The big RBNY/Union fixture turned out to be a bit of a dull 0-0 draw. Hey, at least we didn't lose. But we didn't stick it to the Bimbos either. The boys from Chester, PA picked up their first ever point @The Cathedral of Football since they joined the League.
After that horror outing in Columbus last weekend, where our boys couldn't string two passes together, it was great to see some great ball movement again. It's really quite too bad that all that great work didn't end with a goal, or two, in the back of the Union net (Brandon Barklage, I bet you'd like to have that one back, eh mate). It wasn't full points, but it's one more in our glorious march towards MLS Cup glory (and, no, I don't really believe it).
The best thing about this game was the play of Ibrahim Sekagya. The massive Ugandan looked a revelation in the middle of our defensive line. An Olave/Sekagya center back tandem would be the best in MLS, if both can perform at the level they showed in this game. Markus Holgersson playing right back was just odd. The big man looked so awkward making runs up the right that I had to question Mr. Petke's judgement on not starting Brandon Barklage instead.
Glad to see Thierry Henry, Tim Cahill and Lloyd Sam back on the pitch after their respective injury problems. Kudos to Luis Robles for saving the point for us and a special thanks to Philly Union forward Antoine Hoppenot for missing an empty netter that would surely have seen all three points travel down I95 on the Union team bus (or on the PATH with Seb LeToux).
Please see the video top for some drunken pre-match comments and predictions. Please see the video bottom for the half-time and post-match comments. Please click here for my photo album (slide show here). For some great pictures you can click here for Matt Kremkau's album, here for Bob Larson's album and here for Juan Pena's album. Mr. Pena also took what is, in my opinion, the RBNY photo of the week ;)
The atmosphere in section 133 (where I stand) was odd. Although the section was packed for this one, the sanctions of no banners and no flags in the section were enforced by RBNY security. Hopefully this whole GSU/FO issue will blow over soon. A big red card to the security guard who wanted to take his security guard credentials off and fight our friend Hector for smoking in the staircase, then ran like the wind when I took out my camera. Someone just wasn't having a good day. And what's w/fireworks in the middle of August? Ha, ha!
That's all for me. I hope to see you all soon @The Cathedral of Football, Red Bull Arena (built by Makita). Hasta La Vista Baby!
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