No one in MLS has ever scored this much, this quickly, but the way the Red Bulls play defense, Juan Pablo Angel’s heroics are barely enough.
Angel salvaged a 3-3 tie for the Red Bulls last night at Giants Stadium against the Kansas City Wizards, converting a 90th-minute penalty for his second of the game and record ninth in his first seven league matches.
“It’s been a very hectic start for me,” Angel said. “I’m happy to help the team, but we know we have to do better.”
The 31-year-old Colombian transfer from Aston Villa is tied for the league goal-scoring lead, and in his next match June 30 in Columbus, can match MLS’ all-time goal-streak record of seven games.
“I never set myself targets. I just want to keep going,” Angel said. “We’d like to win something here and make some history with this club.”
“He’s doing well,” coach Bruce Arena said, “and I think we can help him out a little more.”
Angel’s been doing the helping, last night keeping the Red Bulls remain atop the Eastern Conference after they blew a two-goal lead. They’ve allowed 11 goals in winning only once (1-2-1) in their last four.
“It was not a well-played game on our part, for sure,” Arena said. “We lost the ball too easily, our midfield marking was poor.
The reigning MLS player of the month, Angel opened the night with a beautiful fallaway header from the left side of the six-yard box, six minutes in. Clint Mathis made it 2-0 for the Red Bulls in the 15th, tying Giovanni Savarese’s franchise all-competition record of 44 goals.
But it started coming apart just before halftime. KC’s Kerry Zavagnin hit the high right corner from 25 yards, straight out, in the 43rd. Then second-half sub Yura Movsisyan scored twice, before Angel provided the final heroics.
Red Bulls 3 Wizards 3