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Penalty shot gives Red Bulls tie instead of loss

Jun 17, 2007 - 3:37 AM EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Juan Pablo Angel scored on a penalty kick in the 90th minute to secure a 3-3 draw for the New York Red Bulls against the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday.

The tally was Angel's second goal of the game and it kept the Wizards winless at Giants Stadium since April 19, 2000. In 10 matches since, Kansas City is 0-4-6 here.

The Red Bulls (6-3-3) averted their fourth loss in five games after referee Abiondun Okulaja awarded a penalty kick after Jose Burciaga Jr. took down New York striker John Wolyniec in the penalty area.

"I didn't see the call at the end of the game," Wizards coach Curt Onalfo said. "It's unfortunate. It didn't seem to me (Burciaga) ut a whole lot of body on Wolyniec, but that's life. We walk away from New York against a very good team with a point and we look forward to our next game."

Angel, the Colombian international who came over from Aston Villa of the English Premiership, capitalized on the penalty by beating Wizards goaltender Kevin Hartman to the right corner of the net.

It was the ninth goal of the season for Angel, tying him for the league lead with Kansas City's Eddie Johnson, who was not in the lineup because he is playing for the United States in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

"I think it's been very hectic start for me. I'm happy to help the team with my bit," said Angel, who has scored an MLS-record nine goals in seven games. "If my team wins and I don't score, I will take it any day and I would rather get a point than nothing at all."

It was a disappointing tie for the Wizards (6-2-2), who had rallied from an early two-goal deficit to take a 3-2 lead in the 79th minute on Yura Movsisyan's second goal of the game.

Angel's eighth goal of the season and Clint Mathis' fifth tally gave the Red Bulls a 2-0 lead just 15 minutes into the game. However, the Wizards responded with three unanswered goals.

Kerry Zavagnin beat goaltender Ronald Waterreus in the 43rd minute to cut the lead to one heading into halftime. The Wizards knotted the game in the 70th minute on Movsisyan's second goal of the season.

"It always feel good coming off the bench to help your team win a game and scoring two goals and giving my team the lead," Movsisyan said. "I thought we had the win, but the late call was unlucky for us. That's the breaks of the game but we are happy to come away with a tie."

Red Bulls captain and former U.S. national team member Claudio Reyna said the team backed off a bit after gaining the early edge.

"We defended too much and let them back in the game," he said. "That happens when you get out to a quick lead."

The Red Bulls lead the all-time series between the teams, 7-2-6.

A year ago, the Red Bulls won the season series, winning both games at Giants Stadium while playing to draws in both games at Arrowhead Stadium.

The teams met on the final day of the season with the winner securing a place in the MLS Cup playoffs - New York claimed the fourth spot from the Eastern Conference behind Amado Guevara's hat trick.