RED BULLS VS. SPURS: MATCH DAY

The Barclays New York Challenge kicks off tonight with the host New York Red Bulls taking on English Premiership side, Tottenham Hotspur, at Red Bull Arena.  Spurs are the first English side to take the pitch at Red Bull Arena (if you don’t count the England Saxons rugby team).  Tonight is the first match play for Thierry Henry as well.  Couple of extra story lines for tonight.  Carl Robinson is seeing action tonight after returning from action against Columbus last weekend.  Robinson has some close ties to Spurs, as Harry Redknapp was his manager when he played for Portsmouth, and Robbie Keane stood beside him as the best man at his wedding.

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New York Red Bulls:

—————Henry———-Kandji——————

———————-Lindpere————————

Stammler—————————————Richards

———————-Robinson————————

Miller———Ream———–Mendes————Albright

———————Coundoul—————————

Subs: Sutton, Tchani, Borman, Petke, Chinn, Ubiparipovic, Hall

Tottenham Hotspur:

Starters: Cudicini, Hutton, Bale, Huddlestone, Jenas, Keane, Modric, Naughton, Kranjcar, Corluka, Walker
Subs: Button, Taarabt, Rose, Townsend, Mason, Obika, Smith

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1′ And we’re off…

1′ Huddlestone gets off the first shot, but its right at Bouna, who makes the easy save.

6′ Stammler with a header from a Borman cross, but its wide.

7′ Henry breaks in alone, but Cudicini stonewalls him.  Looked like a sure goal.

10′ Henry creates space and slithers in a cross that Cudicini bobbles, but holds onto before Richards can pounce on the rebound.

11′ The Red Bulls offsides trap is working well so far.

12′ Henry is showing his class (but a touch of rustiness) early on, getting into space but blasting it wide.

13′ Stammler just missed a sitter, as a Richards cross found him alone in front of the net, but the ball hit his planted foot and bounded away.

25′ GOAL NY!! Henry finishes off a Lindpere pass to the far post. 1-0 NY!!

40′ Sorry for the delay.  Lots of computer issues here.  Ream just headed the ball away from danger.

HALFTIME: 1-0 NY at the break.

46′ Subs for NY at the half: Sutton for Coundoul, Petke for Mendes, and Tchani for Henry. For Tottenham: Taarabt for Corluka and Townsend for Walker.

50” SAVE SUTTON! Stops a Kranjcar shot off the full volley.  Ensuing corner handled easily by NY

53′ Bale with a run down the left flank, but his cross is blocked by Ream

57′ Stammler does well to turn his defender but the left-footed shot goes just wide

60′ SAVE SUTTON! Denies Keane off a lovely through ball from Bale

61′ Keane chance, blocked out by Ream. Corner for Spurs

62′ Corner cleared out by Petke

63′ Goal Spurs.  The ball finds Keane on the back post, and he puts it to the back of the net.

63′ NY subs: Sinisa for Robinson and Hall for Albright.

72′ Goal Spurs.  Bale takes advantage of a New York defensive miscue and nudges it into the net.  2-1 Spurs.

76′ Spurs sub: Mason for Modric.  NY sub: Chinn for Stammler.

78′ Almost the reverse play for a New York goal, but Chin’s attempts goes out for a corner.

79′ After some fancy ball work, Kandji finds Richards in the area, but his blast goes wide.

80′ After a scramble, Kandji puts one over.  NY pressing for the equalizer.

81′ 20,312 in attendance tonight.

FULL TIME:  2-1 Spurs, but Henry scores in his Red Bulls debut