Weekly Update: Friday night lights

New York completes five-match homestand Friday against Revolution

The Red Bulls had a two-game winning streak snapped on Saturday after they fell to the Kansas City Wizards, 1-0, at Giants Stadium. Josh Wolff gave the Wizards the lead for good in the 10th minute. New York had a number of chances to score, with Carlos Johnson nearly equalizing late in the game, but the team could not find the back of the net. After Friday's match, New York hits the road for three-straight games against Western Conference opponents before wrapping the regular season up at home on Oct. 24 against Toronto FC.

New York hosts a Revolution side that was on the wrong end of a 2-0 decision to Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center Sunday. Maicon Santos put the hosts ahead 10 minutes in and Sacha Kljestan wrapped up the three points with a second half stoppage time penalty conversion. The Revolution is in the hunt for a playoff spot, currently boasting 33 points with a 9-8-6 record. New England was missing MLS All Star Shalrie Joseph in its match against Chivas USA due to a red card suspension. Kheli Dube and Steve Ralston have both scored a team-high seven goals while Joseph has chipped in with six goals and a team-high eight assists. Goalkeeper Matt Reis has a 1.06 goals against average in 17 appearances.

The Red Bulls are 16-24-10 all-time against the Revolution and 12-8-6 at the Meadowlands. Friday's match will be the third and final showdown between the two teams. In the Red Bulls' home opener on March 28, the teams played to a 1-1 draw. Jay Heaps netted an own goal to put New York ahead, but a 90th minute Kenny Mansally goal gave the Revolution a point. New England defeated New York, 4-0, at Gillette Stadium on June 7. Heaps put the Revs ahead in first half stoppage time, then a pair of goals from Taylor Twellman and one from Ralston helped New England earn three points.

WIZARDS PUSH PAST RED BULLS, 1-0: The New York Red Bulls lost a close, tough match Saturday night to the Kansas City Wizards by a score of 1-0. Wizards forward Josh Wolff scored the game's only goal just 10 minutes into the match, and despite numerous chances, the Red Bulls could not even the scoreline.

The loss dropped the Red Bulls to 4-17-4, with 16 points, staying in seventh in the Eastern Conference. It was the Red Bulls' first loss to the Wizards at home since a 2-1 loss on April 19, 2000.

Kansas City opened the scoring in the 10th minute of the match. Red Bulls midfielder Jorge Rojas' attempted backpass came up short, and Wizards forward Claudio Lopez ran onto the loose ball. Lopez attempted to score from about 20 yards out, but Red Bulls goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul made the stop, charging at the edge of the penalty area. However, Coundoul could not direct his save, and the ball rolled right to the feet of Wolff, who fired a long shot past Coundoul for the goal for his ninth goal of the season.

The Red Bulls had a great chance to even the match in the 67th minute. A cross from the right side by Carlos Johnson forced Kevin Hartman to make a play on the ball. Hartman could not control it however, and the ball fell to Rojas, who took a left footed shot on the volley, but Kansas City defender Jonathan Leathers was there to clear the ball off the line and keep the Wizards in the lead. With moments left in the match, Johnson fired a short angle shot on frame that a diving Hartman blocked away. Johnson was red carded at the end of the match due to an altercation with a Wizards player.

MSG CHANGES; SPT TELEVISES MATCHES: Two Red Bulls matches originally scheduled to be telecast live on MSG were switched to other channels. New York's game against the New England Revolution on Friday night was moved from MSG to MSG Plus, while the team's Oct. 24 clash against Toronto FC at 7:30 PM was moved from MSG to MSG 2.

Also, Portuguese station SPT will be airing their second of four Red Bulls games tomorrow night at 9:00. Play-by-play Jorge Lucio and analyst Mario Filipe Marques will call the Red Bulls-Wizards match last Saturday. The Red Bulls match in Portuguese can be seen in the Metropolitan New York area on Comcast (Channel 697) and Cablevision (Channel 276) cable systems.

2009 MLS STANDINGS:
Click here to view the MLS standings.

LAST WEEK:
Red Bulls 0, Kansas City Wizards 1 on Sept. 12 at Giants Stadium

THIS WEEK:
Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution on Sept. 18 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ at 7:30 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM)

NEXT WEEK:
Red Bulls vs. CD Chivas USA on Sept. 26 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA at 10:30 PM ET (TV: FSC, FSE; Radio: WADO 1280 AM)

RED BULLS HOST DINARDO FAMILY CUP FRIDAY: The New York Red Bulls and The Soccer Learning Center will be hosting the DiNardo Family Cup on Friday, September 18, prior to the New York Red Bulls' MLS match with the New England Revolution at 7:30 PM ET (TV: MSG Plus; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM).

