes could be giving a first start to their new DP acquisition, Brazilian Geovanni which will add to a tough test against a team with only four points less than the Red Bulls with a game in hand. Let’s not forget that it was the Earthquakes that handed New York a 4-0 defeat at their place earlier this season.

I’ll hopefully see a lot of you there at Red Bull Arena on Saturday as we will see if this victory over Toronto was the sign of good things to come.

Until next time, I’m Craig Hutchinson…

Craig hails from the town of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England and gained a BA honors degree in Sports Studies and Physical Education at the University of York St. John, North Yorkshire, England. After graduation, he worked for five years as a professional youth soccer coach throughout the United States. He joined the New York Red Bulls in 2008 as a coach in the youth Training Programs and Regional Development Schools. He became the team’s video broadcaster at the beginning of the 2010 season.  Craig’s opinions do not necessarily reflect those of RedBullsReader or the New York Red Bulls.

Agudelo was signed by the Red Bulls on March 26 from the Red Bull Academy, becoming the second Home Grown player produced by the club to join the first team. This season for the Red Bulls, Agudelo started three games in the U.S. Open Cup, and has featured in the team’s 18 man matchday roster on three occasions, but has yet to appear in a regular season game.

The U.S. U-20’s will play against Paraguay on Sept. 6, Colombia on Sept. 8, and Peru on Sept. 10. Agudelo most recently represented the U.S. U-20’s in July at the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland. Agudelo started all three matches at the competition, and scored a goal in the United States’ 3-0 victory in the final over host Northern Ireland.

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Credit: Fredy Alverez

Mexican sports stars Erik Morales and Rafel Marquez got together for the official East Coast announcement of the “Mexican Fiesta” Pay-Per-View event, featuring Morales against Willie Limond for the vacant WBC Diamond Super Lightweight Championship, on Saturday, September 11 at La Monumental Plaza de Toros in Mexico City, Mexico.  The duo exchanged tools of their respective trades, a Red Bulls jersey and boxing gloves, at the press conference held at Red Bull Arena on August 17.  Take a look at more after the jump.

En espanol:

*new*
Backpacks
Crayons
Notebooks
Pens & Pencil packs.
Markers
Scissors
Lunch boxes
Calculators
Binders

Please be as generous as you can to help this worthwhile cause.

We caught up with head coach Hans Backe, Angel, Marquez and Robinson after the win:

What did you think of the match?

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NewYorkRedBulls.com Correspondent Craig Hutchinson continues his regular column on RedBullsReader.com today with a look back at the Red Bulls match with LA, taking positives from the match, which saw the home debut of Rafa Marquez and the first home MLS match for New York’s three Designated Players.  If you have a question or comment for Craig, share your thoughts in the comments section.

Many people have been touting the LA Galaxy as the best of the MLS for most of the season and Saturday saw them come to Red Bull Arena and take all three points in a 1-0 win. But if they really are the elite team in this league, how far away from them are the Red Bulls in terms of quality and performance?

For me personally, and I’m sure it was the same for many of the fans, this game has been one to look forward to for much of the season. Even hours before the game, I felt an air of excitement just walking around outside the Arena where fans were enjoying the interactive zone and beer garden. It almost felt like the Grand Opening again, beautiful weather, a capacity crowd and a lot of excitement and anticipation for what might be.

Not only was it a showdown between two teams, 1st in the West against 2nd in the East, but many of the individuals in the Arena were enough to attract attention of the casual observer. For many fans it was a chance to see U.S hero Landon Donovan for the first time since the World Cup (not that he got a hero’s welcome while wearing an LA uniform); David Beckham still draws a lot of attention despite still nursing his way back from his torn Achilles (another month before he starts playing he told me in the tunnel pre-game); for the Red Bulls, alongside his former Barcelona teammate Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez made his home debut for the team.

Former New York, LA and U.S great Clint Mathis was honored before the game by both the club and ESC after announcing his retirement two weeks ago. Another Metro legend Tab Ramos was on hand to help with the presentation. Additionally, anyone who decided to check out the Sky Boxes during the game may have also been able to spot a few celebrities. Sat directly behind me were Thierry’s friend Tony Parker and wife Eva Longoria and it was mighty difficult concentrating on the game when one of the most beautiful women in the world is a turned-head view away!

