Angel's Time With Red Bulls Is Done

Juan Pablo Angel, whose contract has now expired, knows his time with the New York Re Bulls is finished.

Early in October, Ángel, who is in the last year of his contract with the club, said he knew “for a fact” that the Red Bulls would not be retaining his services in 2011.

“Life goes on, I will move on,” Ángel said after the match. “I wish everyone here all the best.”

The move to cut ties with the forward comes as the player has struggled in recent months. Since the MLS All-Star game in July, Ángel has scored four goals in the regular season, but just two have come from the run of play. Thursday night’s tally was the first of the playoffs for him.

It was a frustrating night for Ángel, the 80th-minute goal notwithstanding. The striker had two poorly taken free kicks in a match where his overall passing and touch was less than crisp. Even in a playoff game where the Red Bulls had the run of play, goals and quality chances were hard to come by.

“With the number of chances we created, we deserved better,” Ángel said.

At least Angel participated in a dramatic turnaround season for the Red Bulls that saw them go from worst to first in the Eastern Conference.

Earthquakes 3, Red Bulls 1: New York's Season Comes To An End

The season is over for the New York Red Bulls, 3-1 losers to the San Jose Earthquakes in the MLS Cup quarterfinals Thursday night at Red Bull Arena. San Jose won the total-goals series, 3-2.

Chris Wondolowski scored the aggregate winner for San Jose, heading in a cross from Bobby Convey.

Late New York substitute Thierry Henry just missed propelling his team to extra time when his header off a corner kick went wide, as the Red Bulls season ended with another playoff disappointment.

San Jose will play the winner of the Columbus Crew-Colorado Rapids series next week.

— The Sports Network contributed to this report

Red Bulls Host Earthquakes In MLS Cup Playoffs Tonight

The New York Red Bulls try to advance to the semifinals of the MLS Cup playoffs tonight when they host the San Jose Earthquakes at Red Bull Arena. This is the second leg of the home-and-home, total goals quarterfinal series. The Red Bulls lead, by a goal after a 1-0 victory over San Jose in the first leg, meaning the Earthquakes must win by two goals tonight to advance to the semifinals.

Designated player Thierry Henry, who sat out the first leg with a knee injury, will be available for the Red Bulls tonight.

Here is a breakdown of what you can expect to see.

[Red Bulls coach Hans] Backe's plan is to continue to attack despite having the lead, and with the inclusion of Henry, the Red Bulls look set to provide additional pressure on the Earthquakes defense. The Red Bulls must absorb the early pressure that the Earthquakes will provide as they search for the early goal. With Henry in the lineup and the Earthquakes pressing for the goal, Backe's men will find space against an over-stretched San Jose defense. 

For San Jose, the game plan is to pile on pressure early in search of the equalizer. For the Earthquakes to upset the Red Bulls at home, the Quakes will need options other than Wondolowski to step up. Wondolowski has scored more than half of San Jose's goals this season, but the Earthquakes need their other offense weapons like Geovanni and Bobby Convey to succeed if they are to reach the Conference final.

Another New York forward, Salou Ibrahim, also missed the first leg and is questionable for the second. Joining him on the injury report are midfielders Luke Sassano and Brian Nielsen, who are out with knee injuries.

San Jose will be without midfielders Andre Luiz and Joey Gjertsen, and defender Ike Opara because of injuries.

(The Sports Network contributed to this report)