Red Bulls close Giants Stadium in style

Kandji, Angel braces power New York to season-ending win over Toronto

In the final soccer game at Giants Stadium, the Red Bulls improved to 102-76-36 all-time during the regular season and avoided finishing tied for the fewest amount of regular season wins in a single season in league history. They also avoided scoring the fewest goals in a season, finishing with 27, two fewer than Toronto's total in its inaugural season.

With the loss, along with D.C. United's draw barely a half-hour later, Toronto FC saw their bid for a first-ever playoff berth come to an end.

Kandji put the Red Bulls in front just two minutes into the match. Angel played a through ball that was quickly touched by Albert Celades, sending Kandji free on goal. The Senegalese striker split Toronto FC defenders Emmanuel Gomez and Nana Attakora and beat TFC goalkeeper Brian Edwards with a low shot inside the far post for his third goal of the season.

Kandji then turned provider in the 33rd minute, setting up Angel's 11th goal of the season. Kandji played a square ball to Angel, who blew past Adrian Serioux with a sublime first touch and then deftly scored low to Edwards' left to put the Red Bulls up 2-0.

In the 62nd minute, Jeremy Hall took a pass from Celades and ran at the TFC defense. The rookie fullback pushed to Angel on his left and the Red Bulls captain made no mistake, striking from an acute angle past a diving Edwards for the third Red Bulls goal. It was the ninth multi-goal game in Angel's Red Bulls career.

After the goal, Cummins made his second change, bringing on Pablo Vitti for Gomez. But the floodgates didn't close for the visitors. With 20 minutes left, Sam Cronin tried to head Andrew Boyens' long ball out of the back to Edwards, but Kandji picked the ball off and tapped into the open net to give the Red Bulls a 4-0 advantage.

Mike Petke's final game at Giants Stadium was a short one as the veteran defender hobbled off the field in the ninth minute with a right quadriceps strain. He was replaced by Argentinean Walter Garcia, who made his Major League Soccer debut.

Toronto FC's first quality scoring chance came in the 12th minute when Dwayne De Rosario's glancing header sailed just wide. Two minutes later, Amado Guevara's low shot from 25 yards was saved by Red Bulls goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul, who dived to his right.

In the 16th minute, Coundoul again made a diving save, this time ranging to his left to handle Serioux's left-footed shot. Coundoul made five saves to earn his second clean sheet of the year.

TFC coach Chris Cummins was forced to make his first change in the 32nd minute when Ali Gerba replaced an injured Chad Barrett. TFC's last substitution came in the 77th minute when Amadou Sanyang came on for O'Brian White.

De Rosario thought he had brought his squad a goal back, but his tally was waved off by the assistant referee's flag for offside in the 87th minute.

Serioux's long night wasn't over yet as the Canadian international pulled down Kandji deep in second-half stoppage time. Mbuta stepped to the spot and scored his first goal of the year to seal the Red Bulls' biggest win of the season.

While the Red Bulls say goodbye to Giants Stadium, they will open the 2010 season at Red Bull Arena, a 25,000-seat gem in Harrison, N.J. Toronto FC opens the 2010 season in Columbus on March 27. The Reds' home opener at BMO Field is on April 17, against the expansion Philadelphia Union.

Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com.

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