The Red Bulls’ four-game winning streak came to an end Sunday in Seattle. But rallying for a come-from-behind 1-1 tie against a Sounders tram that’s their toughest competition for the Supporters Shield – and doing it on the road without Thierry Henry, Jamison Olave and Bradley Wright-Phillips – sure felt like a victory.
“I’m extremely proud of my guys,’’ coach Mike Petke said. “Not only to get a result here, but to play very good and to put pressure all over a phenomenal team like Seattle. And to have many scoring opportunities – and they had some as well. To come in and not be intimidated by this crowd and with the recent form of Seattle and in a very stressful environment – I’m very proud of them.”
The draw moved the Red Bulls four points clear of Sporting KC atop the Eastern Conference, and kept alive their hopes of winning the Supporters Shield. They have 52 points with three games left, while Real Salt Lake and Seattle are each a point back. Seattle has two games in hand.
“I really enjoyed it,’’ said midfielder Tim Cahill, who scored the equalizer for the Red Bulls. “I think before the game, I told my players and the manager said to the players to have no fear. This is a great place to come. It’s one of the best stadiums in the league and the best crowds and you can understand why they win games here because the support is amazing.
“For us, we’re unfortunate not to get the three points, but it’s a pleasure to play here so credit to their fans and to the team. I’m proud of the boys of what we achieved tonight, and we’re unlucky not to get the three points.”
They had to fight – both the Sounders and the rain-drenched elements – to earn the point they did get. In the final minute of the first half, a Sounders cross hit off centerback Marcus Holgersson’s hand in the box. The ref awarded a penalty and Seattle’s Brad Evans buried it.
But the Red Bulls rallied in the second half. They hit the woodwork twice before a rebound fell to Cahill in the box, and the Aussie ripped an 80th minute equalizer.
“Basically I screened it as well as I could to Johnny (Steele),’’ said Cahill. “Johnny just touched it. It sat nicely and I thought about dragging it with my right foot and smashing it with my left, but the keeper was just based to his right a bit and I just tried to find the side corner and it hit. And that’s what I said to the lads, you play for moments like this, defining moments that change games.
“My whole career, I’ve looked to try to make the difference in front of big crowds and the best teams in the leagues everywhere I’ve played; and that was it. It was pretty special; but not for me, for my team because we had a lot of players step in due to other circumstances. This is what it means to be a team. This is the feeling you should have after every game: A feeling of reward. I’m proud of the boys.”