The Red Bulls continued their unbeaten start to the 2011 season Saturday night, earning a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo at Red Bull Arena. Newly acquired midfielder Dwayne De Rosario marked his debut by assisting on Dane Richards' opening goal, while the Dynamo got the equalizer from Cam Weaver. The Red Bulls, which dominated spells of the game and outshot Houston, 24-9, improved to five points on a 1-0-2 record, while Houston went to 0-1-2 with two points. The visitors provided the first good scoring chance on the night, but Red Bulls goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul, making his first appearance of the season, kept the game scoreless. Dynamo midfielder Geoff Cameron played a give and go with rookie Will Bruin, taking a first-time effort at goal from eight yards out. Coundoul reacted well and made a sprawling save with his outstretched hand, parrying the ball away from goal. The Dynamo again almost opened the scoring, this time being denied by the woodwork in the 24th minute. Houston earned a free kick on the left side of midfield, and Brad Davis swung a cross towards the box. Cameron was the first to the ball, heading it across the box to an open Brian Ching, who one-timed it with his left foot off the crossbar from just outside the six yard box. De Rosario made his Red Bulls debut a day after New York acquired him from Toronto FC. It didn't take long for the five-time MLS Best XI midfielder to make an impact, as he set up Richards for the opening tally just two minutes after the restart. Roy Miller played the ball to De Rosario, who turned and sent a long ball along the ground in space behind the Dynamo defense. Richards collected the ball, dribbled into the box, cut back and fired his shot inside the far post for his first goal of the season. It was De Rosario's first assist as a Red Bull and second of the year. New York's lead would not last long, as the Dynamo equalized the match three minutes after Richards' goal. Bruin flicked a Tally Hall goal kick into open area behind New York's defense. Substitute Cam Weaver raced onto the ball and beat the oncoming Coundoul, flicking it over the reaching goalkeeper and into the vacant net. Thierry Henry nearly opened his account for the year in the 70th minute. Richards floated a ball over the top to De Rosario who, from the right side of the box, played it across goal. The ball met Henry at the far post, but the Frenchman's shot was stopped from point blank range by Hall. The rebound came out to Joel Lindpere, but his shot was blocked by a Houston defender. De Rosario came close to picking up the winning goal in his debut in the 87th minute of the game. Lindpere lofted a left-footed cross into the middle of the penalty area, finding De Rosario. The five-time All-Star redirected the ball with his head, but couldn't keep his effort on frame. The Red Bulls frantically tried to find the winner, pressuring in the final minutes of the game. Hall made a key save on Henry in the 90th minute, pushing a headed effort over the bar off a feed from Juan Agudelo. In stoppage time, Henry tried to play provider, setting up substitute Luke Rodgers, who was denied by Hall on the doorstep. The pressure continued until the last play of the game, as Agudelo crossed to find Roy Miller, who nodded the ball just over the bar from the center of the penalty area. New York next travels to Philadelphia to battle Eastern Conference rival Philadelphia Union, at PPL Park on April 9 at 7:00 PM (TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes; Radio: WADO 1280 AM). The Red Bulls return to Red Bull Arena on Saturday, April 16 taking on the San Jose Earthquakes at 7:30 PM (TV: MSG; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM). For tickets, call 1.877.RBSOCCER or log onto www.newyorkredbulls.com.
