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Red Bulls to open stadium against Santos 52 minutes ago
SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP)—The Red Bulls will formally open their new stadium on March 20 with an exhibition match against Santos, Pele’s first club.
Red Bull Arena, a $200 million, 25,000-seat stadium, previously had been scheduled to open with a Major League Soccer game against the Chicago Fire on March 27.
Tickets for the game against Santos will be included for full season ticket holders, the Red Bulls said Thursday. The Red Bulls also plan a “soft opening,” but did not go into details
Jamat not so sure Dane will be starting in the coming season , unleass he brings back his 2007-2008 form he will be warming the bench if not traded. the bulls are bringing a few new players this off season , their busiest off season in years . been tracking their doings via metrofanatic . They are also keen on bring back Dave Vandenburg
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It looks like the Red Bull New York will be able to play against Santos team including veteran goalie Fabio Costa, UK returnee Robinho and 17 year old sensation Neymar.
Dane scored in pre-season vs Russian side CSK moscow to give the redbull a tie. and he started today again , seems the new coach is liking him. lets hope this means good for him and the coming season .
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New York wraps up La Manga match schedule unbeaten 02/01/2010 11:20 AMRed Bull New York Media Relations
The Red Bulls defense allowed two goals in three matches in La Manga, Spain. (RBNY) LA MANGA, SPAIN- The New York Red Bulls wrapped up their match schedule at the La Manga Resort in La Manga, Spain with a 2-1 win over Norwegian side, Stromsgodset IF, Monday afternoon. New York, which went ahead through an own goal and a second half strike from trialist Toni Kolehmainen, improved to 2-0-1 during its first preseason trip of the year. Members of the media can get post-game reaction exclusively on the team's Official Blog, Red Bulls Reader, at http://www.redbullsreader.com later today. Red Bulls midfielder Dane Richards continued his torrid form in the preseason by setting up the team's first goal three minutes in. Richards sent in a dangerous cross that Stromsgodset's Alexander Aas tried to clear, but he knocked it into his own net. The Jamaican International has been involved in the first three of New York's preseason goals.
New York forward Juan Pablo Angel nearly made it 2-0 in the 14th minute, when he gathered an Austin da Luz pass and knocked his shot over the bar. Later in the half, Seth Stammler tested Stromsgodset goalkeeper Adam Larsen Kwarasey from 25 yards out and Kwarasey punched it away.
Stromsgodset looked to equalize after halftime and tied the game in the 54th minute. Joel Riddez was able to create space in the middle of the penalty box and slammed a shot past substitute goalkeeper Greg Sutton.
Angel nearly gave the Red Bulls back their lead seven minutes later. After earning a free kick at the top of Stromsgodset's penalty box, Angel curled his shot around the wall. However, a fully-extended Kwarasey was able to parry it away. In the 69th minute, Marcus Pedersen was able to get his header on a Stromsgodset corner and Sutton was there to make the stop.
The Red Bulls tallied the eventual game winner with 14 minutes to play. A Sinisa Ubiparipovic free kick in Stromsgodset's half was cut back into the box by John Agudelo, who was at the back post. Kolehmainen was able to get to it and rifled a shot into the goal's top corner.
Moments later, Riddez's attempt from long range was saved by Sutton. On the other end, Agudelo was given space off an Irving Garcia pass, but he poked his attempt wide. Pedersen was inches away from tying the match six minutes from full time, as his chip over Sutton from a sharp angle knocked off the back post.
New York returns to the United States on Feb. 4. The team plans to travel to Bradenton, FL on Feb. 15 for its second preseason trip before it competes in the Walt Disney Pro Soccer Classic on Feb. 25 and 27. For more information on the team's preseason, log onto http://www.newyorkredbulls.com and http://www.redbullsreader.com.
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Santos unite starlets and icons(FIFA.com) Tuesday 2 February 2010 Print Email my friend Share
A handful of very special players will forever be associated with a particular shirt and number, such as the Argentina No10 of Diego Maradona and the Netherlands No14 worn by Johan Cruyff. At Brazilian club Santos, it is the No10 worn by Pele which boasts mythical status, and has proved both a burden and an inspiration for the players to whom it has covered since the reign of O Rei.
