Boyens Getting A Second Chance

By: Dave Martinez | September 2nd, 2009

Though some people may not agree (NLR, I am looking at you bud!), Andrew Boyens has been solid the last two games for the Red Bulls. He made key defensive plays to stop the Columbus attack this past weekend, highlighted by a beautiful diving header clearance. Not bad for someone who has been riding the bench all season.

In fact, the last time Andrew Boyens name was uttered with any relevance was after he was thoroughly schooled by Fernando Torres in a Confederations Cup trouncing. When he rejoined his mates, they were already on a season ending slide, and hope was no where to be found.

Exit Osorio. Enter Kiwi.

Now with the coaching change, Richie Williams has decided to turn to the tall as a eucalyptus tree New Zealander to help guide the teams back line. So far so good. Even playing in tandem with Mike Petke, which previously was as effective as mixing water and oil, Boyens has found a small niche for the first time all season.

Boyens New York story has been a strange one. He came into the team with little expectations and in the midst of alot of rancor amongst the fans. Eric Brunner was their big pick up in the draft last year, and the Bulls cut him from their roster. In came Boyens on trial, earning a contract, and being viewed in light of the situation as an expansion reject who would come to replace the highly touted pick. How about trying to climb out of that hole?

His play didn’t help much either. Early performances had fans scratching their heads and wondering why the Kiwi even had a job with the team in the first place (and how bad Brunner must have been!). But sure enough, Boyens changed things around. In this age of short term memories, many may forget that it was Andrew Boyens who was anchoring that back line last season along the way to the MLS Cup, including an excellent performance in one of the Metro Bulls biggest series – a 4-1 aggregate stomping of the Houston Dynamo.

Then came 2009 and the expansion Seattle Sounders. The previously mentioned pair of Petke/Boyens looked lethargic, discombobulated, and extremely slow for the season opener and it showed – in a 3-0 loss on the road. Needless to say, the hungry Sounders side took advantage and set the tone for the Bulls subsequent horrendous season, destroying the hapless side, resulting in Boyens shouldered much of the blame (justly or not). That one game paved the way to a season of bench riding. Until now.

Two games isn’t the greatest window to critique, but if one thing is known, Boyens has shown that when his back is to the wall, he somehow manages to work his way back up. Could this be the beginning of a turnaround not only for the Bulls, but for Kiwi himself? Share your thoughts.