For 14 seasons, New York’s soccer team has been playing in perpetual added time, trying to produce something worth watching. All the writhing by fans fouled by ever-changing rosters and tightfisted management of what should have been from its start MLS’ flagship franchise, has yet to produce a whistle to the incompetence.
The Red Bulls, nee MetroStars, 169-198-69 since birth, have produced just three winning regular seasons and advanced in the postseason in only one year, 2008. That completely unanticipated and uncelebrated run to the MLS championship game, which took place completely on the road, re-invigorated the franchise all the way to 5-19-6 last season.
Thus did gleaming Red Bull Arena, with 25,000 seats providing an intimate view of soccer that aficionados in the Tri-State melting pot can’t bear to watch, open to MLS play last night with about 1,000 empty seats, a cold shoulder that had to do with more than just the 39-degree temperature.
The state-of-the-art amenity the fans want most is a Thierry Henry. But until the Austrians who own the team find the right star at the right price, will the fans settle for harder work and better organization?
That’s what they got last night. In a contest marked by some vastly improved marking, at least three acrobatic saves by goalie Bouna Coundoul, and a quick pounce by bright, new midfielder Joel Lindpere on a headed clear in the 40th minute, the Red Bulls dug in for a 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire that did their new digs proud.
“[A good start] is a must after the sour [2009] season,” new coach Hans Backe said. “It’s very, very important for the confidence of the players and the new stadium.
“I think we can be better. I wasn’t really happy with our attacking game.”
The fans, shivering with delight as well as just plain shivering, didn’t seem to notice, and the players noticed that.
“I hate clichés, the whole 12th-man thing, but it really is,” said defender Mike Petke. “Seattle last year was unbelievable, Toronto is always unbelievable but this brings it to a new level with the noise that’s generated under the roof.
“It’s the way a sporting event should be. We put ourselves in bad positions tonight and I never thought we were going to lose.”
There was 14 years of bad road leading into a cavernous Giants Stadium that only last July acquired rail access, but never a soul on soccer nights. Lindpere and young defender Tim Ream are two sound additions, but otherwise a lot of the same Red Bulls who failed miserably last season suddenly believe, off an unbeaten exhibition season, that other souls snatched those bodies.
“Last season was like the perfect storm, everything went bad,” forward John Wolyniec said. “There’s a lot more consistency now with our leadership. In pro sports, when a team goes bad they make a ton of changes but the roster hasn’t been totally flipped over. That’s new, especially for a New York franchise gone wrong.”
Indeed, to this point the only continuity provided by the Red Bulls has been failure. They aren’t leasing anymore, except for the new lease on life they’ve signed up for in Harrison.
