Red Bulls at Houston Dynamo: Matchday

Good evening folks. The New York Red Bulls travel to Houston tonight to take on the defending champion Houston Dynamo.

A road win won't be easy this time around for the Red Bulls. As if missing injured captain Claudio Reyna and expectant father Dave Van Den Bergh wasn't enough, now comes word from Houston that Juan Pablo Angel will not play because of a virus. Also, Colombian striker Oscar Echeverry was left home despite making good progress with his injured knee.

Tonight's match is being shown exclusively on HDNet, which means unless you are lucky enough to have HDNet you will be trekking to a bar to watch the game (I'm probably heading to Mulligan's in Hoboken).

If you are watching the game, and will be online, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play on the match in the comments section below.

So what lineup should we see tonight? Here is what it will probably look like:

RED BULLS PROJECTED LINEUP

---------Altidore---------Wolyniec------------

Borman-------------------------------Richards

------------Sassano------Stammler----------

Goldthwaite--Parke-----Boyens------Freeman

---------------------Conway---------------------

It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Chris Leitch replace Freeman, who had an awful game last week.

On the bright side, the Dynamo will be without Dwayne DeRosario, Eddie Robinson, Wade Barrett, Pat Onstad and possibly Brian Mullan. That still leaves Brian Ching, Brad Davis, Stuart Holden and Ricardo Clark as quality players to worry about, but that Dynamo defense will be susceptible to the Red Bulls attack, with Dane Richards having a chance to have a big game.

Share your thoughts on the pre-match here, and check in here throughout the evening for updates.

Comments

[Marlon]

anyone know if i can watch this game online for free somewhere?

[Athan]

I was wondering the same thing. I didn't see it offered on channelsurfing.net, so it doesn't look good. If anyone finds out, please let us know. Thanks.

[irishapple21]

Actually, after hearing about those injuries, I'm kind of glad this game won't be viewable to most Red Bulls fans. *shudder*

[pipo]

is cameron starting for houston?

[Pat the Red Bulls Fan]

No HDnet for me. I'll look for a link.

[cathy]

if I'm not mistaken guys, I watched an HDNet exclusive game on MLSLive TV this season. It's worth checking out, just in case.

[Tim F.]

Anyone watching this game, please provide updates to those of us who can't. I hate this HDNet agreement and I hope it is not renewed. I'll be happy if the Red Bulls come out with a point tonight with Angel, Reyna and van Den Bergh all out.

[cesc fabregas]

maybe altidore read your scathing criticism (jk)and wont suck.

[cbr]

mlsnet doesnt have the little tv logo available for this game.

if anyone could find a stream please post

[Dro Scott]

I think im gonna go over to Buffalo Wild Wings and drink some beers. they better have HDNet. otherwise ill just get drunk watchin the yanks

[Louis]

so far every touch Altidore has gotten has led to him passing back or losing posssesion, he's having a hard time trapping the ball

[Louis]

Brian Mullen is on the end of a well timed lob and the RB is caught napping, a last minute tackle by Parke in the box saves the Bulls

[Tim F.]

It's a shame to read that Altidore's training form is falling short of where it needs to be.

[mikemike]

Louis and anyone else watching on TV-
Keep up the info! Please!
I'd owe you one.
-Mike

[bob]

Great try Jozy, but stop crying about getting your shirt tugged

[cbr]

wth? i have to purchase matchday audio even though i purchased the streaming tv coverage for the season on mls net? common

[ives]

hey guys. Im at mulligans trying the cell phone reporting thing. Blah game so far.

[Rob C]

Alright, seriously. Everyone stop pointing out all the negative things about Jozy Altidore. It's annoying already. I have a bad feeling that Ives' article is going to open up a huge can of worms that really never needed to be open.

The kid is 18. He leads this putrid team in goals. He has no help around him, especially when JPA, Dave and Reyna are out. Can we support our teenage phenom please? Thanks.

[Mikemike]

cbr-
http://radiotime.com/station/s_31776/KBME_790.aspx
-Mike

[Tim F.]

Thanks for reporting in Ives!!!

[ives]

blown non pk call by the ref. Borman shanks the fk

[Louis]

RB corner leads to a boyens header that goes wide 30 minute

[Louis]

Ching flicks a header to Mullen who fails to control it in the attacking third, conway collects

[AlexS]

blown no free-kick call by the ref for the foul from behind on Mullan as he was breaking away... wait... shouldn't that have been at least a yellow as last defender pulling jersey from behind?

guess the Ashe-foul Karma is even.

[cathy]

here's a direct audio link

http://espn790.com/cc-common/ondemand/player.html?world=st

[Louis]

Dynamo are trying to play a lot of long balls over the top, trying to exploit RB weak central defense

[Mikemike]

Thanks Louis

[Louis]

Yellow card for Wollie, hard tackle on Clark near half way line

[cbr]

thanks for the radio links ppl ..very much appreciated!

[Louis]

RB fails to clear the ball, Houstons cross deflecting out, Dynamo corner

[AlexS]

Wolynec gets a yellow on what looked like a clean tackle, but on reply showed was a bad one, hitting nothing but Rico Clark's leg just bellow the back of the knee.

[Louis]

Holden swings in but Parke heads it out, Richard collects at midfield, attacks from the wing but is stripped by three defenders

[Tim F.]

Thanks for the commentary!

[AlexS]

Ashe picks off a NY backpass, brings is up, lays off to Mullan, who gets it past the NY defender by kicking it up into the goalie's arms

[Louis]

Sassano loses ball at mid, Dynamo attack but Boyens deflects strips Mullen of ball in box

[Louis]

Ching is bleeding and receiving attention, got cut up contesting a header

[Louis]

Sinisa in for Sassano who got banged up on the header

[AlexS]

Wow... Sassano gets Ching's head on a 50-50 ball. Ching bleeds a lot from it, but is Sassano who stays down for a while.

It's been a slow game so far, but the worst part of it is that I have a ticket for it sitting in front of me, only to have had my car die this morning! Grrrrr

[Louis]

Ching back in wearing a huge white bandage across his head, looks like a mummy

[RBNY]

What's the story with Magee?

[eric]

Don't worry, Alex, MLS still counts you as at the game!

Thanks for updates y'all

[Louis]

Houston attack leads to deflected cross, corner, houston brings everyone up, corner goes to back post but is cleared, half time

really dry game so far, RB clearly needs a holding mid fielder

[Louis]

Houston coach even describes game as "Street Fight", so far I give Houston the edge, they are the only team actually stringing together some passes, RB has relied on the counter but it hasnt produced anything

[AlexS]

oooh! Halftime story about the Dynamo stadium situation... in HD!

With new drawings I haven't seen before (no sketches or projections, mind you)... it's pretty in HD.

[Louis]

lol the half time show is one giant infomercial for the Dynamo stadium, I dont care just give me more details on Beckham!

(sarcasm)

[AlexS]

@Louis

Don't disbelieve in the 1-0 counter win, especially if neither Mullan nor Ching can knock one home.

Personally, I'm hoping for a Holden 20-yarder.

[Louis]

Only 1 shot on goal for both teams combined, hopefully this game picks up

and I hear you Alex, I'm hoping Jozy nets one and gives RB a much needed win

[Louis]

Brad Davis in for Cory Ashe

[AlexS]

Second half starts, Davis in for Ashe, who was having a good game, but you can't keep Davis out and they play the same position.

[Louis]

Ching controls a goal kick, dribbles to wing, cross is deflected, Dynamo corner, Boswell heads it to RB defender ball who clears