POSTGAME: Red Bulls 2 – 0 San Jose

By: Dave Martinez | April 27th, 2008

You know, for all the worry and fuss, the Bulls are 2-1-1 with a crippled starting 11.

As I said after the Dallas game, chin up! The season is just getting started, and the boys are weathering the storm with effectiveness (save one set play goal by New England last week, the Bulls would be 3-1).

It wasn’t the prettiest game. But it was a win.

OBSERVATIONS and HIGHLIGHTS

+ Nevermind the historical stats – the fact that, in 3 games without Angel, Jozy Altidore has scored twice – that is a sign of growth. Especially in a game like this. He was practically ravaged on the pitch, and kept ticking, waiting for the right moment to pounce. 2nd half, he was like a different player – a striker who knew his time was coming. And it finally did. (yes, I regret not putting him into my fantasy team this week). He drew a PK, drew a yellow, and drew alot of attention. Still, he managed to find the net.

+ Kudos to one of my sentimental fav’s, Mike Magee, coming into the game late, and finding the back of the net on a Jozy drawn PK. He looked genuinely happy to be out there, and played a livly game with his precious minutes.

+ Claudio Reyna had an excellent game, and from what I understand, he was named the “Giants Stadium” Man of the Match. Good for him. I hate giving the same “little things” review, but Reyna has a way of stringing all of it together, and keeping the play as fluid as possible. An admirable performance by this teams leader. (btw – I HATE Nick Garcia for denying him his first goal. He deserved it.) And did you miss the way he fed Parke around the 65th minute? Should have been in.

+ We may be a better team with Magee and Reyna on the pitch, at the same time.

+ Jeff Parke nearly scored one, and he definitely saved a few for us in the back. More and more, he is becoming the leader of our back three (which is exactly what you want from your d-mid)

+ John Wolyniec leaves his heart out on the field. In many ways, he can show Jozy a thing or two about creating fluidity through passing between forwards. Sure, Jozy gets all the credit for drawing that penal, but Woly may have showed greater poise and versatility (particularly in the first half).

+ It was nice seeing Joe Vide again.

+ Red Bulls 19 shots, SJ – 5. Game over.

MAN OF THE MATCH

This was a toss up. Reyna had a strong game. And Jeff Parke is always an unsung hero. And Jozy was the definition of perseverance. But this week, I am allowing sentiment and admiration of hard work to take over. John Wolyniec was up and down the pitch, making all the right passes and plays, even feeding Jozy on a beaut of a goal. Like I said before, Jozy can learn from the ol’ vet. Good job Woly.

TURNING POINT OF THE MATCH

Can anything beat Jozy drawing the PK? If something can, tell me.

WHAT THE?! MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Nick Garcia, where did you come from? Did you just appear on the goalline, Star Trek style, beam me down Yallop?! How did you manage to keep that Reyna goal out of net? What the #$*&@ happened there?!

SPECIAL ED PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Ryan Cochrane, for serving this game up on a silver platter for the starving Bulls. The goal had to come in at some point – I mean, how many corners did they have already?!