The game didn’t take long to raise excitement either. If Chris Birchall’s long range effort off the crossbar in the seventh minute was a warning, the Red Bulls didn’t take note as just three minutes later Marquez was caught in possession in midfield and a beautifully weighted through ball by Juninho split the Red Bulls defense for native New Yorker Edison Buddle to race on to and calmly finish past Bouna Coundoul. For the next 80 minutes the Red Bulls were unable to force an equalizer despite having chances. Juan Pablo went close a few times – a freekick just past the left hand post, a header off the bar, another header off the line (where Tim Ream also saw his follow up also cleared off the line). Henry was put though on goal at one point, but quick awareness from Ricketts in the LA goal saw him able to come out and block the ball. Indeed Henry could have won about three penalties in the space of 10 seconds as he was continuously impeded in the box, a play that ended with Landon Donovan putting Dane Richards in a headlock, throwing him to the ground and unbelievable winning a free kick for his troubles. Angel got a yellow card for vociferously being in disagreement with the decision, but I can’t blame JPA’s reactions.

Obviously, losing a home game is disappointing, but were there positives to be taken from the game? Absolutely.

Hans was happy after the game with the way the team performed. The defense was fairly solid and the team held possession and created chances against a very organized LA defense. Dane Richards, often criticized by fans, is on a good run of form and turned in a lively display on the right. Rafa Marquez, by his own admission, did not play up to his usual standards. We all need to remember that both he and Henry’s bodies are in completely different shape from the rest of the guys in the league as they are still working their way to full fitness following the European off season (the probable reason that Thierry has picked up slight hamstring and calf injuries since arriving). Henry admitted after training on Thursday that probably the best thing for him and Rafa to have done would have been to train with the team for 3-4 weeks to build up their fitness levels before taking the field. They are of course competitors and they couldn’t wait to get out on the pitch for their new club despite not yet being 100%. When they do both get up to that level, the rest of the league better beware!

Saturday sees the team head north of the border to Canada to battle Toronto for the second time in 10 days, a team that Henry thought was a much tougher opponent than LA. Toronto will be looking to avenge their 1-0 defeat at Red Bull Arena last week while New York will be looking to build on their performance against LA and turn it into points.

I won’t be heading up to Toronto, but will instead enjoy the matinee game at a lake house, in the sunshine and with a cold beverage in hand. I’m not sure Saturday afternoons get much better than that!

Until next time, I’m Craig Hutchinson…

Craig hails from the town of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England and gained a BA honors degree in Sports Studies and Physical Education at the University of York St. John, North Yorkshire, England. After graduation, he worked for five years as a professional youth soccer coach throughout the United States. He joined the New York Red Bulls in 2008 as a coach in the youth Training Programs and Regional Development Schools. He became the team’s video broadcaster at the beginning of the 2010 season.  Craig’s opinions do not necessarily reflect those of RedBullsReader or the New York Red Bulls.

Watch this video and more on the NewYorkRedBulls.com official video player.

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Red Bull New York is committed to growing the sport of soccer in the Metropolitan area and beyond.  One such instance is the NYC Urban Soccer Program camps the organization conducted recently.  This summer, the program has impacted over 1000 players in economically disadvantaged areas.   Here are a few photos from a recent camp in conjunction with NYC Parks & Recreation.

