February 23, 2011
SAVING GRACE
Coundoul PK save helps Bulls to 1-1 tie

Joel Lindpere, who scored the Red Bulls lone goal, looks like one angry dude as he battles a Fire player for the ball. Ernesto Motta/Red Bulls

FORT LAUDERDALE -- Goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul saved a Marco Pappa penalty kick in the 71st minute to help the Red Bulls salvage a 1-1 pre-season draw with the Chicago Fire at Lockhart Stadium Wednesday afternoon.

Making his first appearance of the pre-season, Coundoul dived to his left to deny Pappa, who placed a rather weak shot on goal. The penalty kick was set up after Red Bulls central defender Rafa Marquez fouled Patrick Nyarko in the penalty area.

“I kind of know the type of player Pappa is and the way he was positioning his body, I knew it was going to be difficult for him to hit it on my right," Coundoul said. "I faked like I was going to go to my right and maybe he made a mistake and I was lucky to get it on my left side."

Coundoul, who missed the Mexican leg of the pre-season due to international commitments with the Senegal National Team, came on at halftime for starter Greg Sutton, who backstopped the Red Bulls to a 1-0 halftime lead on an 18th-minute goal by midfielder Joel Lindpere.

Lindpere, who connected against the Fire for the first goal in Red Bull Arena history in a 1-0 triumph last season, fired a shot outside the penalty area that beat a screened goalkeeper Sean Johnson to the lower right corner.

Pappa and the first equalized in the 53rd minute. Nyarko beat his man, second-half substitute and left fullback Danleigh Borman and the Fire player found Pappa, who beat Coundoul.

“I was a little bit surprised that they were so low on the pitch because we had the ball almost the whole first half,” midfielder Jan Gunnar Solli said. “I think we made it a little bit difficult for ourselves (in the second half), as we played too casual sometimes and we were a little bit sloppy with our passes as Hans usually says to us not to do. Overall, I think this was the best team we played so far.”

Compared to the reserve match that preceded the encounter -- the Red Bulls played poorly in a 4-2 loss -- it was like night and day.

Against the Fire in the second game of the doubleheader, the Red Bulls showed a lot more poise on the ball and more organization as a team, attacking and defensively, in the opening half.

Corey Hertzog, the Red Bulls' first-round draft choice who connected on a penalty kick in the opener, came on for midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy with about 10 minutes remaining in the half.

Red Bulls captain and striker Thierry Henry played the first 59 minutes as he was replaced by midfielder Dane Richards.

The Red Bulls meet the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Lockhart Stadium at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The match is closed to the public.

Scoring Summary:

NY: Joel Lindpere 1 (unassisted) 18’
CHI Marco Pappa 1 (Patrick Nyarko 1) 53’

Disciplinary Summary:
None

Red Bulls – Greg Sutton (GK) (Bouna Coundoul 46’), Roy Miller (Danleigh Borman 46’), Tim Ream, Rafa Marquez, Teemu Tainio* (Chris Albright 46’), Joel Lindpere, Mehdi Ballouchy (Corey Hertzog 81’), Tony Tchani, Jan Gunnar Solli, Juan Agudelo, Thierry Henry (Dane Richards 59’)

Chicago Fire – Sean Johnson (GK), Gonzalo Segares (Michael Muniz 85’), Cory Gibbs, Josip Mikulic, Jalil Anibaba, Patrick Nyarko, Daniel Paladini (Marco Pappa 46’), Logan Pause, Baggio Husidic, Gaston Puerari (Bratislav Ristic 59’), Gabriel Ferrari (Mike Videira 71’)