Drawing Dallas
The Red Bulls put in another strong performance last Friday night in Frisco, playing to a 0-0 draw with Western Conference (and Supporter’s Shield) leaders FC Dallas. While the Red Bulls offense was unable to find the back of the net for the first time this season, a complete defensive effort also held the top-scoring team in MLS off the score sheet.
Luis Robles was credited with two saves in his third shutout of the season, and 22nd of his MLS career.
With the tie, The Red Bulls improve to 4-1-5 on the season and remain in third place in the Eastern Conference. The Red Bulls are tied for fewest goals allowed in MLS this season with nine, and also maintain the second-best goal different (+5) behind only Seattle (+8).
Double-draw Sunday
New York Red Bulls II and the Red Bulls U-23s also earned draws this weekend – with both playing to 1-1 decisions on Sunday.
NYRB II hosted USL power Charleston Battery in the first game at Columbia University’s Rocco B. Commisso field. Anatole Abang scored in the sixth minute, but a stoppage-time penalty was converted by Charleston to knot the game before the final whistle.
The U-23s drew with the D.C. United U-23s on Sunday in a wild game that saw each side reduced to 10 men. The Red Bulls U-23s opened their PDL schedule on Friday night with a 3-1 win over Brooklyn-based F.A. Euro. The team made the switch to PDL this season after an undefeated run to capture the NPSL championship last summer.
NYRB II Open Cup
NYRB II is set to enter the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup field on Wednesday when they take on PDL side Jersey Express on the campus of the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m.
Jersey Express, the 2014 PDL Eastern Conference Champions, made their Open Cup debut last week, dispatching the New York Greek Americans, 3-0, at NJIT. The Express are 0-1-0 in their current PDL season, falling to the Long Island Rough Riders 2-1 on Saturday.
USL sides enter the Open Cup fray in the second round. Should they advance, NYRB II will be on-track for a match against NASL side New York Cosmos next Wednesday, tentatively scheduled for 8 p.m. at Belson Field on the campus of St. John’s University.
MLS teams join the competition in the fourth round.
Power Rankings
The Red Bulls remain at or near the top of three major MLS power rankings in Week 11 after the road result in Dallas. New York is in first in the Sports Illustrated Planet Futbol blog, second on MLSsoccer.com, and have risen to third in Jeff Carlisle’s ESPN FC rankings.
Perrinelle named French player of the month
Red Bulls defender Damien Perrinelle has won a second-straight French Player of the Month award from Coup Franc MLS.
Perrinelle, a 31-year-old Ligue 1 import, has been a revelation for New York in the early going. After appearing just twice for a total of seven minutes in 2014, Perrinelle has become the anchor of the back line.
After losing center back partner Ronald Zubar to injury on opening day, and Costa Rican international and World Cup vet Roy Miller the following week in training, Perrinelle has been a veteran presence on a backline that features 19-year old center back Matt Miazga, 22-year-old left back Kemar Lawrence and sophomore right back Chris Duvall.
The Red Bulls have allowed just nine goals through nine games, and the team’s +5 goal differential is second best in MLS, behind only Seattle.
Perrinelle won the inaugural Coup Franc award for his play in March.
Two-for-one Sundays
The New York Red Bulls are back home on Sunday for a 5 p.m. clash with rival Philadelphia Union. The Red Bulls, undefeated at home in 2015, welcome a Philadelphia side that has opened the year 2-7-3, but are coming off of a 1-0 victory over high-flying D.C. United last weekend. Zach Pfeffer scored the game-winner late in stoppage time to lift the Union to victory at PPL Park.
After that contest, NYRB II will take on FC Montreal in USL play at 8 p.m., also at Red Bull Arena. Fans coming to the MLS game will be able to stay for the USL match.
