Galaxy Shut Out Red Bulls 1-0 at Sold-Out Red Bull Arena Saturday

The New York Red Bulls lost to the LA Galaxy 1-0 Saturday night at Red Bull Arena in front of a sold-out crowd. My Wife and I were joined by two of our friends who made their first trip to the Cathedral of Football. A good time was had by all but a win would have made it sweeter. The weather was excellent as we enjoyed the walk from Newark Penn Station to and from the arena. The supporters were in good form and got the crowd into it but the Red Bulls looked a bit flat in the loss and once again could not capitalize on scoring chances. Galaxy Chris Birchall took a shot in the 7th minute that slammed off the crossbar. In the 10th minute Galaxy midfielder Juninho took the ball away from our latest Designated Player Rafa Marquez and got it to Edson Buddle. Buddle split NY defenders Tim Ream and Carlos Mendes and scored the first and deciding goal of the match. Red Bull goalkeeper Bouna (Bouna Time) Coundoul came off the goal line but was beaten by Buddle, who scored his MLS leading 13th goal. Marquez played for Mexico in a friendly three nights before in Mexico City and he looked slow all night, losing balls, poor passing. Thierry Henry and Juan Pablo Angel looked a bit lethargic as well. The Red Bulls had good possession but I felt held the ball too long and should have taken shots rather than trying to make the perfect pass and losing the ball to LA. In first half stoppage time Marquez played a free kick perfectly to Angel who headed it off the crossbar. That would have put the crowd into a frenzy and made the 2nd half more intense. The Galaxy played hard nose soccer in the 1st half but seemed to go down to the turf quite easily in the 2nd half, looking for fouls on a lot of plays. At one point Landon Donovan dragged down Dane Richards with a headlock and wasn’t called, for a yellow card or even a foul! Not only that but it was Richards who was called for the foul! What a joke. In the 59th minute Angel was given a yellow card for Dissent, vehemently arguing with the ref, supporting his team as a captain should. The refs were brutal and the Red Bulls were called offside at least 5 times too many. Dane Richards was the man of the match with a lot of speed and didn’t stop all night. I wish it was Henry who had those honors but goals will happen for TH14. Henry had a great scoring chance in the 54th minute but Galaxy goalkeeper Ricketts came out of the box to stuff the play. The Red Bulls travel north of the border for a Saturday matinee against Toronto FC.