More than 100 players representing eight teams will play in a small-sided tournament on the Giants Stadium field to help bolster the PBA scholarship fund for Jersey City Police Detective Marc DiNardo's three children, ages 4, 3, and 1. Detective DiNardo was fatally shot in the line of duty in July.

The charity tournament runs from 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM, and will be followed by an Awards Ceremony and Tailgate in Lot 14 in the Giants Stadium Parking Lot from 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM. The Red Bulls and Revolution kick off at 7:30 PM.

In addition, the four other officers injured during the deadly shootout will be recognized during a special halftime presentation, and an auction and raffle featuring autographed memorabilia from the Red Bulls, other MLS teams and other New York and New Jersey professional sports teams will be conducted on the concourse.

The teams participating represent the Jersey City Police Department, the Jersey City Fire Department, the Hoboken Fire and Police Departments, the Kearny Fire and Police Departments, the Hudson County Sheriff's Department, the Hudson County Department of Corrections, the Port Authority Police Department, and the New Jersey State Police.

For information and to purchase tickets or make donations, visit www.SoccerLearningCenter.com or call Alex Lalaoui at (201) 920-8523. Ticket prices are $20 and gain admission to the tournament, the Red Bulls match, and the post tournament tailgate.

Raffle and Auction items will include:
- CD Chivas USA Team Autographed Jersey
- FC Dallas Team Autographed Jersey
- Chicago Fire Team Autographed Jersey
- Soccer Ball signed by Philadelphia Union Head Coach, Peter Novak
- San Jose Earthquakes Team Autographed Jersey
- 2009 MLS All-Star Team Autographed Jersey
- Columbus Crew Team Autographed Ball
- Columbus Crew Autographed Poster
- Children's Book Written and Autographed by Kansas City Wizards goalkeeper, Kevin Hartman
- LA Galaxy Team Autographed Jersey w/ David Beckham and Landon Donovan
- New England Revolution Team Autographed Merchandise
- New England Revolution Jersey Off Their Back Winner
- Various New York Red Bulls Autographed Memorabilia

CHIRGADZE BECOMES CLUB'S FIRST HOMEGROWN PLAYER: Red Bull New York announced on Sept. 11 that it has signed Red Bull Academy forward Giorgi Chirgadze, as he becomes the first homegrown player produced by the club.

"This is an exciting time for Red Bull with the signing of Giorgi Chirgadze. We believe Giorgi will be the first of many players to join our first team that are developed through our academy system," said Sporting Director Jeff Agoos. "Giorgi has shown promise during his training sessions with our senior squad and we are excited to track his development moving forward."

Chirgadze, 18, has been with the Academy program since 2005, when he joined the Under-15 squad. Most recently, the Brooklyn, NY, native helped the Red Bulls U-20 team win the Super-20 National Championship, as Chirgadze scored twice in the tournament. Chirgadze also captained the Red Bulls U-17 side that defeated the Inter Milan U-17 team, 3-1, on Aug. 23, 2008, with the forward providing two of the three goals. He attended New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn, NY.

"It has always been my dream to play soccer professionally and I want to thank the Red Bulls and the coaches at the Academy for their help in developing me as a player both on and off the field," Chirgadze said. "I am excited to get started with the first team."

In July 2009, the MLS Board of Governors approved an amendment to the rules governing the signing of youth academy players. MLS clubs will receive two additional roster slots that may be used to sign academy players, in accordance with current Home Grown Player rules, to Generation adidas or Developmental contracts during the 2009 season. These players will not count toward the 24-player roster limit in 2009. Additionally these players may not play in League games during the 2009 season, but can participate in training, exhibition games and CONCACAF Champions League games. These additional player signings will count toward a team's roster upon the commencement of the 2010 season.

PACHECO CONTRACT TERMINATED: Red Bull New York announced on Sept. 14 that it has terminated the loan deal and contract for defender Alfredo Pacheco, effective immediately. Pacheco was signed on April 17, 2009, joining New York from El Salvadorian First Division club, C.D. FAS. Pacheco appeared in 14 matches this season for New York.

