Well, there's no WAY a match where the New York Red Bulls are fighting for their playoff lives could be boring, right? The task going into the match tonight was simple: win and you're in. Heck, even draw and you're probably in. Had they had a draw, the only way they could still fall out of the playoffs would have been for Portland to utterly destroy RSL to make up goal differential.
Of course, the Red Bulls were having to play this match without Thierry Henry. The Frenchman picked up a red card against Sporting KC last week and was ineligible to help his team tonight.
The Red Bulls got their goal early. In the 7th minute, Dane Richards hit a header off of a Jan Gunnar Solli cross off the post, but it bounced off the back of Philly 'keeper Faryd Mondragon and into the goal. It was offically credited as a Philly own goal, but NY had the 1-0 lead. Surely Mondragon's back broke the hearts of Timbers fans tonight.
New York bunkered in for defense after that, and you can't blame them. The Union did get a couple of chances though. Danny Mwanga smacked a shot just off target shortly after half time. In the 67th minute, Philly put the ball in the back of the net. Le Toux sent in a free kick that appeared to be headed in by Carlos Valdes, however, he was ruled offside. The replays aren't really clear cut. To me it looked like it went straight in and didn't go off of Valdes' head. Plus I don't really think he was off. I would have to say the Union got screwed a little.
That being said the Red Bulls wasted two great chances to score in the second half. In the 52nd minute Tim Ream, who I love to hate, had a total sitter for a goal off of a corner and somehow headed it wide. Why do we think he's so great again? In the 58th minute Luke Rodgers came flying in and struck a Mondragon rebound at point blank range, but somehow hit it over the bar. I bet he makes that 98 out of 100 times. Wow.
In the end, the Union couldn't muster the equalizer and the Red Bulls hung on to win 1-0. The result gives them the 10th and final playoff spot in MLS. It also leaves the Portland Timbers out in the cold. The Union could finish anywhere from 1st to 4th in the East, though the scenarios for them finishing 1st are all real long shots.
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