New York found a little too much space in the first half and did just enough in the second to
cut down the Colorado Rapids 3-1 on Saturday afternoon in Patterson, New Jersey.
The Red Bulls dominated all but about 10 minutes of the first half in building a 2-0 lead. Both
goals were impressive as the team with three Designated Players Juan Pablo Angel, Thierry Henry and
Rafa Marquez looked like a squad that was coming together as the playoffs approach.
Colorado's starters will have to wait until Thursday to find out what the team will look like
after Tuesday's trade of midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy for forward Macoumba Kandji.
The starters are scheduled to take the day off from practice on Wednesday, which gives the team
a couple of days to figure out where Kandji fits and who will be called on to create from the
midfield in front of Saturday's 7 p.
On Saturday the Red Bulls clearly showed they were better than the Rapids. With the exception of
about 10 minutes on either side of the half NY dominated the game and won by a deserved 3-1
scoreline. The Red Bulls were the better team in every section of the field and while a bit of
individual brilliance from Omar Cummings gave the Rapids a bit of hope, NY took that away quickly.
Befitting a rivalry, a header at the death gave Real Salt Lake a share of the points with the
Colorado Rapids in the first Rocky Mountain Cup game of the season.
The late goal offset a record-setting night for Conor Casey and dashed dreams for the Rapids of
taking three points on the road.
Casey set a Rapids record for career goals, breaking a tie with Paul Bravo as he scored his 40th
goal for Colorado, in the nervy, rivalry affair at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday night.
