New York Red Bulls Win Season Opener

Red Bull New York's 18 year-old super striker Juan Agudelo finds back of the net in the 70th minute to lift the Red Bulls over the Seattle Sounders in the opening match of the 2011 season. Agudelo was played a ball down the middle of the field by Teemu Tainio and then shouldered away a Sounders defender before slotting the ball with the outside of his right foot past Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

Beginning in the first several minutes of the game, the Red Bulls were off to a great start with many good chances to score and most of the possession for the first half. In the 8th minute, Juan Agudelo was played into the box where he attempted to turn the ball but was taken down by Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, which resulted in the official pointing to the spot for a penalty kick. Thierry Henry stepped up to take the penalty however former US international keeper Kasey Keller made a great save on the shot that went to his right. The Red Bulls saw several other good opportunities to score, however could not manage to put the ball in the back of the net before the half. Seattle could be considered lucky to have made it to half-time in the Red Bull Arena in a scoreless game.

New York came out in the second half more focused on the attack and it was obvious that the Sounders would have been more than happy with a single point against the Red Bulls. It was just a matter of time before Kasey Keller would be beaten and then it was a pretty easy final twenty minutes for the Red Bulls to hold on to the 1:0 lead.

Red Bull New York started with the following line-up:

Sutton

Marquez - Ream - Miller

Solli - Richards [Borman (93)] - Ballouchy [Tchani (68)] - Tainio (A) - Lindpere

Henry - Agudelo (G)