Currently donning the said number at Santos is starlet Paulo Henrique Ganso, though it remains to be seen whether it will be handed to the veteran Giovanni, a club idol who rejoined O Peixe in January. Another jersey that brings a weight of expectation at the Vila Belmiro is the No7 once worn by Robinho, who shone for Santos before joining first Real Madrid and then Manchester City, with the latter letting their record signing return to Brazil on loan in the transfer window just closed.
Symbolically handed the Santos shirt by Pele himself when unveiled to the faithful on Monday, Robinho reclaims his preferred number from 17-year-old Neymar, one of Brazilian football’s hottest properties. “I’m happy to give it back to him, it’s always been his,” said the youngster, who has been in fine form in this year’s Campeonato Paulista.
With Robinho and Giovanni coming back, it’s going to be crazy. That’s why I can’t wait for us to start taking defences apart.Santos youngster Neymar
“I think that bringing these players together is a big deal, because they're all club greats, they’re known around the world and they’ve got plenty of things still to achieve in their careers,” said coach Dorival Junior, appointed after leading Vasco da Gama to the Serie B title in 2009, of a squad now featuring Santos superstars spanning three separate eras.
The long wait Turning first to attacking midfielder Giovanni, whose presence brings back memories of a pivotal 1990s period for Santos, when the club finally began to ease the pressure of following in the footsteps of Pele and Co’s all-conquering side of the 1960s.
The Paraense native, now 37, was part of the Peixe squad which finished runners-up in the 1995 Brasileirao, just missing out against Botafogo in the title decider. That team will long live in the memory of Santos supporters, notably for their spectacular fightback after a 4-1 first-leg reverse away to Fluminense in their semi-final.
Winning 2-0 at half-time in the return, Giovanni and his team-mates decided to stay on the field during the interval, a move which fired up the Santos fans packing Sao Paulo’s Estadio Pacaembu. A 5-2 victory, featuring a stunning strike from the midfield creator, followed to level the aggregate scores and earn Santos a place in the final thanks to their superior regular-season record, with the player moving to Catalan giants Barcelona the following year.
That was as good as it got in the Brasileirao for O Peixe until a remarkable 2002 campaign, when the team only qualified for the championship play-offs thanks to an improbable series of results in the final round of regular-season fixtures. Featuring current Brazil internationals Diego, Elano and of course Robinho, Santos stormed through the final phase before downing Corinthians in the two-legged decider.
Santos repeated their Brasileirao triumph in 2004, with Robinho and Elano still on board, before adding the 2006 and 2007 Campeonato Paulista to their silverware collection. Yet pickings have been slim since and, with regional foes Sao Paulo enjoying trophies galore between 2005 and 2009 and Corinthians spending big in a centenary year title push, Santos are desperate for some headlines of their own.
The class of 2010 The club laid promising foundations for future success with the emergence in 2009 of forward Neymar, touted as Robinho’s successor from the age of 13, and midfielder Paulo Henrique, recommended to Santos by Giovanni himself. The pair last year showed flashes of genuine match-winning ability at first-team level, earning their inclusions in Brazil’s squads for the FIFA U-17 World Cup and FIFA U-20 World Cup respectively.
“I’d imagined playing alongside him one day for Brazil or for a foreign club. That’s why playing alongside him here at Santos is a dream come true not just for me, but for all the players at the club,” said a thrilled Neymar on new team-mate Robinho. Meanwhile respected coach Emerson Leao, who guided Santos to that Brasileirao 2002 triumph, believes that “at times Robinho now looks like a better, more modern player”.
Tasked with making room for the big-name arrivals is Dorival Junior, who had favoured a 4-4-2 system featuring two holding midfielders, Paulo Henrique and Marquinhos in attacking-midfield roles and a front two of Neymar and Andre. Granted breathing space by Giovanni’s lack of match fitness and the fact that Robinho has only trained once so far with his new colleagues, the coach must still be wary of sending out a top-heavy team.
However, young Neymar has no such worries: “With Robinho and Giovanni both coming back, it’s going to be crazy. That’s why I can’t wait for us to play together and start taking defences apart.”
Whatever happens, 2010 is sure to provide plenty of thrills and spills for followers of one of Brazil’s best-known clubs.
