Red Bull New York were held to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the New England Revolution. Despite having the better of the run of play throughout the match and especially in the first half, Bruce Arena’s boys were unable to break down the Revs defensive scheme. Arena had started this match with what for him is a very adventurous formation that included three strikers in Juan Pablo Angel, Francis Doe and Josmer Altidore. At times during the first half it really looked as if this this attacking formation would pay off but things remained deadlocked heading into the break.

Arena tried to shake things up midway through the second half when he sent on Sinisa Ubiparipovic in place of Francis Doe. While Doe is certainly the more powerful and faster striker, Ubiparipovic has the better long range shot and the New York manager was obviously looking for any sort of inspiration. Steve Nicol’s side continued to play a defensive style in hopes of being able to spring into attack once Steve Ralston came into contact with the ball. Upfront, Taylor Twellman had been the main target man for the visitor’s all night long and wound up taking 6 of his club’s 8 shots at the net.

The result means that Red Bull will now have to win at Gillette Stadium which has  been a house of horrors for them in the past. They were winless against New England during the 2007 regular season. If they are unable to pull out the victory in the return leg later this week it will mark the 3^rd time since 2003 that the Revs have knocked them out of the playoffs in the first round.

Here are some Related Links: