New York Red Bulls Stumble at Home to Real Salt Lake in 3-1 Loss

Harrison, NJ - Real Salt Lake (15-7-6, 51 points) needed only 21 minutes to produce three goals while literally sapping the energy from the New York Red Bulls (7-7-15, 36 points) and home team supporters, the South Ward in their 3-1 road victory at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday night. 

Needing to win their final matches in the regular season, the Red Bulls came out on all cylinders and attempted to attack the net. Unfortunately for the home team, it wasn't enough as Real Salt Lake demonstrated why they're indeed one of the best teams in MLS as they weathered the early Red Bulls onslaught. 

In the seventh minute of the match, Real Salt Lake took a 1-0 lead when Alvaro Saborio scored his ninth goal of the season when he accepted Andy Williams' corner kick to head the ball past Red Bulls GK Frank Rost. 

Four minutes later, Salt Lake took a 2-0 lead when Fabian Espindola intercepted Tim Ream's pass in the penalty area and shaked and baked his way around Frank Rost so he could score his eighth goal of the season at the eleventh minute. With Real Salt Lake leading 2-0, the Red Bulls weren't able to recover and make an attempt to reduce the deficit.

Following the second goal, Red Bull fans vented their frustrations on Rafa Marquez. Each time Marquez touched the ball, he was acknowledged by the chorus of boos heard throughout Red Bull Arena. 

Unfortunately for the Red Bulls, the chorus of boos only seemed to benefit Real Salt Lake as they scored their third and final goal in the 21st minute. Fabian Espindola's second goal of the match was the final nail in the coffin for the Red Bulls.

With the home team down 3-0, this was the first time this season that the South Ward was quiet. On Wednesday night, it South Ward's optimism was replaced with reality as the South Ward's lack of energy and loud chants was noticeable. It was even more evident how they were convinced that the Red Bulls weren't going when they didn't chant "I believe we will win" in the second half.

Desperately hoping to produce a goal, the Red Bulls took seven shots in the second and took three shots on goal. In the 67th minute, the Red Bulls appeared to have scored a goal when Joel Lindpere blasted the ball about 30 yards from the Real Salt Lake net, and sent a left-footed shot that shanked off the underside of the crossbar. Even though the ball had passed the line, the Red Bulls weren't awarded the goal. 

The Red Bulls were finally rewarded for their persistence when Joel Lindpere accepted a pass from Rafa Marquez and floated his kick past Real Salt Lake GK Nick Rimando to reduce the deficit 3-1. 

For the duration of the match, Real Salt Lake coasted towards their fifth consecutive victory. 

With the Portland Timbers, D.C. United and Chivas USA fighting for the final MLS Playoff spot, Wednesday night's loss was one the New York Red Bulls needed to avoid. Adding salt to the wound, the Red Bulls no longer hold the final MLS Playoff spot as the Portland Timbers leapfrogged over the Red Bulls in their 1-1 tie against the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night.

With five matches remaining, the New York Red Bulls' postseason aspirations are currently on life support. With the danger of missing the MLS Playoffs, the Red Bulls will have their opportunity to regain the 10th and final MLS Playoff spot when they face the Portland Timbers on Saturday, September 24th at 7:30PM. 

Other MLS results from Wednesday Night

D.C. United (8-8-11, 35 points) battled Chivas USA (7-12-11, 32 points) to a 2-2 draw at RFK Stadium. 

Before a sold-out crowd of 18,627 at the JELD-WEN Field, Portland Timbers (10-12-7, 37points) and the San Jose Earthquakes (6-11-12, 30 points) competed to a 1-1 draw.  

Cesar Diaz covers Soccer for LatinoSports.com. He also writes for 5 Points Press & USSoccerPlayers.com, your source for American Soccer news brought to you by members of the U.S. National Team. Easily accessible, you may reach Cesar at [e-mail] and at Twitter at @CoveringSoccer.