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Neymar shines in Santos win
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -Santos' sensational 17-year-old striker Neymar put on a dazzling show with one goal and setting up another in a 2-1 win over Santo Andre on Thursday.
The victory lifted Santos atop the Sao Paulo state tournament.
Neymar whet fans' appetites for the debut of Robinho, who was likely to play this weekend against rival Sao Paulo while on loan from Manchester City.
In the 25th minute, Neymar took a pass just outside the area, deftly dribbled around three defenders and needled a brilliant score between the feet of two more competitors.
"Really I only finished a rapid counterattack that began on our defensive side,'' Neymar said. "I've got to share the merits with the entire team.''
Santo Andre regained its composure, however, coming back in the 39th when striker Rodriguinho headed home a cross from Carlinhos.
Neymar struck back in the 64th by dribbling past two defenders on a counterattack. Just as more players closed in on him, the striker flicked the ball from the top of the area to Ganso, just in front of goal on the left side, and he easily tapped in to seal the win.
In other Sao Paulo matches, Palmeiras drew with Portuguesa 1-1; Bragantino got by Rio Branco 4-3; and Mirassol beat Mogi Mirim, 1-0.
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Robinho confirmed for RBNY-Santos match Neymar, Giovani and Fabio Costa also confirmed to play in the Red Bull Arena Grand Opening 02/25/2010 11:19 PM Red Bull New York Media Relations
Robinho has been confirmed to travel with Santos for the Red Bull Arena Grand Opening match. (Associated Press) Related
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SECAUCUS, NJ- The New York Red Bulls and Santos F.C. confirmed today that Santos forward Robinho will travel with the club to participate in the March 20th Red Bull Arena Grand Opening match between the two clubs. Also confirmed to travel with the team are Neymar, Giovani and Fabio Costa and 14 other senior roster players.
"We are excited that Robinho, one of the world's top players, will travel to New York to face the Red Bulls for our Grand Opening match," said Red Bull New York Sporting Director and General Manager Erik Soler. "Santos is an outstanding club and we look forward to great competition as we open our new stadium."
"Santos Football Club continues to follow their pattern of being part of stadiums Grand Opening events throughout the world," said Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro president of the Santos F.C. "We are very thankful for the invitation made by the Red Bulls, for it is a great honor to our Club. We are very happy in being able to show the talent of our athletes, including Robinho, in the United Sates, a place where other Santos athletes have also shined."
After Red Bull Arena's Grand Opening against legendary Brazilian club, Santos, on March 20, the Red Bulls kick off their 2010 MLS Regular Season at Red Bull Arena on March 27, when they host the Chicago Fire at 7:00 PM ET (TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes). Full Season Ticket Plans for the New York Red Bulls' first season at Red Bull Arena, in Harrison, NJ, are on sale now. Individual tickets for the Santos F.C. and Chicago Fire on March 20 and March 27 are also available. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 1.877.RBSOCCER or log onto http://www.newyorkredbulls.com.
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World-class arena awaits Red Bulls Story Highlights Red Bull Arena is the most advanced soccer-only facility in Western Hemisphere The $200 million arena is easy to get to and full of nearby food-and-drink options The Red Bulls will open the stadium on March 20 against a Brazilian club team
HARRISON, N.J. -- It's easy to exaggerate the importance of sports stadiums. The coverage of the new Dallas Cowboys stadium last year made it seem as though Jerry Jones had commissioned a modern-day version of the Egyptian pyramids instead of, you know, a really big place to watch football, eat wings and get lit on a Sunday night.
But after touring Red Bull Arena, the new $200 million-plus home of Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls, I'm a little breathless myself. In the year 2010, the most advanced, state-of-the-art soccer stadium in the Western Hemisphere (at least until Chivas de Guadalajara's futuristic "volcano" stadium gets finished) is a couple of convenient PATH train stops from the epicenter of New York City.
And the key phrase is "soccer stadium." Unlike so many other MLS buildings, which have a stage at one end and double as concert venues, Red Bull Arena is built for f�tbol. Not one of the 25,000 seats -- and they're all seats; no benches here -- has a bad view. The front row is a mere 21 feet from the sidelines and 27 feet from the endlines, the better for Juan Pablo �ngel to make a quick run and Lambeau Leap over the short retaining wall after scoring a goal.
