Red Bulls maintain winning start
New York returned to Seattle's Qwest Field on Saturday night, the site of Metro's embarrassing opening day 3-0 loss last season.  This year the result was drastically different, with Metro earning a hard fought 1-0 victory, the team's first win on the road since May 10, 2008.  The inconsistent and polarizing Mac Kandji had a solid night, playing dangerously in the attack and picking up the game winning goal.  New York's defense had another solid night, posting their second straight shut out.  Assistant coach Richie Williams was back running the squad with head coach Hans Backe out sick.

Richie Williams only made one change from the team that beat Chicago 1-0 last week, plugging in Seth Stammler for left mid Danleigh Borman and sliding Sinisa Ubiparipovic out wide to the left.  The defensive line up of Miller, Ream, Petke, and Hall remained intact, and Mac Kandji started up top with Juan Pablo Angel again.  The Sounders pushed hard against New York in the early minutes, with keeper Bouna Coundoul forced to make a save on a Brad Evans shot in the 5th minute.  It was the first of many saves for Bouna, who's lighting quick reflexes make up for his mistakes and struggles with handling the ball.  Coundoul once again posted a shutout, but he probably gave New York fans watching the game heart problems in the process.

Although Seattle had an early chance, both teams were offensively active, with Angel having an excellent opportunity off a free kick stopped by Sounders keeper and captain Kasey Keller in the 12th minute.  Chances continued to be back and fourth between both teams, who were caught up in a fast paced and physical game, until the 21st minute.  Estonian international and all around baller Joel Lindpere whipped in a left footed corner kick, which eventually fell to an unmarked Mac Kandji.  Instead of attempting to dribble around fifteen people or deftly flick the ball to no one, Kandji broke character and actually shot the ball.  Conveniently his shot went in, rocketing off the crossbar and beating Keller.  Opportunities continued for both teams, with Steve Zakuani getting Seattle's best chance of the first half in the 23rd minute and Mac Kandji nearly scoring again after picking up an excellent pass from Sinisa Ubiparipovic.

The Sounders and Red Bulls went in to the locker rooms with the score 1-0 at half, and it would remain that way until the end of the game.  This would nearly change in the 53rd minute, when Sinisa had another phenomenal through ball from the left side picked up by Kandji, who this time fed a pass to Angel.  Juan Pablo Angel's short-ranged shot was parried by the ageless Keller, who was solid in goal throughout the night.  Zakuani, who also had a good game and is building on a productive first season as last years first overall draft pick, had a shot barely deflected by Coundoul in the 69th minute.  Metro matched Seattle's chance in the 80th minute, with substitute Danleigh Borman (who came in for Sinisa) setting up Dane Richards excellently in front of Keller's net. Sadly, Richards could not convert and blasted the ball high.

There continued to be a flurry of half chances between then and the end of the game, and Metro rookie Connor Chinn made his MLS debut in stoppage time.  Still, New York's defense continued to hold out and the game was won.  Last season, which was so horrendous for fans to watch, had very few hard fought games, and even less of them were victories.  Although the roster really hasn't changed much, Hans Backe and Richie Williams are managing to squeeze out solid performances from a team that seemed to be one of the worst in league history just a year ago.  This is probably due more to Juan Carlos Osorio's incompetence than the talent of the current coaching staff, but it is important to appreciate the significant improvement regardless.

Dave Braneck is a blogger and an all around soccer fan who represents North Jersey to the fullest and contributes to Dailyharrison.com

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