The morning after: Red Bulls trounce 'Quakes

May 9, 9:48 AMNY Soccer ExaminerJeff Kassouf

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Juan Pablo Angel and company finally showed some life Friday.              (AP Photo/Mark Avery)

Right about now, everyone around Major League Soccer is wondering where New York’s stellar performance and outburst of goals Friday night came from.  New York’s 4-1 beat down of the San Jose Earthquakes at home was the first true sign of life the team has shown.

Equally shocked by the performance, match commentators on MSG said exactly what most were thinking.

“New York could be undefeated this season thus far if they played like this every game,” said Shep Messing.

“Where has this team been for eight games?” asked co-commentator Steve Cangialosi.

Cangialosi’s question is spot on.  The Red Bulls (2-5-2, 8 pts.) were expected to continue last year’s momentum into this season with an improved defense and an already potent offense.  Jorge Rojas was supposed to be the engine of the midfield that would help it connect to Juan Pablo Angel even more.

However, things did not start as they should have.

New York lost 3-0 to expansion club Seattle in the first game of the MLS season, and their troubles continued from there.  Last week’s loss to then-winless Los Angeles was considered to be rock-bottom for the Red Bulls.

At least there was nowhere to go but up.

And, up they went, in a big way.  Prior to Friday’s game against the San Jose, New York had managed just five goals in the opening eight games of league play – that is five goals in 720 minutes.  Friday, the Red Bulls managed four in the opening forty minutes.

"Today was the game we were expecting to have a long time ago,” said Juan Pablo Angel.  “Everything came together today, especially in the first half.”

The Red Bulls jumped out to a 4-0 lead after Jorge Rojas started the scoring with two goals in the opening 15 minutes, and Juan Pablo Angel and Macoumba Kandji added a goal apiece.  

New York did have a mental lapse at the end of the half when Ryan Johnson pulled one back for the visitors in the 45th minute, something Head Coach Juan Carlos Osorio said he ripped into his team for at halftime.  The game, however, was recognizably already over.

"The game was basically over in the first 20 minutes,” Earthquakes Head Coach Frank Yallop said.  “Three-nil down and I don't know what the minute was, but especially away from home, it's tough to get anything out of the game.”

The question remains as to whether this form can remain.  Cangialosi asked the right question when he pondered where this Red Bulls team has been for eight games, but if the good form and attacking confidence does not continue, it means nothing.
What cannot be overlooked is the fact that the Red Bulls put this whooping on San Jose (1-5-2, 5 pts.), another team that is struggling this season.  It also might be a stretch to say that the Red Bulls could be undefeated if they played like this all season, as Messing suggested.

It was clear that the San Jose backline was outclassed on the night.  Macoumba Kandji was about three steps faster to every ball than ‘Quakes defender Nick Garcia, and he created his goal by some light pressure on Kelly Gray, who made some terrible decisions on the backline.

Next up for the Red Bulls is the Houston Dynamo next Saturday at home.  It will be the second game of a four game home-stand, and New York will hope to keep the momentum going.

If the Red Bulls can continue this form in the upcoming home games, they could pull themselves out of the basement of the Eastern Conference.  First, let the next few games play out before jumping to any conclusions.

San Jose Earthquakes (1-5-2) vs. New York Red Bulls (2-5-2)
May 08, 2009 -- Giants Stadium

Scoring Summary:
NY -- Jorge Rojas 1 (unassisted) 7
NY -- Jorge Rojas 2 (Macoumba Kandji 2, Carlos Johnson 1) 13
NY -- Juan Pablo Angel 3 (Macoumba Kandji 3, Albert Celades 1) 22
NY -- Macoumba Kandji 2 (unassisted) 40
SJ -- Ryan Johnson 3 (Ramiro Corrales 1) 45

San Jose Earthquakes -- Joe Cannon, Chris Leitch, Nick Garcia, Kelly Gray, Eric Denton, Aaron Pitchkolan (Shea Salinas 71), Arturo Alvarez, Ramiro Corrales, Bobby Convey, Ryan Johnson (Quincy Amarikwa 67), Cam Weaver (Pablo Campos 87).

Substitutes Not Used: Simon Elliott, Brandon McDonald, Andrew Weber, Michael Zaher

New York Red Bulls -- Danny Cepero, Carlos Johnson, Kevin Goldthwaite, Mike Petke, Alfredo Pacheco, Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Jorge Rojas (Danleigh Borman 73), Seth Stammler, Albert Celades (Dane Richards 64), Juan Pablo Angel (John Wolyniec 80), Macoumba Kandji.

Substitutes Not Used: Jon Conway, Jeremy Hall, Carlos Mendes, Juan Pietravallo

Misconduct Summary:
SJ -- Cam Weaver (caution; Reckless Tackle) 37
SJ -- Aaron Pitchkolan (caution; Reckless Tackle) 59
SJ -- Eric Denton (caution; Reckless Foul) 63
SJ -- Quincy Amarikwa (caution; Reckless Foul) 88

referee: Jeff Gontarek
Referee's Assistants: Craig Lowry; Nate Clement
4th official: Alex Prus
time of game: 1:48
attendance: 8,042
weather: Cloudy -and- 73 degrees