Late Goal Gives Red Bulls 1-1 Tie With Chivas USA
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — If Chivas USA continues the play the way it has under new coach Wilmer Cabrera, it's now-17-game winless streak on the road is going to end soon.
Chivas USA came within seconds of its first road win in more than a year, only to see Peguy Luyindula of the Red Bulls nudge a corner kick into the net as four minutes of stoppage time was about to expire Sunday, allowing winless New York to salvage a 1-1 tie.
"Of course we are disappointed," goaltender Dan Kennedy said after Chivas USA's road drought increased to 0-13-4. "We are disappointed giving up a goal in the last minute of the game, the last seconds really. I don't know how much time was added on, but it seemed deep into the game."
Kennedy said no one is thinking about the skid because it's basically a new team with a different coach and new ownership. The past is irrelevant, he said.
The Red Bulls (0-3-1) had some luck on the game-tying goal against Chivas USA (1-1-2).
Eric Alexander, a second-half substitute, floated a corner kick from the left side into the box and Luyindula went up and knocked it into the net past a stunned Kennedy for his first of the season.
"It wasn't clean," said Kennedy, who didn't think the shot came off Luyindula's head. "It kind of fluttered in. In the end we came in here against the Support's Shield winner and got a point and made it really, really tough on them."
Neither Luyindula, nor Alexander nor Red Bulls captain Thierry Henry spoke to the media after the game.
"We feel relieved, but we still haven't gotten our three points, so we're not entirely happy," Red Bulls midfielder Lloyd Sam said. "You're happy not to lose the game, but we need to get our first win. We've had two home games and the second half we were all over them. We should have had a couple of more goals."
Erick Torres' first-half penalty kick and Kennedy's outstanding play kept Chivas USA ahead from the 25th minute on.
Kennedy was under constant pressure in the second half. He made a kick save on a breakaway by Bradley Wright-Phillips in the 73rd minute, nudged a dipping Dax McCarty shot over the bar and stopped a header by Henry in the final 10 minutes. A couple of other shots went just wide of the net. He finished with four saves.
Chivas USA has not won away from its Carson, Calif., home since a 4-1 decision over Chicago on March 24, 2013.
The Red Bulls' start is still better than last season. They opened 0-2-2 before turning things around and posting the best regular-season record in the league.
Torres, who has four goals in as many games, scored in the 25th minute after defender Richard Eckersley shoved Thomas McNamara in the back as he went to head a cross into the box. The penalty seemed foolish because the ball was clearly too high for McNamara to head.
Torres' penalty kick went into the middle of the net as Red Bulls goaltender Luis Robles dove to defend his left side of the net.
"I'm sad because we made a really strong effort and then to get a goal in the 94th minute obviously you leave the game very frustrated, very angry, very upset," Torres said through a team translator.
Chivas USA did not have a shot on goal other than the penalty kick.
The Red Bulls saw Australian forward Tim Cahill leave the game in the first half with a pulled right hamstring. Before he left, Kennedy stopped Cahill on a header off a free kick by Henry.
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