CLUB ACQUIRES FOURTH ROUND PICK: Red Bull New York announced on Sept. 11 that it acquired Chivas USA's 2011 natural fourth round SuperDraft pick in exchange for the rights to goalkeeper Jon Conway. Conway's contract was terminated by New York on June 29, but the Red Bulls maintained the goalkeeper's first right of refusal to sign.

DUO COMPETES FOR NATIONAL TEAMS: Two Red Bulls defenders represented their respective countries in International matches recently, as Andrew Boyens (New Zealand) and Carlos Johnson (Costa Rica) each added to their international cap totals.

Boyens came on as a substitute in second half stoppage time in the All Whites' 3-1 friendly win over Jordan in Amman, Jordan on Sept. 9. Next up for New Zealand is an aggregate series with Bahrain for a spot in the 2010 World Cup. New Zealand, the Oceania Champions, takes on Bahrain, the fifth place Asian side, on Oct. 10 in Bahrain before playing the decisive home leg on Nov. 14.

Johnson, making his first international appearance since returning from a foot injury, played the full 90 minutes in Costa Rica's 3-0 loss to Mexico on Sept. 5 at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in Costa Rica, and was in the 18 but did not play in the Ticos 1-0 loss at El Salvador on Sept. 9. With two matches left in CONCACAF qualifying, Costa Rica sits in fourth place on 12 points, one point adrift of Honduras, who holds the third and final automatic qualifying spot. Costa Rica has a home match with Trinidad and Tobago and a road match at the United States still to play.

ANGEL ONE FROM PASSING MATHIS: Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel, a finalist for the 2007 Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player Award, scored two goals, including the game-winner, in the team's 3-2 win over FC Dallas on Aug. 23. With his brace, Angel has recorded 42 regular season goals all-time, breaking Giovanni Savarese's club record. In addition, Angel tied Clint Mathis for first in club history for goals scored in all competitions with 45. He needs one more goal to break Mathis' record. Angel missed the team's 1-0 loss to the Kansas City Wizards due to a left ankle sprain.

"Records are there to be broken. You wish your record is broken by a valuable player. And, Juan Pablo Angel has been such a valuable player. I am very glad it was broken by someone who has so much experience and given so much to the organization. What I've done will always be in the record books. I am content with Juan Pablo breaking my record," Savarese said.

Angel was signed by New York as a Designated Player on April 17, 2007, after a successful stint at English Premier League club, Aston Villa. In his first season, Angel scored 19 goals in 24 games. Last year, Angel racked up a team-high 14 goals, leading the Red Bulls to their first MLS Cup Final appearance.

In the FC Dallas match, Angel earned his eighth multi-goal game. He is in second place in club history in this category, two multi-goal games behind first-place Savarese.

GOALS (Regular Season)

GOALS (All Competitions)

JOHNSON SUSPENDED FOR FRIDAY: Red Bulls defender Carlos Johnson is suspended for Friday's match against the New England Revolution after earning a straight red card at the end of the team's 1-0 loss to the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday for an altercation with a Wizards player. Johnson now has three red cards this season.

PETKE, WOLYNIEC LEAD: Red Bulls defender Mike Petke and forward John Wolyniec are increasing their lead in the games played annals for New York. Wolyniec made his 137th appearance for the Red Bulls on Sept. 12 while Petke is the club's all-time leader in games played (148) and starts (142).

GAMES PLAYED

GAMES STARTED

BULLS IN THE COMMUNITY: Here is a list of Red Bulls appearances coming up this week.

Sept. 16: Kevin Goldthwaite and John Wolyniec will be at the Somerset Patriots Soccer Night. They will throw out the first pitch and sign autographs. The game begins at 7:05 PM and tickets range from $5-$12.50. The field is located at 1 Patriots Park; Bridgewater, NJ.

Sept. 19: Carlos Mendes and the Red Bulls Street Team will be at the Grand Opening of Provident Bank at 115 Ferry St. on Sept. 19 from 12-2 PM. Mendes and the Street Team will be signing autographs and raffling off tickets for the Red Bulls-Toronto FC match on Oct. 24 at Giants Stadium.

Sept. 19: Dane Richards and Danleigh Borman will sign autographs from Saturday afternoon at the adidas Outlet Store in the Jersey Gardens Mall at 651 Kapkowski Road (Suite 180) in Elizabeth, NJ. The Red Bulls Street Team will also be performing. The event starts at 2:00 PM and ends at 6:00 PM.

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