AFTER three straight defeats, the New York Red Bulls battled to a 1-1 draw away at Real Salt Lake to get their playoff challenge back on track.
Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio had asked his team to ’simply play football’ following three losses in a row.
Playing in front of a sellout crowd in the first ever game at Salt Lake’s new Rio Tinto stadium, the Bulls endured an onslaught to gain a crucial draw.
Real Salt Lake, who sit third in the western conference, are within touching distance of a playoff spot and they attacked the Bulls from the first whistle to the last.
However, the Bulls struck first as Dave Van Den Bergh rifled in a shot on 31 minutes. The raucous home crowd were stunned into silence.
The visitors lead only lasted 10 minutes as Jamison Olave looped a header past Jon Conway on 41 minutes.
The second half opened much like the first, with the Red Bulls forced to defend.
Real Salt Lake created a number of good openings but could find a way past a determined Bulls defence which had been leaking goals of late.
Juan Pietravallo was given a straight red card for an elbowing incident on 83 minutes as the match ended in a draw.
Next up for the Bulls, a tough home game against eastern conference front runners Columbus next Saturday. Real Salt Lake take on FC Dallas at home on the same night as the playoff race hots up.
BY ABDUL KASHIF
Tags: MLS, Real Salt Lake, Red Bulls