Red Bull has gotten plenty of criticism for producing a woeful soccer team in recent years, but the Austrian-based company got everything right in its new building, which is modeled after the W�rthersee Stadium in Klagenfurt, one of the Austrian host stadiums for Euro 2008. After taking over the project entirely from AEG during the development process, Red Bull made several soccer-friendly design changes, removing the planned stage, choosing a grass surface over FieldTurf, opting for a full wraparound roof, reducing the number of luxury suites by nearly half and adding more seats for real fans.
"We wanted to make the building be for the soccer fan," said Red Bulls VP Andy McGowan, who wouldn't let a snowstorm prevent us from touring the facility last Friday.
It is a truly edifying edifice in a number of ways:
• Location. Giants Stadium was always a hassle to reach for soccer games. If you lived in Manhattan, you had to take either your car, an expensive car service or a bus from the Port Authority bus terminal. Red Bull Arena, by contrast, is reached easily by public transport. The Newark Amtrak station and Harrison PATH stop are a stone's throw away, which will make attending games easier not just for fans in the tristate area but also rival supporters from Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Boston.
• Hip surroundings. There are also plenty of good food-and-drink spots for before and after the game. The famous Ironbound District is close by with its Portuguese and Brazilian restaurants and churrascarias. (Bus service from the Ironbound to the stadium is free with a game ticket.) A six-square-block redevelopment project is underway right next to the stadium and will feature restaurants, retail stores and condominiums. And the stadium itself features a cool-looking restaurant/bar called the Bulls Corner, an all-you-can-eat buffet in the club level and full catering for those willing to plunk down $65,000 to $70,000 for a 17- to 22-seat skybox.
• The little things. There are two huge HD video boards. The aluminum stands will make the place loud, as opposed to the dead atmosphere of soccer games at Giants Stadium. The grass field has a hot-water system underground that keeps the roots warm and a drainage vacuum for dealing with heavy rainfall. The section for hardcores is still called Section 101, a nod to the team's best fans. The players will enter the stadium from a dramatic midfield tunnel. And there is space for five locker rooms (the Red Bulls won't have to move out of theirs, even for an international doubleheader), an indoor warm-up room and a 4,200-square-foot media work room. I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that there are 100 press seats at midfield in the lower bowl -- a stunning decision in a league that often puts the press box in a broom closet off in the corner.
Red Bull Arena is scheduled to open on March 20 with a friendly against Santos, the Brazilian club of Pel� and (these days) Robinho, but two big questions remain. One, will the MLS players decide to go on strike? (The league's collective bargaining agreement expired last week.) And will the Red Bulls have a team that's good enough to match the hype of their new stadium? Coach Hans Backe has been hired to turn around a side that finished with the worst record in MLS last year, and hoped-for signing Thierry Henry wouldn't be able to join the team until after the World Cup or, more likely, in 2011 (if he signs at all).
If and when that happens, a world-class player will find his new home is a world-class facility, the kind that tells you MLS is here to stay.
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Individual tix for Santos match sold out Limited amount of full season and eight game ticket plans still available with access to Red Bull/Santos match 03/13/2010 9:14 PM Red Bull New York Media Relations There are an extremely limited amount of tickets available for full and half season plans. There are an extremely limited amount of tickets available for full and half season plans. (RBNY) Related
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SECAUCUS, NJ- Red Bull New York announced today that individual tickets for the Red Bull Arena Grand Opening event featuring the New York Red Bulls and Santos FC on March 20 at 6:00 PM ET (TV: MSG) are sold out. An extremely limited amount of seats are still available for fans who wish to purchase Red Bulls Full Season or Eight Game Ticket Plans. The Santos FC match is included with all Full Season Plans.
Tickets are also going fast for the Red Bulls' MLS Home Opener, when New York takes on the Chicago Fire on March 27 at 7:00 PM (TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes). Fans can purchase tickets by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or logging onto http://www.newyorkredbulls.com.
Fans attending the Grand Opening are encouraged to arrive well before kickoff to enjoy the pre-game festivities hosted by the Red Bulls and avoid congestion in the area. Starting at 3:00 PM, the Red Bulls will close off 6th Street in front of Red Bull Arena and their Interactive Zone - a start-of-the-art soccer playground for fans of all ages - will open.
