May 1, 2008 MLS Toronto FC vs New York Red Bulls (from MLSnet.com)

05/01/2008 11:28PM
Reyna's injury puts damper on night
Red Bulls lose captain for undetermined amount of time
By Mark Polishuk / MLSnet.com Staff

TORONTO -- Just when the New York Red Bulls get some of their stars back from injury, another goes down.

The Red Bulls managed a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC on Thursday night at BMO Field, but the larger story might be the condition of team captain Claudio Reyna. The midfielder left the game after 45 minutes with what team officials described as an injury to his lower left leg. New York coach Juan Carlos Osorio didn't give any specific details about Reyna's condition, but said the problems began before the match started.

"He felt it in the warmup," Osorio said. "Throughout the first half he felt more pain, [and] we made the decision at halftime to prevent further injury. But I think it's not really bad."

Reyna's injury put a damper on a hard-fought result on a cold and windy away field for the Red Bulls. New York was able to stop Toronto's three-game winning streak, and aside from Reyna, the match was also positive on the health front.

Dane Richards and Hunter Freeman played their first matches of 2008, with Freeman starting and playing the full 90 minutes. Defender Kevin Goldthwaite was back in the lineup after coping with a back injury over the past week, and star striker Juan Pablo Angel returned after missing last Sunday's game against San Jose due to a nerve problem in his back.

Angel said his back wasn't feeling 100 percent in the aftermath of the game.

"It's sore," Angel said. "It got very tight at the end. But I'm happy I managed to play 90 minutes, it'll be good for my fitness. We're just going to have to wait and see how it reacts in the next couple of days ... if it reacts well, that means I'm getting better."

Angel's injury might have been a reason why the New York attack failed to generate many chances in the match. Angel and Jozy Altidore managed just two shots between them, neither of which were on goal. It was a far cry from their success against the Reds in 2007, when the two forwards combined for five goals in three matches against Toronto.

"They're stronger and they've become a better team," Angel said. "They have probably the best crowd in the league and they're in a great position this year. Last year there was a little more space, and today was a pretty tough game. The conditions weren't the best."

Fortunately for the Red Bulls, Toronto's attack was similarly limited. TFC outshot New York 6-5 and had a 3-1 advantage in shots on goal, but created few chances outside of their one goal, a Marco Velez header off of a Laurent Robert direct free kick in the 22nd minute.

"Amado [Guevara] didn't have a chance, [Danny] Dichio doesn't have a clear chance, [Rohan] Ricketts doesn't have a clear chance, Laurent doesn't have a clear chance," said Osorio of Toronto's main attacking weapons. "That tells me we controlled the game and we probably deserved more than a point."

The Red Bulls were able to come back from the Velez goal and scored from a set piece of their own in the 38th minute. Dave van den Bergh sent a line drive of a direct free kick from 20 yards out that went through the TFC wall and edged inside the far post.

Van den Bergh said the 50-degree temperature and strong southern winds at BMO Field played a part in the goal.

"Me and [Mike] Magee talked about who had the best option," van den Bergh said. "Considering the wind it was going to be an easier ball for a left-footed guy because for a right-footed guy the wind would've slowed it down. I contemplated bending it over the wall but the wind was pretty strong so I figured I had a chance on the goalie's side."

The draw improves New York's unbeaten streak to three games (1-0-2) as they head across the country to face the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center on May 10. The Red Bulls will need another strong defensive performance against L.A.'s dynamic duo of Landon Donovan and David Beckham. Through five games played, the two respectively lead the league in goals (eight) and assists (four).

Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.

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