By BRIAN LEWIS
So the Red Bullsâ 1-1 draw with New England ran their winless streak against the Revolution to nine games, 11 including the playoffs. They dominated in every way except the scoreboard, but they couldnât finish. So what can we take from this?
*** Whether it be Bruce Arena or Juan Carlos Osorio, 3-5-2 or 4-4-2, they canât beat Revs. They havenât beaten this team in nine straight.
âIn the past we havenât done too well against them,ââ said Carlos Mendes, making his season debut at right back. âWeâre disappointed with the tie. They did well sitting in and playing for the tie; that makes it even more disappointingâ¦but thatâs how it goes.ââ
*** Juan Pablo Angel and Claudio Reyna both left with injuries. Angel came off at halftime after re-aggravating the left hamstring strain that kept him last Saturday in Dallas. I have no idea how bad it is, because he didnât sick around to answer questions, gone before the locker room opened.
Reyna _ whose turnover led to the tying free kick _ came off in the 77th minute with a right knee injury, although it didnât sound TOO bad. Weâll see.
âIt was swollen up a little bit. Itâs like a knock,ââ Reyna said. âIt was just getting worse. Usually things improve. But I think it should be fine. A few days off thisâ¦TURFâ¦will be good. I hope to be alright. The doctors say thereâs nothing bad with the ligaments, so thatâs good.ââ
BTW, I wish you guys couldâve heard the utter disdain and venom dripping off the word turf. Priceless.
*** The Red Bulls outshot New England 14-4, and had a 6-1 edge in shots on goal. But all the Revs needed was that one, a free kick in which Chris Leitch didnât acquit himself well. First he commits a ticky-tack foul on Adam Cristman just outside the box, saying âA little graze puts him on the floor, rolling around like heâs been shot.ââ
Then Leitch _ on the end of the wall _ turned his back on the ball, letting Jeff Larentowiczâ bending free kick beat Jon Conway. Juan Carlos Osorio _ a perfectionist and defensive-minded coach _ was steamed.
*** Jozy Altidore is a beast. His 30th-minute goal was a beauty, but Osorio said the 18-year-old has played âtoo much football in the last three months, and I think we are paying for that. When heâs rested and taking people on, heâs very good. But when he starts dropping between the lines and heâs not rested, heâs not as strong as he normally is and thatâs why he loses the ball.ââ


