The New York Red Bulls are starting to grow accustomed to two things, one painfully annoying, and one a welcome relief.
The Red Bulls once again watched their goalkeeper commit a goal-allowing blunder, but once again watched Joel Lindpere step up and help his team find a result.
Bouna Coundoul spilled a cross in the penalty area to help give San Jose it's first goal of the night, and after Steven Lenhart headed home a goal to make it 2-1, things looked bleak for the Red Bulls. That was before Lindpere blasted a goal-bound shot that was re-directed past San Jose goalkeeper Jon Busch to help New York earn a 2-2 tie against the Earthquakes at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto.
Lindpere opened the scoring for New York with a seventh-minute strike to get the short-handed Red Bulls off to a strong start. Missing Thierry Henry (illness) and Rafa Marquez and Luke Rodgers (injuries), the Red Bulls started the match well and nearly took a 2-0 lead in the first half, but San Jose kept fighting and pounced on Coundoul's blunder in the 37th minute as Khari Stephenson converted Coundoul's spill to make the score 1-1.
Steven Lenhart gave San Jose a 2-1 lead in the 68th minute when he headed home a perfect Steve Beitashour cross, beating Tim Ream on the play. The Earthquakes were the stronger team in the second half and looked set to score a home win before Lindpere blasted a goal-bound shot that Earthquake defenders re-directed past Jon Busch in the 85th minute.
The draw will be a disappointing one for a New York side that has managed just one win in eleven matches (1-2-9), particularly given another case of the team being done in by a goalkeeper error.
The match was a contentious one as the teams were involved in multiple shoving matches, and Earthquakes defender Bobby Burling saw a red card late in the match for a second bookable offense. New York couldn't capitalize on the man advantage late, and was forced to settle for yet another draw.
The tie kept the Red Bulls (5-3-10) three points behind Philadelphia at the top of the Eastern Conference, while the Earthquakes moved to 5-5-6 on the season.
What did you think of the match? Impressed with Lindpere's play? Disgusted with the Red Bulls' goalkeeping woes? Do you love or hate Steven Lenhart's off-the-ball antics?
Share your thoughts below.
