Dynamo Steals First Place from Red Bulls

Added by Jake Landau on August 4, 2012.

The NY Red Bulls fell flat in the first match of a home-and-home series with Houston.

Friday night marked the third loss in one week for the New York Red Bulls, once to Montreal, once to Tottenham Hotspur and now once to the Houston Dynamo. A loss is probably an understatement to the way the Red Bulls played in this game, with team chemistry at an all-time low and shenanigans at an all-time high.

Mixing around the back four did not fix a thing, with the return of Heath Pearce, who was joined by new DP Tim Cahill, and Teemu Tainio making his return from a five month injury.

Tainio, whose main job is to sweep in front of the defense and clear out any play just outside the 18-yard box, was non-existent and was hard to tell apart from a statue. Cahill made a few plays with his head that showed the potential threat he brings, but nothing came of the chances.

The Dynamo absolutely ripped the Red Bulls apart. They controlled possession the whole game, and played high up the field always suffocating passing lanes. After the second minute, New York was already down a goal after giving up another silly set-piece goal.

The team was outplayed and outclassed by a wide margin for 90 minutes. The talent on the field and on paper would probably predict a different result, but Houston handled New York to stay undefeated at home this season.

Calen Carr added a second goal for Houston in the 28^th minute when former Red Bull Mac Kandji pushed down Heath Pearce with no foul called, and produced a cross to the back post where Carr was setting up to time his jump. Le Toux was non-existent and has only one shot on goal in his last few games. Kenny Cooper, the leading scorer for the team started the game on the bench and came on when it was already too late.

The New York Red Bulls are no longer in first place in the East, and now have to chase the red hot Houston Dynamo, who has now won five straight. Houston comes to visit Red Bull Arena next Friday to conclude the home-and-home series. The Red Bulls are also undefeated at home this season so it seems we will see another match of “what happens when the unstoppable force meets the immovable object?” Next Friday on NBCSN.

Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJBQaEuJRlI&feature=g-u-u