October 14, 2009 ROAD KILL Red Bulls lose, extend their MLS record away winless streak to 27 games
Macoumba Kandji had the Red Bulls' best chances in their 2-0 loss at Real Salt Lake. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
Sandy, Utah -- For the Red Bulls, it will be wait 'til next year before they will get an opportunity to win on the road again.
They finished their road schedule on a disheartening note Wednesday night as they extended their road winless streak to an MLS-record 27 games in a 2-0 defeat to Real Salt Lake.
Their streak, which dates back to a 2-1 loss at the L.A. Galaxy on May 10, 2008, includes 20 losses and seven draws.
They also became the third team in league history to finish a season winless on the road. They were 0-13-2 this season.
Former MetroStars midfielder Andy Williams and Fabian Espindola connected for late goals at Rio Tinto Stadium as the hosts defeated the Red Bulls for the first time in nine regular-season games since joining the league as an expansion team in 2005.
The Red Bulls also had beaten RSL in last year's Western Conference final to advance to MLS Cup.
"It was the exact same game as the Western Conference final last year," RSL midfielder Will Johnson said. "It kind of had that feel to it again. But this time we managed to break through."
The victory also kept the RSL's (10-11-7, 37 points) post-season hopes alive.
The Red Bulls, who have the worst record in the league (4-19-6, 18), will finish the season at home against Toronto FC Oct. 24. The most points they can accrue is 21, which would make this season the sixth worst in league history.
Williams scored the game-winner in the 80th minute off a counterattack after right fullback Carlos Johnson had his shot blocked. Robbie Finley motored down the right wing and sent a cross to an unmarked Williams on the left side. Williams volleyed home the feed off his left foot past goalkeeper Danny Cepero.
"It's been like that all year," said Jeremy Hall, who made his first start a left midfield, his natural position after playing at right fullback for the season. "We're pushing for a win and then they score."
Espindola added an insurance goal in the 90th minute, a curling shot from the left side of the penalty area past Cepero before a crowd of 16,247.
The Red Bulls were forced to defend for most of the game.
"From the backs to the forwards I thought everyone worked very hard and competed," Red Bulls interim coach Richie Williams said. "But it's hard to defend for 90 minutes. We couldn't hold on to the end of the game."
The Red Bulls attack was virtually non-existent with striker and team captain Juan Pablo Angel (ankle) and forward John Wolyniec (season-ending ankle injury) and defender Kevin Goldthwaite (adductor injury). Goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul was with the Senegal National Team for an international friendly vs. South Korea.
Macoumba Kandji and Dane Richards started up front.
"We were a little bit shorthanded," Williams said. "We put Dane up there tonight, which isn't really his natural position. But whoever we put in, we just need to do better in the final third."
The Red Bulls' best scoring opportunities in the half came from Kandji. In the 35th minute Kandji found himself alone racing in on the left flank. He took a shot from a tough angle and his attempt traveled wide right, not near the net.
Some six minutes later, Kandji took a shot -- a one-bouncer from the right side -- that goalkeeper Nick Rimando caught.
RSL forced Cepero to make three diving saves in the first half.
"I thought we did well over the course of the game to limit their dangerous opportunities," he said. "And I thought the defenders did well to block shots and win head balls. We knew [Salt Lake] were going to bring the heat, and we knew it was important to bring guys back, and in general defend first."
Cepero produced his first important save on Javier Morales' 25-yard free kick in the 12th minute. He hit the ground again in the 33th minute to deny Espindola. However, the ball got free momentarily, but Cepero pounced on it with Yura Movsisyan on the doorstep.
Espindola made Cepero work again in the 42 minute minute as the Baldwin, N.Y. managed to get a hand on the ball to force a corner kick. Nothing came of the ensuing set piece.
Cepero continued to keep the home team off the scoreboard in the second half with another solid performance, including a save on a Will Johnson shot in the 56th minute.
Kandji sent another long-range one-bouncer to Rimando in the 62nd minute.
"We need to have a little bit better attack," Williams said. "We need to string more passes together and keep the ball. You have to have more attempts on goal. That was our shortcoming tonight."