The Red Bulls battle the Galaxy tonight at Red Bull Arena in a battle of the top team in the West against the Eastern Conference’s #2 team.  It was just announced that Bruce Arena, battling an illness, will not be on the sidelines for Los Angeles tonight, but the Galaxy will have Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle leading the offense.  The club will honor retiring Clint Mathis prior to the match, which is sold out.  This match will be the home debut of Rafa Marquez, and will mark the first time that the three Red Bulls DPs will be on the Red Bull Arena pitch.New York Red Bulls:

—————–Henry———-Angel—————–

Lindpere—————Tchani——————Richards

———————-Marquez—————————

Miller———Ream———–Mendes————Albright

———————Coundoul—————————

Subs: Sutton, Petke, Kandji, Robinson, Ubiparipovic, Stammler, Borman

Los Angeles Galaxy:

—————-Buddle———-Bowen——————-

Donovan—————Juninho——————-Stephens

———————Birchall————————–

De La Garza——Berhalter——-Gonzalez——–Franklin

———————Ricketts————————–

Subs: Saunders, Leonardo, Jordan, Lewis, Klein, Kirovski, Magee

———————————————————————————

1′ And we’re off…

1′ Great ceremony honoring Clint Mathis before the match.

3′ NY with some early pressure, but can’t get a shot off.

The Red Bulls host the Los Angeles Galaxy Saturday in a battle of playoff contenders.  The two sides have played some very memorable matches over the last few years, and meet for the first time in 2010 tomorrow.  The match marks the home debut for Rafa Marquez, and the first time all three New York DPs will take to the pitch together at Red Bull Arena. The Galaxy will be armed with the offensive talents of Landon Donovan and local product and ex-Red Bull Edson Buddle, and a sellout crowd is expected to create an exciting atmosphere.  We asked head coach Hans Backe and players Thierry Henry and Mac Kandji for their thoughts on the match.  Share YOUR thoughts in the comments section.

Watch this video and more on the NewYorkRedBulls.com official video player.

Watch this video and more on the NewYorkRedBulls.com official video player.

Below are the airing times for Thierry Henry: The Next Goal (all times ET).  Check your local listings for channels.

Fox Soccer Channel
Sat 8/14  5pm
Sat 8/14 11:30pm
Mon 8/16 5:30pm
Sun 8/22 4:30pm

Fox Soccer Plus
Tue 8/17  9:30pm
Sat 8/21 9:30am
Sun 8/22 2:30pm

Red Bull New York will honor all-time New York great Clint Mathis in an on-field ceremony prior to the sold out Red Bulls-Los Angeles Galaxy match at Red Bull Arena Saturday, Aug. 14. Kickoff for that match is set for 6:00 PM ET (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports en Espanol; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM). The Red Bulls will air a video tribute to the team’s former leader in goals scored before Mathis, who announced his retirement on Aug. 3 as a member of the Galaxy, will have a few remarks for fans. All fans with tickets to the match are strongly encouraged to enter Red Bull Arena prior to 5:30 PM.

Mathis spent five seasons with New York, his first stint from 2000-2003 before re-joining the team in 2007. While a member of the club, Mathis was selected as an MLS All-Star three times, in 2000, 2001 and 2003. In the 2000 season, Mathis, was selected to the MLS Best XI, scoring 13 goals and adding 13 assists, and on Aug. 26, 2000 against the Dallas Burn, Mathis scored an MLS-record five goals in a single match. Mathis was named given the team’s Most Valuable Player award for the 2000 season, and in 2001, his goal against Dallas was named the MLS Goal of the Year.

Mathis is the only player to score in a World Cup while a member of the New York franchise. While representing the United States at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Mathis scored against host South Korea in a group stage match. He returned to the club in 2007 and enjoyed a solid season, netting six goals and adding two assists in 26 appearances. On Aug. 18, 2007 against the Los Angeles Galaxy, Mathis scored his 45th goal for the team in all competitions, breaking Giovanni Savarese’s club record, which has since been eclipsed by Juan Pablo Angel. Mathis remains second on the club’s all-time goal scoring list, and sits fourth all-time in assists. Earlier this season, he was voted by fans to the Red Bulls’ All-Time First XI.

Miller was called in for Costa Rica’s friendly against Paraguay at Defensores del Chaco in Asunción, Paraguay, which Costa Rica lost 2-0.  The defender started the match at left back and played 87 minutes.  Miller, who has one assist in 15 appearances this season, has earned 15 international caps for his country.

Newcomer Marquez started and played 59 minutes in Mexico’s 1-1 draw with World Cup Champion Spain in Mexico City, Mexico.  Marquez has earned 95 caps, scoring 11 goals, his most recent coming in a 2010 World Cup match against South Africa .

