The New York Red Bulls can’t buy a win, but at least they aren’t taking losses.
The most recent tie? A 1-1 draw with Columbus in which the Red Bulls blew a 1-0 lead in the 92nd minute to take one point instead of three.
The draw is actually, however, more of a good thing then a bad thing. New York was without five of its every day starters, and a key member off the bench. The Red Bulls were without their starting goaltender, their best playmaker (aside from Thierry Henry) and two of their rocks on defense in Tim Ream and Rafa Marquez; all of whom are playing for their respective national teams for the Gold Cup.
So for the Red Bulls to take a point from a tough Columbus Crew team is a positive within itself. Factor in the fact that Henry didn’t record a point for the first time in six games, and it’s almost like the Red Bulls walked out of the game with a win.
Mehdi Ballouchy got his second goal of the season in the ninth minute of the game, off a beautiful feed from Luke Rodgers. Rogers looked great all day for New York, and set up a few more scoring chances for the Red Bulls that didn’t find the back of the net.
The draw put a halt to what appeared to be the Red Bulls first win in five games. New York takes on New England in six days.