Even playing a man down for over half-and-hour wasn’t enough to slow down the Red Bulls. They came from behind for a 2-1 road win at Montreal, and earned their club-record-tying fifth straight victory the hard way.
Right midfielder Dane Richards’ first goal of the season in the 67th minute proved the eventual winner, as the Eastern Conference-leading Red Bulls improved to 8-3-1 for 25 points. Striker Kenny Cooper also scored on a penalty kick, while newcomer Heath Pearce – acquired Thursday from Chivas USA in exchange for Juan Agudelo – started and went the full 90 in central defense.
The Red Bulls fell behind in the 22nd minute when referee Ismail Elfath – who had a horrid day – whistled Markus Holgersson for handling a cross in the box and aging Italian striker Bernardo Corradi converted the ensuing PK. But the Red Bulls got a shady make-up call of their own just 15 minutes later.
Richards’ cross in the box hit the arm of Tyson Wahl, a case of the ball playing the man. But a PK was awarded, and Cooper – after a stutter-step – buried his 10th goal of the year. That moved him past Thierry Henry for the team lead and alone into second place in the Golden Boot race.
Then Richards provided the winner in the 67th minute. Midfielder Joel Lindpere slid the ball to an overlapping left back Roy Miller, who stands to face competition for his job from Pearce once centerback Wilman Conde returns. Miller sent in a cross that was parried by GK Donovan Ricketts, but Richards pounced on the rebound from his Jamaican countryman and blasted it top shelf.
GK Ryan Meara – a Rookie of the Year frontrunner – made a big save in the 90th to preserve the win, all the more improbable since they played on the road without Henry, Conde, midfielder Rafa Marquez, Jan Gunnar Solli and Stephen Keel. The first three should all return for Wednesday’s tilt vs. Chivas USA, and Agudelo.