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| Lenhart powered SJ to a draw vs NY. Photo Credit: Fox Sports |
The Red Bulls were 5 minutes away from reaching the .500 mark until Steven Lenhart bulleted home a shot past a diving Luis Robles into the right corner of the net tying the match at 1-1, a mark at which the game would end with vs. San Jose.
By: Sunil Sunderraj
A poor header clearing attempt by Eric Alexander dropped into the possession of Tommy Muller who fed Lenhart in the centre of the box for the tying goal. New York came close to breaking the deadlock in the 88th minute but Lloyd Sam’s rebound shot was cleared off the goal line.
New York jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute off a snap shot penalty kick by Bradley Wright-Phillips which was his league leading 17th goal of the season into the right corner of the goal net. As players jumped in the air off a crossing pass the ball deflected off Lenhart’s arm leading to the penalty shot.
San Jose certainly did not resemble a 4-8-4 squad that sat in the cellar of the Western Conference in the first half.
At the three minute mark, Chris Wondolowski’s chip shot from close range was nabbed by a diving Robles. Wondowlowski had another opportunity from close range at the six minute mark but Jamison Olavbe blocked the ball.
In the 16th minute, off a pass from Lenhart to Yannick Djalo who rifled a right footed shot from outside the box that forced Robles to make a diving save on a ball headed for the bottom right corner of the net.
The Red Bulls had a couple of chances of their own as in the 27th minute as Wright-Phillips back legged kick missed wide right of the net.
In the 30th minute, Thierry Henry’s nifty behind the leg pass to Wright-Phillps led to a chip shot that was kicked away at the goal line by Jason Hernandez. Robles came up big again in the 40th minute making a fantastic one handed save off a Lenhart header in the box.
New York continued to press the action in the second half. Two minutes in, Sam streaked to the end line before lofting a pass to Wright-Phillips who right chopped a kick just narrowly missing the right corner of the goal net.
In the 55th minute the Red Bulls were inches away from extending their lead as Alexander’s shot missed left of the net.
The Earthquakes responded off a spin around move in the 80th minute Wondowlowski left missile was stopped by Robles who dived ranging to his left.
The Red Bulls next match is a friendly on Saturday July at Red Bull Arena against Arsenal starting at 5:00 p.m. 