Richards started and scored a goal in 79 minutes of play in Jamaica’s 3-1 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly in Macoya, Trinidad.  The midfielder’s eight minute half-volley strike put the Reggae Boys ahead in a match dominated by the visitors as the two countries prepare for the Caribbean Championships.  Richards Richards has 17 caps for the Jamaican national team. With New York this season, Richards has tallied one assist in 15 games.

Coundoul earned his third cap for Senegal as they defeated the Cape Verde Islands 1-0, in a friendly in Dakar, Senegal on August 11. Coundoul, who did not start but come on as a sub at halftime, has a 1.17 goals against average and seven shutouts this season for the Red Bulls.

The Red Bulls take on Toronto FC tonight in the first MLS match at Red Bull Arena since July 10.  After over a month away from home for league matches, New York’s depth will be tested as four players (Marquez, Coundoul, Miller and Richards) are away on international duty.  Second place in the Eastern Conference is on the line in this potential playoff matchup, as the two sides would meet in the Eastern semifinals if the season was to end today.  The last time these clubs met was at the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic, a 4-0 New York win that saw Julian de Guzman was shown a straight red card after a horror tackle on Juan Pablo Angel, causing the Red Bulls captain to miss the remainder of the preseason.  Curious if there is any hard tackles as a result tonight.  New York Red Bulls:

—————–Henry———-Angel—————–

Kandji———-Lindpere———-Tchani——–Stammler

Borman———Ream———–Mendes————Albright

———————Sutton—————————

Subs: Sharpe, Petke, da Luz, Ibrahim, Ubiparipovic, Robinson, Boyens

Toronto FC:

—————Barrett———-De Rosario—————–

Nane———-de Guzman————-Peterson———–LaBrocca

Garcia————Cann—————Attakora————Usanov

————————–Frei———————————

Subs: Conway, Hscanovics, Harden, Mista, White, Ibrahim, Gala

Yes, its the former Red Bull Jon Conway as the backup keeper for TFC tonight.

—————————————————————————————————————

1′ And we’re off…

1′ An early defensive miscue leads to a de Guzman shot, but its well wide.

4′ TFC gets the first corner.

5′ Bouna Coundoul and Senegal posted a 1-0 win over Cape Verde today.

7′ Dane Richards has scored for Jamaica as they lead Trinidad and Tobago 3-1 in the 69th.

8′ Nice work by Borman to thwart a threat.

10′ TFC’s high pressure is causing problems for NY early on.

10′ A nice effort from Ream breaks up another threat.

13′ Some nifty moves by Kandji earns a corner for NY.

15′ Henry whistled for an offsides infraction.

19′ After withstanding the early pressure, NY is starting to assert its will on the match.

NewYorkRedBulls.com Correspondent Craig Hutchinson continues his regular column on RedBullsReader.com today with a look at the signing of Rafa Marquez and the impact the Mexican captain could have on the team and MLS, as well as his and Henry’s MLS debuts.  If you have a question or comment for Craig, share your thoughts in the comments section.

Wow! It’s been a busy couple of weeks since I last wrote for RBR!

Since my previous piece on the Barclays New York Challenge we’ve seen Thierry Henry make his MLS debut, the signing of Rafa Marquez and the first five DP game in MLS history during the team’s 0-0 draw with Chicago this past Sunday.

There’s so much I would love to discuss right now, but I’ll try and keep it concise for you. Let’s begin with Marquez and what his signing can mean for the club and MLS in general.

There are some MLS fans out there that are having a little moan about the moves the Red Bulls have made, complaining that the team is becoming the Yankees of the MLS by trying to buy their way to the title and so forth. The Red Bulls’ last two games have been on the road, and both games have seen attendances of over 20,000 fans. Clearly these signings not only benefit the Red Bulls ability to win games, but also raises the league’s notoriety to those soccer fans out there that the league has failed to attract before. More specifically, the European and Hispanic communities that remain loyal to their own leagues and teams, but not the local teams of where they now live.

