Desert Diamond Cup ends with another loss
February 23, 2013 (Official Game Summary)
Despite having a number of scoring chances throughout the match, the New York Red Bulls dropped its preseason finale, 2-0, to the New England Revolution in the third place match of the Desert Diamond Cup at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, AZ. With that result, New York finished 2013 preseason play with a 2-3-1 record.
The Red Bulls went down in the fourth minute after Jamison Olave was called for a foul on Revolution midfielder Lee Nguyen in the box. Nguyen stepped up and tucked his attempt in the lower left corner of the net.
New York tried to make up the deficit quickly and in the eighth minute, Red Bull Roy Miller forced goalkeeper Matt Reis to make his first save of the match after the Costa Rican defender got a 15-yard shot off. Three minutes later, Juninho took a quick set piece, lobbing it to an on-rushing Thierry Henry. Henry fired it past Reis and off the right post. Reis again was called upon soon after, diving to save a Fabian Espindola volley.
Red Bulls midfielder Tim Cahill had his header cleared off the line by Nguyen in the 28th minute and Henry went just wide right two minutes after. New England took advantage of New York's missed opportunities and doubled its advantage in the 36th minute when Jerry Bengtson got the rebound to his own blocked shot and knocked it in off the near post from close range.
New York continued to exert pressure after halftime and Olave came close, volleying a loose ball from 15 yards out over the crossbar in the 60th minute. Later, Cahill connected on a Henry corner kick and his attempt rolled left. Reis helped preserve the shutout for New England, tipping over an Espindola lobbed shot with two minutes remaining in the match.
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