Red Bulls 1, FC Dallas 0

Hunter Freeman continues his stellar run since taking over for Marvell Wynne at right back by blasting home a game-winning goal to give the Red Bulls a 1-0 victory. The goal was actually the first of Freeman's MLS career.

Yes, it's the best start in franchise history and it is getting tougher and tougher to ignore this start.

My game balls go to Freeman, obviously, Dema Kovalenko and pretty much the entire back-line. Who is going to score against these guys?

One thing is pretty clear. You need Clint Mathis playing behind Altidore, or Juan Pablo Angel playing alongside him, to keep defenses from smothering Altidore. Playing tonight's lineup will give you some solid defense but the scoring opportunities will be tough to come by, particularly against the league's better teams.

What do you think of tonight's victory? Post your thoughts below:

Comments

[AndrewK]

Their organization on both ends of the field was stellar. They were airtight in the back, and moving forward they seemed to open up the flanks at will.

[ooo]

This was awesome. How good is this team gonna be with Mathis back, Angel, and Schopp. It's going to be pretty scary for the rest of the league.

[Felix]

The backline is playing solid defense, closing the gaps and holes and limiting touches from opponents star striker and the frontline just has to continue to pressue and score.

[Some Dude]

I was impressed by the midfield the most. Dane Richards did great on the left wing and Reyna and Kovalenko really controlled the tempo of the match. Altidore definitely needs someone up front with him. Hopefully Angel's work visa will come soon.

[ag nigrin]

Last year NYRB had 10 points in June. This year they have it in April and with 0 goals against! All I can say is wow!

[ron Bivona]

As a season ticket holder since league inception, this is the first team I am excited to watch on tv and head out to the swamps for live action. Will area newspapers begin to cover the team more because it is winning or is coverage driven by attendance?

Bruce, Harkes, Agoos and Williams, deserve great credit at this point.

[Steve]

My only beef were the idiotic Wynalda comments... 13 new players for the red bulls and 2 are starters... 2?! Anyhow, never been so happy to dump waibel in favor of freeman for my fantasy, and the assists on the goal were vdb and altidore who I also have, I love how the fate of my team is so largely decided by the bulls. I dumped Waterreus and his shutout streak for a cheaper GK though (Guzan), nuts!

[Randy]

Obviously it's early, but Bruce Arena clearly knows what he's doing. Some coaches can ID talent (see Clavio, F.), some can motivate (see Novak, P.) and some can get their guys to buy into the team concept (see Kinnear, D. and Yallop, F), but Arena is can do it all. He's definitely at the head of the class in MLS coaching.

[Dannyc58]

Stating the obvious, but seeing everyone get back and play defense is awesome. And Freeman had several great crosses again, the kid looks fantanstic.

[AnewRevolution]

Thank god i have Freeman on my fantasy team. What a bargain.

[kpugs]

I agree with the above about fantasy-Freeman.

Gotta love this start. My biggest problem was with Altidore getting the crap knocked out of him with little help. I thought Reyna played well, but I also thought we'd see some of his offensive side. He DOES have one, we have all seen it.

Basically, what Ives said about JPA or Mathis being a necessary ingredient is dead on.

Finally, big ups to the Walrus. This guy has won me over very quickly. I am eating a big fat slice of humble pie for thinking Conway was better. He's not flashy but he straight up keeps the ball out of the old onion bag. (copyright T. Smyth)

[Stone]

NYRB looks very, very good right now. FC Dallas had very few chances before the goal.

Arena has assembled a beautiful blend of players with great personalities blending and playing well together.

Dane Richards looked more comfortable on the ball. How about that run beating Gbandi not once, twice, but it felt like six times in the first half.

DVDB, like Reyna, makes very few mistakes and plays so fluidly. Glad to see he was rewarded with an assist after playing the majority of his crosses dangerously in the box.

The back line had a steady presence throughout the game and did a great job keeping probably the best forward tandem in the league at bay.

Lastly, it was great tactics by NYRB when Richards would pinch in the middle exposing the entire right side for Freeman (Wynne who?). Freemand did very well getting crosses off or earning a corner kick each time he attacked from the right side.

The depth with Angel and Mathis along with a future SI slot (Come DVDB get your Green card already!) makes this team top in the East as long as DC United continues to have defensive problems and Blanco doesn't take off when he comes to the league.

Write it down.

[erik]

agree completely about having someone, pref. clint, tucked in behind jozy. clint in particular, can strike from 30 yards, and teams need to respect that. now the middle is too clogged and the only solution is to work the flanks. hopefully clint can look like he did against dallas in the home opener, would really open up the attack for us.

[PS]

Aliens have abducted the Metrostars and replaced them with a professional soccer team!

[Joamiq]

Hunter Freeman and los Toros Rojos make SportsCenter's Top 10! Wow!

It's only been 4 games, but this somehow doesn't feel real...

[Tim]

Great start to the season. Props to Bruce and the Boys. Bruce appears to be a genious for getting Mathis and Freeman for very little. Agree with Ives as well that a lot will hinge on Angel and Mathis helping Altidore get goals. As Stone wrote, once van Den Bergh gets his green card, it would be great to use the SI slot on either another attacking player or a central defender!

It is nice to see the team manage to put away at least one scoring opportunity the last couple of games. Thank you Freeman!!! Congrats to the team!!!

[Russ]

Ives,

Bruce has them looking good. It will be a hard decision on whom to sit to make way for JPA. Chemistry is tough to break up when its working! A nice problem for Bruce to have, but the team is certainly looking solid in ALL areas.

Russ

[ag nigrin]

DVDB has his green card already! He got it last month...

[Bob]

DVDB and Alty had another decent fantasy game and pretty good games all around. I've been holding off on heaping my praises on New York but they really earned some after that game.

Dallas squandered a few chances but nearly all that game was the Red Bulls attacking. And the few times Dallas got an attack going it was quickly shut down by that stellar backline.

I came into this game a bit jaded as a Fire fan because we're undefeated also but we just haven't won as convincingly as this. Great start to the season and if it keeps up with the full strength roster it should be a great team to watch.

[Nick]

I thought it was a dreadful game, but good teams play in and WIN these types of games sometimes. Metro have the poise and confidence of a champion right now, and looked more confortable than a Dallas team playin in their home stadium. Metro will probably stay undefeated until they meet DC for the first time...

[inkedAG]

I agree with Joamiq. It doesn't seem real. After YEARS of heartbreak and frustration, I suppose I am unaccostomed to the positives. The team's organization was solid last night. The biggest gripe I had with Metro was it would look like 11 knuckleheads on the field instead of 1 team. In these four games, it's a TEAM.

[JHJG89]

We saw Reyna's offensive abilities in the first half against the Crew on opening day.