Red Bulls Preview: Chivas USA
New York tries for third straight result in match with Goats
New York Red Bulls Media Relations
A pair of results have lessened the impact of not having Claudio Reyna in the lineup. (Alegria/MLS/WireImage.com)
The Red Bulls will look to make it three consecutive results in a road match with Chivas USA on Saturday night.
A draw was considered fantastic on June 18 against league-leading New England at Gillette Stadium, and an equal result would have been satisfying -- if not more so -- as the team saw their roster dwindle even more at Giants Stadium on Saturday against FC Dallas. It had to be Kevin Goldthwaite -- the man who made sure the Bulls' escaped with a 1-0 win -- who went down with injuries in both hamstrings only seven minutes after his goal.
It would be the Red Bulls' luck, this time the injury bug hitting a crucial member of the defending unit in Goldthwaite. The Red Bulls' held on for the win, defending with organization, only giving up a pair of shots, but you have to wonder when a full-strength Red Bulls roster can go after the best Major League Soccer has to offer.
If the past month is any indication, the Red Bulls aren't in any rush to hurry Angel and Reyna back. But if New York is able to pull off performances like its road match at New England on June 14 and on Saturday vs. FC Dallas, it makes any sort of decision easier moving forward.
The Red Bulls' three points on Saturday certainly helped things standings-wise. If the season ended today, in the revamped MLS playoff structure, the Red Bulls would be tied for the top wild card playoff spot - and they've managed to do so without two attacking forces.
Chivas USA, conversely, is healthy. In the revised MLS playoff system, cross-conference battles -- such as Saturday's between the Goats and the Bulls -- are extremely important as wild card berths are drawn from both conferences. With a win, depending on how other MLS teams fare, Chivas could jump into playoff contention - and at the same time, drop New York from contention.
The Goats' Sacha Klestjan, whose brother Gordon signed with the Red Bulls on Wednesday, has five tallies on the year, which leads Chivas USA. Klestjan's tally in the 26th minute in Chivas' June 19th win over Chicago, a team that has since gone cold (losing 3-of-4) since defeating the Red Bulls' 5-0 on May 25, was all that that the Goats needed to get back on track after dropping two straight (June 5 1-0 at NY and June 14 1-0 vs. RSL).
While Klestjan only has one career goal in five games against the Bulls, the real enemy for New York fans is a former member of the blue and red. Ante Razov sits second on Chivas in assists with two and in his career against New York, has scored four goals and added four assists in four games.
