MLS Playoffs: New York Red Bulls win against San Jose Earthquakes 1-0
Owing to Joel Lindpere’s 2nd half goal, the Eastern Conference champions defeated San Jose Earthquakes away from home in the 1st leg of MLS playoffs.
The two teams played in front of 10,525 strong crowd at Buck Shaw Stadium, home to the Earthquakes. San Jose started brightly and kept pushing towards the Red Bulls’ goal as Ramiro Corrales’ poor clearance was met by Chris Wondolowski whose one-touch pass
found Bobby Convey. The former Reading winger whipped a great cross that was met by Geovanni whose effort was just wide.
New York responded well as Chris Albrights’ corner was met by Mehdi Ballouchy whose on-target header was saved by Jon Busch in the 5th minute. New York started dominating things from then on and in the 11th minute, Quakes goalkeeper
Jon Busch again had to deny Lindpere with a fine diving save. In the 20th minute, Wondolowski created the next chance as Bulls’ defender, Roy Millers' missed clearance was met by the Quakes striker but his effort just whizzed past the far side of
goal.
12 minutes later, Bulls created a chance of their own as Juan Pablo Angel found the ball in the centre of the field and passed it to Mehdi Ballouchy whose bullet shot went out for a goal kick after brushing the far post. Moments before half-time, Geovanni
sent a cross into the box that was almost found by Quakes striker, Ryan Johnson for a simple tap in but Albright cleared it before the Jamaican international could get a chance to put it in the net.
The 1st half ended with nothing else dividing the sides apart from New York Red Bulls' dominating possession in the midfield.
Second half
4 minutes into the 2nd period, Chris Wondolowski missed a glorious opportunity to put the home team in front as he met Tim Ward’s cross but headed the ball well wide. In the 53rd minute, Scott Sealey gave away a free kick. Rafael Marquez
too had his chance from 30 yards that drew a save out of Jon Busch.
The goal did come at last after a host of chances for both sides. The Colombian Juan Pablo Angel was found by Miller on the left flank and the Colombian’s cross destined towards Juan Agudelo was cleared but luckily, the clearance was met by Lindpere who
drilled an unstoppable shot in the far post netting to put the away side in front.
Agudelo once again got a chance to increase the advantage but again Jon Busch denied him and San Jose defence cleared the ball away. New York Red Bulls had found their feet as they dominated possession and stretched the Quakes’ defence. In the 60th
minute, keeper Jon Busch was again called into action as he made a sliding save to deny Agudelo. From then on, New York Red Bulls kept possession for most part of the final 30 minutes.
In the 82nd minute, San Jose Earthquake finally got a quality chance to square things up as they received a free kick that was looped into the box by Arturo Alvarez. Wondolowski was first to it as he passed it to Eduardo whose overhead kick hit
the post and Wondolowski fired the rebound well wide.
Convey got the last chance of the match for Quakes in stoppage time but his shot from 20 yards out was well saved by New York Red Bulls' stopper Coundoul. Moments later, the referee blew his whistle to call it a day.
With this away win, New York Red Bulls have a chance to go into the next round. They would again take on San Jose Earthquakes for the second leg at home. San Jose will have to put on their shooting boots next time when they face the Bulls if they are to
get anything out of an almost “down and out” playoff leg.
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