Some of the events the club will host in the lead-up to the match include live DJs set, musical performers and Brazilian Capoeira dance groups. In addition, the Red Bulls will have many more surprises for fans who attend the match.
Fans can head to http://www.redbullarena.us for more information regarding transportation to Red Bull Arena.
The Red Bulls kick off their first season at the 25,000-seat Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ, a facility that is the top soccer-specific stadium in North America. Full Season Ticket Plans for the New York Red Bulls' first season at Red Bull Arena are on sale now. Midfield seats in the 100-Level and sideline sections 107, 112, 124 and 128 are all sold out, but good seats are still available. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 1.877.RBSOCCER or log onto http://www.newyorkredbulls.com.
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The game will be played without its two brightest attacking players. Santos will be missing Robinho, out with a thigh injury; he’ll join the Red Bulls’ Juan Pablo Angel on the sidelines -- Angel is also out, with a knee injury
Dane Richards looked improved tonight , seems like the new coach is already teaching him how to improve his game. he does not just get the ball and run wild like he useto , he's now a more seasoned and composed winger . Scored a Memorable goal to cap off his good performance tonight . well taken long strike actually .
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Red Bulls open new home in style with win New York tops Brazil's Santos 3-1 in Red Bull Arena debut 03/20/2010 9:02 PM By Kristian Dyer / MLSsoccer.com Joel Linpere scored the first-ever goal at Red Bull Arena on Saturday night. Joel Linpere scored the first-ever goal at Red Bull Arena on Saturday night. (Getty) Related
* WATCH: Lindpere scores first-ever RBA goal * WATCH: Petke scores * WATCH: Richards makes it 3-0 * Secure your 2010 MLS season tickets * Visit Red Bull Arena
HARRISON, N.J. -- Even the early-afternoon announcement that Major League Soccer and the player's union had agreed on a deal to a new five-year collective bargaining agreement couldn't overshadow the buzz Saturday night outside the Red Bulls' new home.
As fans milled around outside the newest Mecca of soccer in the U.S., a 14-year pilgrimage which began in Giants Stadium ended with the Red Bulls making themselves at home from the opening whistle in the sparkling $200 million Red Bull Arena.
The Red Bulls dominated play for long stretches in front of a sold-out crowd to christen their new stadium, culminating with a 3-1 win over Brazilian squad Santos in the stadium's opening match.
The Red Bulls will open league play in their new home against the Chicago Fire on March 27.
"Tonight was a special night," said veteran defender Mike Petke, who scored the second of the hosts' three-goal outburst in the first half. "But the season starts next week."
Both teams struggled with footing on the sod, which beaten up the last week by torrential rain just a handful of days before the stadium's opener.
In the 10th minute, however, the Red Bulls opened the seal on the stadium thanks to Joel Lindpere. The Estonian international one-timed a rebound off his own direct kick just outside the penalty box for the club's first goal and an early 1-0 lead.
Petke got on the board in the 43rd minute, when he finished off a scramble that started with a corner kick from the newly acquired Carl Robinson. The former Toronto FC midfielder sailed his corner ball to a streaking Tim Ream, who headed the ball to Petke before the captain pounded it home for a 2-0 lead.
The hosts finished off the half with a brilliant strike from the top of the box from an on-rushing Dane Richards. Mac Kandji picked up the assist on Richards' goal after Sinisia Ubiparipovic streaked up the left side and found Kandji open in the attacking third.
The second half inevitably turned into the Bouna Coundoul show, with the athletic goalkeeper making two sprawling saves within a minute of each other in the opening 10 minutes.
"If the defense plays like that every week, I won't complain at all," Coundoul said.
A late goal in stoppage time by Santos' Germano failed to derail the evening for the Red Bulls, who savored the night as a seminal moment for the franchise.
As substitutes worked their way into the field in the second half, the Red Bulls' play hardly suffered. At one point in the half as the Red Bulls kept possession, the yellow-clad Brazilian fans began the chant of "Olé" as the home side almost effortlessly kept possession.
"It was a sign that we were playing well," Richards said. "Hopefully, they all come back."
If Saturday's deal between MLS and the players' union is any indication, they will. The two sides came to an agreement on the Collective Bargaining Agreement that will avoid a work stoppage before Thursday's season opener, meaning the 2010 season will continue as scheduled.
