Below .500: Red Bulls 1 – 2 Kansas City

By: Dave Martinez | July 10th, 2008

Stop me if you have heard this one before.

The Bulls open the first half, and 4 minutes in, Jimmy Conrad, Red Bull Killer, scores.

The Bulls open the second half, and 2 minutes in, Davy Arnaud buries one. 2-0.

The Bulls score one goal, as has been the trend: the last ten games, they have scored one goal or less. And of course, Juan Pablo Angel was the person to put it in. 2-1

Again, stop me if you have heard this story before.

Unfortunately, the Red Bulls could not cheat fate – they are now below the .500 mark for the first time all season. Dave Van Den Bergh was even quoted on BAS stating “We absolutely can’t lose.” Now what? For starters, they are tied at 20 pts with Kansas City for the 6th spot out of 7 teams in the conference.

Not good.

Rojas, Pietravallo, and Jimenez couldn’t come any sooner.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Dane Richards. And I will tell you why – the minute he came in, attack began to breathe again. He created the opportunity for Angels goal, he nearly scored from an impossible angle – all in all, he was what the Bulls needed for the first 70′. I think keeping Dane Richards with Angel up top, and possibly moving Hunter Freeman to the right wing would be a good idea moving forward. Who knows.

TURNING POINT OF THE MATCH

This game had two turnings points: Jimmy Conrad in the 4th, and Davy Arnaud in the 47th. Early goals are devastating to overcome, and Kansas City struck early twice. Imagine the mountain the Red Bulls would have had to overcome with one early goal, let alone two. Kind of puts a damper on things.

WHAT THE $!($!*(!)@( MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The last 20 minutes. Where did that come from? The Bulls suddenly woke up and started playing team ball, sending in genuinely dangerous crosses, creating opportunities, and nearly tying this game out of nowhere. Who were those guys? Where were they the first 70′? Woly pulls off a cheeky tocuh and shot that hits the bar. Van Den Bergh goes far left and Hartman gets the best of him. Dane Richards was all over the place. Again, who were these guys?

SPECIAL ED PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Oscar Echeverry. How many chances did he have, and blow? How many did he straight up lose? Wolyniec isn’t starting because he is best used coming off the bench. He provides a spark, believe it or not. But Echeverry seems lost, discombobulated, and confused out there. Even JPA looked frustrated.