Role players shine as Red Bulls blank Galaxy, 2-0

Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIPhotos.com

BY ADAM SERRANO

Substance over style.

On one of the biggest nights in the history of MLS, with four designated players set to shine, it was the complimentary players who were the most effective. Mehdi Ballouchy, Tim Ream and Dane Richards shined the brightest in the New York Red Bulls 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy.

With Los Angeles starting a pair of defenders with a combined twelve games of MLS experience --after tonight's game -- the game plan was a simple one for Red Bulls manager Hans Backe. Target the defenders Yohance Marshall and Leonardo early and often.

"When we had our team talk, we said we have to try to press the center backs and to make life hard for them as much as possible.So we didnt drop to defend to the halfway line, we started much higher. We closed down on every goal kick, and our strikers -- Ballouchy and Angel pressed them as much as possible," said Backe. "When everything works like this today, the shape, the right attitude, everyone ready to do the dirty work, you can win.'

The pressure was a direct result of New York control in the center of the park. Captain Rafael Marquez and rookie Tony Tchani were able to overwhelm the Galaxy midfield that struggled to find its shape. New York would strike pay dirt in the 36th minute when a failed clearance by Marshall allowed a speedy Joel Lindpere to beat Leonardo to the ball and cross it into Richards who finished the chance. The goal was Richards third of the season.

The defensive problems continued for the Galaxy in the 60th minute. Richards used his speed to beat Marshall to a ball in the box forcing the Trindadian defender to bring down the swift Jamaican in the box. Referee Ricardo Salazaar pointed to the spot for the obvious penalty and Angel easil! y conver ted to give the Red Bulls the two goal lead. Following the match, Arena claimed that there was little that the Galaxy could have expected from their young center backs.

Our organization in the back in the first half wasnt good enough, Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. For us to expect those two guys (Leonardo and Marshall) to come in and not make any mistakes, wed have to be kidding ourselves.

While the defense for the Galaxy was patchwork in nature,they struggled throughout the night to maintain their composure. Countless times, the Galaxy midfield was unable to connect the final pass which prevented the Galaxy from creating any real attacking threats. The Galaxy's midfielder Juninho struggled in particular to connect a string of passes for the second straight match.

In addition to giving up possession to the Red Bulls, the Galaxy seemed to unable to settle throughout the match. Their drives up field seemed frantic which allowed New York to prevent Galaxy scoring chances. After midfielder Dema Kovalenko left the match with a right adductor strain, the stress on the midfield grew more intense as David Beckham was forced to go a full 90 minutes for the first time this season. With a great deal of focus on the match on them, Donovan admitted that his team may not have been ready for the match.

Our problem was just our effort," said Donovan. Its hard to wonder why, for a game like this, we weren't ready to come out and play.

Another reason for the Galaxy's poor offensewas the consistent play of Ream. Although the rookie defender from St. Louis struggled in his first journey to Home Depot Center against Chivas USA, on Friday night, he was effective in shutting down Donovan and Edson Buddle. The Galaxy were frequently unable to send crosses into their attackers in the box with out Ream clearing their efforts. This play earned Ream a great deal ofaccoladesfrom Arena after the match. The defender admitted that there was a significant change in quality from the last ti! me the R ed Bulls took the Galaxy in August.

"We came out with more confidence this time and our guys were much fresher," said Ream. "As a team we possessed the ball, played great defense and prevented them from having many real chances and those that they did have, we handled pretty well."

With the victory, the Red Bulls were able to pull even with the Columbus Crew on points for the lead in the Eastern Conference. New York was able to pull ahead of the Crew however based on goal differential. The Galaxy remain in first place in both MLS and the Western Conference, three points ahead of second place Real Salt Lake

Los Angeles will look to rebound in their next match against their arch-rival Chivas USA on October 3rd while the Red Bulls return home to Red Bull Arena to face the red hot Kansas City Wizards. After claiming that Los Angeles was adept at rising to the occasion in big matches -- and shrinking in this one--, Donovan was blunt about what the Galaxy must to do when they face their biggest rivals

"We need to get better, plain and simple."

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