The Marquez signing in particular could be monumental in the history of this league. We all know that whenever Mexico plays in the area that the game sells out, whether it be at the old Giants Stadium or the New Meadowlands Stadium. These fans can now cheer for their national team captain every week in Red Bull Arena and who knows; maybe they end up cheering for the rest of the team too. But this signing holds way more value than just the ability to sell a few shirts and shift a few tickets. At just 31 years old, Rafa is still very much in the prime of his career. Just speaking to Hans Backe and Erik Soler last week, I can see the excitement on their faces and hear it in their voices when they talk about Marquez the player (remember that Hans coached Marquez for a year when he was an assistant coach of the Mexican national team). He does not have the style of play that you can make a typical highlight reel out of, but he does the little things in front of the back four as good as anyone in world football and his vision and ability to distribute the ball from the middle will make a huge difference in linking the defense and attack.

Sunday we got to see him in a Red Bull shirt for the first time, although like Henry, he’s coming from the European leagues which have been in the middle of their off season and are not yet in full game shape. Despite that, we could all still see glimpses of his ability to break up opposition attacks and begin ours with the excellent touch he possesses. Thierry is also showing a return to game shape and a willingness to run at the defense a little more until his evening ended early due to a slight groin strain. His removal from the game was more of a precaution than cause for real concern so we should expect him back Wednesday night.

For the second consecutive week the team came away with a road point against a potentially difficult team, something most teams would be happy with. Not this team. And not given the circumstances.

If the Houston game was a heartbreaker given the timing of Dynamo’s equalizer, the Chicago game was more frustration than anything.

If the first half saw an even number of chances at both ends, the second half was one way traffic and I know Hans and the team were disappointed not to score and take all three points. That said, there were many positives the team can take away from this game. The defense was exceptional and Bouna was hardly troubled the whole game. I was pleased to see Carlos Mendes respond with a top class game as I know he held himself accountable for Houston’s 90th minute goal the week before. Additionally, the fact that we were able to create so many chances away from home is a credit to the team also, especially considering we lost Henry before halftime and Marquez came off around the hour mark.

Wednesday will see Toronto come to Red Bull Arena and New York hindered slightly as international call-ups for Bouna, Roy Miller, Dane Richards and Marquez will see them absent from the game. This could create some interesting things to look out for however with Greg Sutton making his league debut for the club and Carl Robinson possibly getting his first league start since returning from injury. For both players it would be against their former club and I’m sure they’re going to be looking to prove a point to both their current and former clubs.

If the team can replicate its performance from Chicago against Toronto, I’m confident that chances will turn into goals this time round.

Finally, I wanted to send my regards to both John Wolyniec and Kevin Goldthwaite who we both waived by the club in the last two weeks. Not only are both highly dedicated and hard working pros, both were absolute gentlemen off the field. I spoke with both several times this season while corresponding for the team and several times prior when they would visit camps and clinics run by the Red Bulls Training Programs. I have nothing but good things to say about both men and wish them nothing but the best with the next phase of their careers. Cheers fellas.

Until next time, I’m Craig Hutchinson…

Craig hails from the town of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England and gained a BA honors degree in Sports Studies and Physical Education at the University of York St. John, North Yorkshire, England. After graduation, he worked for five years as a professional youth soccer coach throughout the United States. He joined the New York Red Bulls in 2008 as a coach in the youth Training Programs and Regional Development Schools. He became the team’s video broadcaster at the beginning of the 2010 season.

New York returns to Red Bull Arena for an MLS match for the first time since June 10 when the Red Bulls host Toronto FC.  New York will be without three players due to international duty, but several players are ready to step in and fill their roles.  We spoke with head coach Hans Backe, Greg Sutton, and Carl Robinson to get their thoughts on the match.

Watch this video and more on the NewYorkRedBulls.com official video player.

