RED BULLS VS. REVOLUTION: MATCH DAY

New York aims to secure its first Eastern Conference Regular Season title since 2000 as the Red Bulls take on rival New England Revolution tonight at Red Bull Arena.  With tonight being the final regular season home match of 2010, there will also be numerous Fan Appreciation Night events taking place.  New York will be without the services of Designated Player Thierry Henry, who will miss the match with a knee injury, but Juan Pablo Angel, Rafa Marquez and the rest of Hans Backe’s boys will be ready for their heated rivals.  Lineups and running commentary after the jump.

New York Red Bulls:

—————-Angel———-Ibrahim—————

Ballouchy——-Lindpere——-Marquez———-Richards

Miller———–Ream———–Mendes————Hall

———————Coundoul————————-

Subs: Sutton, Petke, Ubiparipovic, Robinson, Agudelo, Tchani, Albright

New England:

—————-Perovic———-Stolica—————

Mansally——-Griffiths——-Joseph———-Nyassi

Tierney———–Barnes———–Gibbs————Osei

———————–Shuttleworth————————-

Subs: Murray, Sinovic, Smith, Colaluca, Schilawski, Dube, Phelan

———————————————————————————————

1′ And we’re off…

4′ Angel and Salou are working well together in the early going.

6′ Richards almost gets on the end of a dangerous Lindpere cross, but he can’t quite corral it.

8′ New York playing a lot of long balls so far.  Not stringing passes together like they do when at the top of their game.

10′ Salou earns the first corner of the night.

15′ Revs are playing very compact and looking to take advantage of counters.

17′ GOAL NY!! Angel frees Richards down the right side, and Dane crushes one of his patented cross goal shots for a 1-0 lead!

21′ Ballouchy lays one back for Richards, but his shot goes over the top.

30′ Richards centers to an onrushing Salou, but he puts it just wide.

32′ Angel, Ballouchy, Lindpere and Marquez are playing some great one-touch soccer right now.

36′ Marquez tees one up, but he puts it well over.

39′ Yellow to Joseph for a foul on Marquez.

45′ 1 minute of stoppage.

HALFTIME: 1-0 Red Bulls on the strength of a Dane Richards goal.

HALFTIME: No changes for either side.

46′ and we’re back…

48′ NE almost equalizes as Bouna loses the ball in the area, but the initial shot is blocked, then cleared out of danger.

60′ Stolica heads one wide off a good chance.

63′ Ballouchy gives it a go from the top of the area, but its well over.

65′ Yellow to Griffiths for a foul on Angel.

67′ Ream does a great job of holding off Stolica.

71′ Yellow to Mansally for a foul on Richards.

74′ Yellow to Hall.

77′ NE sub: Schilawski for Stolica.

78′ Ballouchy’s cross is too high for Angel and it goes out for a throw-in.

80′ NE sub: Phelan for Osei.

81′ Perovic has a wide open look at the top of the area and he balloons it over.

86′ Phelan turns on one, but puts it wide.

87′ Yellow to Marquez.

88′ NY sub: Tchani for Marquez

90′ 5 minutes of stoppage.

90+ GOAL NY!!!! Lindpere cuts it back in the area and finds an open net!!! 2-0 NY!!!!

FULL TIME!!  New York wins 2-0 and clinches the Eastern Conference Regular Season title and home field throughout the playoffs!!