Battle sets off Bull run
Red Bulls grind out 2-0 start to promising season
U.S. National Team icon and ex-MetroStar Tim Howard stood on his head, robbing his former team again and again. But it was keeper Luis Robles and his Red Bulls that ground out a 1-0 win, and made some history in the process.
After getting knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, the Red Bulls have bounced back to win their first games of the MLS campaign. First came last weekend’s season-opener in Atlanta, and on Saturday it was a homeopening shutout of Colorado before an announced crowd of 19,375.
“That was a gutsy performance by us,’’ said Robles, who broke an MLS record with his 142nd straight appearance. “The last two games we were able to see games out and that’s something that we really struggled with last year.”
They struggled getting out of the gate last year. They staggered to a 1-6 start before having to rally and finish atop the East. Saturday they became the first league team to six points and top the East after two weeks, thanks to getting an own goal last weekend and another Saturday, running their unbeaten streak in league play to 18 games.
Right back Sal Zizzo sent in a ball toward a streaking Daniel Royer that Rapids defender Eric Miller misplayed to net the 45thminute own goal.
“The way we play we make our own luck,’’ said Bradley WrightPhillips. “Thank you to the other teams for two own goals; sign ‘em up.”
Wright-Phillips could’ve easily had a brace.
The Red Bulls held 61.1 percent possession and outshot Colorado 13-3, including 7-1 on goal. Howard, a North Brunswick, N.J., native, made seven saves and stoned Wright-Phillips in the second, 24th and 73rd minutes.
“On another day, any other keeper I score at least two,’’ said Wright-Phillips. “He was quality.”
So have the Red Bulls, who ran their MLS unbeaten streak to 18 straight, dating back to last season. The league record is 19 in a row by Columbus in 2004-05. The red Bulls can tie that next Sunday at defending MLS Cup champion Seattle and break it March 25 at home vs. Real Salt Lake.
Robles’ 142-game milestone broke the mark set by Chris Klein. For a player who had been mulling retirement and arrived on a low-paying, prove-it deal in 2012, it has been an amazing ride.
“I remember July 2012 when you didn’t know who I was, and I was sitting there thinking it was a good run, it’s time to move on,’’ said Robles, who stoned Dominique Badji in the 72nd minute.
“Though my parents were definitely supporting me, my wife [Cara] was hounding me: ‘It’s not done yet, you need to give it one more try, do whatever it takes, bypass an agent, Google [MLS], I really think you’re going to regret this if you don’t give it one last try.’ So it was with her encouragement and motivation that I pursued it. We never thought it could’ve been something like this.”
Derrick Etienne got his first MLS start, and newcomer Fredrik Gulbrandsen made his league debut in the 88th minute.