Belated Recap: Red Bulls 1 - 0 Dallas

By: Dave Martinez | June 23rd, 2008

The team continued with the Osorio Mantra - it doesnt matter if you do it ugly, just so long as you win. And for yet another week, the Bulls flirted .500 and somehow managed to avoid going under.

The team featured the same 4-3-1-2 formation, which fluctuated to a 4-4-2 at times on the defense. The lineup was intact from the previous week - meaning Parke once again road the bench.

But the Bulls managed to keep excellent pressure throughout the game. The first half featured many midfield blitzes, but little else on the finishing end. Oscar Echeverry again seemed rather ineffective and Dane Richards once again road the play on the right hand side, creating chances, and causing fits for the defense. The defense held well, and Jeff Parke did eventually get into the game, early in the first half.

An excellent complete game victory. The Bulls seem to be very allergic to the .500 mark. I hope that trend continues.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Sinisa Ubiparipovic. And how can anyone argue that? Sinisa looked like a puppy in a park, who was allowed to run free, with no leash in sight. He played determined soccer, and had fun doing it, running through defenders, playing some one touch magic, and basically surplanting Dave Van Den Bergh on the set pieces with some masterful crossing (including his feed to Goldthwaite). This is the type of attacking mentality many expected from Sinisa last year. Cheers to maturity!

TURNING POINT OF THE MATCH

Jon Conway ROBS the Brazilian with a beautiful stop in what could have been the beginnings of a New York Horror Show. Conway saw very little action last night, and to have the sense to step up on a point blank shot and parry it away - very impressive. Had he not saved it, we would once again be stretching our hands to the heavens shouting “Why!” Conway saves the game and kills the spirit of Dallas all in one save.

WHAT THE $&*!&$&$! MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Again, the Conway stop. I just thought that was going to be a given goal. Next time, I will have more faith.

SPECIAL ED PLAYER OF THE MATCH

I would really have to say Oscar Echeverry for a second consecutive week. Sure, Pitchkolan played like a complete pitch colon this game, with dirty tackle, after dirty foul - ugh. But Echeverry is being counted on to salvage some goals up top, and his finishing touch is no where to be found. Dane Richards is a bit trigger shy, as has been his M.O. for months. But Echeverry, older, wiser, more experienced - he should be shouldering the offensive load far more than the diminutive Jamaican. The energy only took an upswing with Jon Wolyniecs insertion. Echeverry still leaves much to be desired.