Prior to the home game against Los Angeles this Saturday, the Empire Supporters Club is hosting a pre-game party to raise money for his treatment. All fans are welcome to join us at El Pastor, 570 Market St. just across the river in the Ironbound section of Newark from noon to 5pm for a concert and pre-party. There will be plenty of great food and drinks, a raffle for some great Red Bulls gear and even a dunk tank to douse your fellow fans. Admission is $ 12 for all fans and $ 10 for all New York Red Bulls supporters club members.

All of the proceeds from the event go to the Friends of Joe Vide charity. For more information regarding this charity, visit http://thefriendsofjoevide.org/ or visit empiresupportersclub.com for more information.

Miller has been called in for Costa Rica’s friendly against Paraguay at Defensores del Chaco in Asunción, Paraguay. Miller, who has one assist in 15 appearances this season, has earned 14 international caps for his country.

Newcomer Marquez will join the Mexican National Team as they take on Spain on Aug. 11 in Mexico City, Mexico. Marquez has earned 94 caps, scoring 11 goals, his most recent coming in a 2010 World Cup match against South Africa

Richards has been called in for Jamaica’s friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago on August 11 in Macoya, Trinidad. Richards has 16 caps for the Jamaican national team. With New York this season, Richards has tallied one assist in 15 games.

Coundoul and Senegal will take on the Cape Verde Islands in Dakar, Senegal. Coundoul has played every minute for the Red Bulls in MLS play, earning a 1.24 goals against average and six shutouts. He has earned two caps for the Senegalese side.

We also have Marquez’s thoughts below (the questions and answers are translated into English):

Rafa Marquez on 0-0 tie with Fire Aug. 8

Watch this video and more on the NewYorkRedBulls.com official video player.

The Club announced today that it has waived defender Kevin Goldthwaite.

Goldthwaite, who was acquired from Toronto FC in exchange for defender Todd Dunivant on June 27, 2007, has not featured in a game for New York this season due to injury. During his time with New York, Goldthwaite appeared in 54 regular season matches, scoring two goals and two assists.

New York is next in action on Sunday, August 8, when it travels to Chicago to take on the Fire at TOYOTA Park at 9:00 PM ET (TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM). The club returns home on Aug. 11, hosting Toronto FC at Red Bull Arena at 7:30 PM (TV: MSG; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM). For tickets, call 1-877-RBSOCCER or CLICK HERE.

Sassano had a right ankle reconstruction procedure, which was performed by Dr. David Levine at the Hospital for Special Surgery. He will be sidelined for 4-6 months. Sassano, a third-year player who has featured in three games this season, will be placed on the team’s Season-Ending Injury List.  This move clears a roster spot for newly signed designated player Rafa Marquez.

Nielsen had surgery to repair bony cartilage damage in his right knee in a procedure performed by Dr. Riley Williams at the Hospital for Special Surgery today. The Danish midfielder, who is already on the club’s Disabled List, will miss five months. Nielsen has played in two games in 2010 after being signed on loan from Vejle Boldklub earlier this season.

New York is next in action on Sunday, August 8, when it travels to Chicago to take on the Fire at TOYOTA Park at 9:00 PM ET (TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM). The club returns home on Aug. 11, hosting Toronto FC at Red Bull Arena at 7:30 PM (TV: MSG; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM). For tickets, call 1-877-RBSOCCER or log onto NewYorkRedBulls.com.

Watch this video and more on the NewYorkRedBulls.com official video player.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NOMINEES AND TO VOTE.

Red Bull New York will be unveiling its newest Designated Player, Rafa Marquez, at a press conference tomorrow, August 3 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ at 1:15 PM ET. Marquez, members of the Red Bulls Technical Staff and Major League Commissioner Don Garber will be present.  The stream will begin at 1:15 and there will be a pre-show hosted by Red Bull MSG announcers Steve Cangialosi and Shep Messing prior to Marquez taking the dais to speak publicly for the first time as a New York Red Bull.  CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE NEWYORKREDBULLS.COM VIDEO PAGE

Red Bull New York announced today that it has signed former FC Barcelona star and Mexican National Team captain Rafael Marquez to a multi-year contract as the club’s third Designated Player. Marquez will be unveiled to members of the media at a press conference Tuesday, Aug. 3 at Red Bull Arena at 1:15 PM ET.  The press conference will be streamed LIVE on NewYorkRedBulls.com

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RELEASE

Watch this video and more on the NewYorkRedBulls.com official video player.

