Marquez's late PK ties Atlas 1:1
March 9, 2011 (Official Game Summary)
In "Red Bull Reto del Sol", the New York Red Bulls played to a 1-1 tie against Mexican powerhouse, Club Atlas de Guadalajara, Tuesday night at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ.
After a scoreless first half, the Red Bulls conceded an own goal with 12 minutes to play. However, former Atlas star and Red Bulls Designated Player Rafa Marquez converted a penalty kick in the 90th minute, as New York earned the draw.
With both teams feeling each other out for much of the first interval, the Red Bulls had the best clear-cut scoring chance in the 11th minute. A long ball played out of the New York defense bounced fortuitously in the path of forward Salou Ibrahim, who tried to lob it over the on-rushing Jose Canales. But Ibrahim put too much power on it and knocked his shot over the crossbar. With a minute left until the intermission, Canales dove bravely to prevent Ibrahim from getting on the end of a well-placed Thierry Henry cross.
The Red Bulls continued their push to draw first blood in the second half. In the 53rd minute, Dane Richards got free from 14 yards out and had has shot on goal deflected away by midfielder Luis Enrique Robles. Soon after, Atlas, which did not have many scoring chances in the match, tested Red Bull Bouna Coundoul when the Senegalese goalkeeper pushed aside a Carlo Costly blast.
Ibrahim again had an opportunity to give New York the lead in the 61st minute. Henry threaded a through ball into the penalty box to the Ghanaian forward. Ibrahim's toe poke, however, was stopped by a sprawling Canales. Twelve minutes later, Red Bulls substitute Tony Tchani got past an Atlas defender and fired an acute angle shot that was just past the left post.
Atlas was able to get on the scoreboard in the 78th minute. Atlas substitute Edgar Pacheco had space on the right side of the penalty box and put in a ball that was inadvertently deflected into the net by New York defender Tim Ream.
The Red Bulls looked like they were going to come away with a loss but with minutes left in the match, Joel Lindpere earned a penalty kick after being tackled at the edge of the penalty box. Marquez stepped up and put it in, sending Canales the wrong way.
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