After getting thrashed by an expansion team in last week’s opener, the Red Bulls were a minute away from a bounce-back win over their nemesis. That is, until one moment of naivety cost them a 90th-minute equalizer, and a 1-1 draw with New England that felt a lot more like a loss.
Striker Dominic Oduro’s ill-advised call to go help up fouled and fallen teammate Mac Kanji left them exposed to a last-minute counterattack. Shalrie Joseph collected a longball and flicked it to Kenny Mansally. He outran defender Kevin Goldthwaite and for the game-tying header, and ran the Red Bulls’ winless streak vs. New England to 13 games including playoffs.
“Naivety; we have to be cleverer. It was the last minute of the game…Dominic just rushed him back up,” said a clearly-vexed Juan Carlos Osorio.
“If I were him, I would just come back and defend. He has no business going to pick him up, because that’s two players out of the play. Last :20 of the game. I had a few words with him. Football at any level, that happens the team would slow the tempo. We didn’t; we just kept playing. Very naïve.” Playing with seven players absent _ and a juggled defense of Goldthwaite at centerback, winger Danleigh Borman at fullback and returning fan favorite Mike Petke on the bench _ the Red Bulls still outplayed a team they haven’t beaten since 2005.
In his Red Bull debut, ex-Rev Khano Smith created an own goal against his old club when his 35th-minute cross bounced in off Jay Heaps; but they couldn’t hold the lead.
“We should’ve been more aware quicker for the long ball played in to Shalrie,” Gaoldthwaite said. “I got caught a little square and he made a great run behind me. I should’ve been able to break his run or track him better. He made a good play and got the equalizer.”
After disappointing 12,462 in their last home opener at Giants Stadium, they have tough road tilts at Chicago and Houston.
“It was such a devastating goal to give up so late in the game, all I can see is that ball bouncing in the net,” said GK Danny Cepero, while star F Juan Pablo Angel summed up “It feels like a loss.”