New York Red Bulls captain Juan Pablo Angel has been named Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 18 of the 2010 Major League Soccer season. It is the second time this season that Angel has earned the award and fifth of his career.

Angel recorded a brace in the Red Bulls’ 2-2 tie against the Houston Dynamo at Robertson Stadium on Saturday, July 31. His first goal came in the 10th minute, as he muscled off his defender and scored off an assist from Thierry Henry to give New York the lead.  In the second half, Angel again was fed by Henry, as the Colombian Designated Player made a diagonal run into the 18-yard box and blasted the ball across the goal mouth.

The two-goal effort was his third multi-goal game of the season, and gives the forward 11 goals on the year – a number that tops in the Eastern Conference and one off the pace for the MLS’ Golden Boot. The multi-goal game was Angel’s club-record 12th in Major League Soccer and 56th goal in just 89 MLS appearances. Earlier in the week, Angel captained the MLS All-Stars, starting and playing 45 minutes against Manchester United at Reliant Stadium. It was the third time in four seasons Angel was selected to the All-Star Team.

We caught up with Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe, as well as Angel and Henry, after the match:

Here is the lineup for the Red Bulls:

———–Angel———-Henry————

Stammler-Lindpere—Tchani—–Kandji

Miller——-Ream—–Mendes—Albright

——————Coundoul——————-

Substitutes: Sutton, Petke, Robinson, Richards, Borman, Ubiparipovic, Hall

A few notes to get you started:

-          The Red Bulls had a five-match MLS unbeaten streak snapped (3-0-2) when they fell to the Columbus Crew, 2-0, on July 17 in their last league game. Today’s match is the second of a three-game road trip.

-          Danleigh Borman, Sinisa Ubiparipovic and Luke Sassano make way for Tony Tchani, Thierry Henry and Chris Albright in the lineup from the Columbus match. Remember, Albright was a late scratch from the Columbus game feeling his knee during warm-ups. However, he is fit to play tonight and did so against Tottenham and Manchester City last weekend.

-          Juan Pablo Angel returns to the lineup after missing the Barclays New York Challenge due to a left ankle sprain suffered against Columbus. Angel, who started and played 45 minutes in the MLS All-Star Game at Reliant Stadium versus Manchester United as the captain, stayed in Houston after the game was over.

-          Tim Ream and Bouna Coundoul come into the team’s 17th match being the only players to have played every minute of every regular season game.

-          This is the second meeting between the two teams, with New York earning a 2-1 victory at Red Bull Arena on June 2. After the teams were tied at one with Ubiparipovic and Brian Ching finding the back of the net, Angel scored off a dramatic 94^th minute 35-yard free kick to give New York the victory.

Houston, which is coming off a 3-0 loss to the Columbus Crew last weekend away from home, is looking to get its first win since May 22. The Dynamo is 4-3-2 at home and is 5-8-4 on the season. Here is their Starting XI:

—————Ching——–Ngwenya———-

Davis——Palmer—-Obodai—–Cruz

Chabala—–Robinson—-Serioux—Hainault

———————-Hall———————–

Substitutes: Deric (GK), Cochrane, Oduro, Weaver, Mullan, Ashe, Mulrooney

Kickoff is at 8:30 PM and will be televised live on MSG, with Steve Cangialosi and Shep Messing calling the game! We’ll be doing live commentary on the match via our Twitter account (@newyorkredbulls). Enjoy the match!

Watch this video and more on the NewYorkRedBulls.com official video player.

Watch this video and more on the NewYorkRedBulls.com official video player.

In a necessary roster move to create a spot for newly signed forward Thierry Henry, the club announced today that it has waived forward John Wolyniec.

“John is a true professional and a hard working player. We spoke to John about staying on with the club in another capacity but he expressed an interest in continuing on with his playing career. We wish him the best of luck in the future,” said Red Bull New York General Manager and Sporting Director Erik Soler.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RELEASE