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Sounders-Red Bulls Preview

May 14, 2010 - 4:22 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Seattle (2-3-3) at New York (5-2-0), 7:30 p.m. EDT

The Seattle Sounders and New York Red Bulls are hoping to rebound from their most lopsided defeats of the season. The Red Bulls will try to do so to increase their lead in the Eastern Conference, while the Sounders are looking to pull out of last place in the West.

Seattle will try to end a four-game winless streak and even the season series with New York on Saturday night at Red Bull Arena.

The Sounders (2-3-3) and Red Bulls (5-2-0) both suffered 4-0 losses last Saturday. For Seattle, the home loss to conference-leading Los Angeles was the most lopsided defeat in franchise history, prompting the organization to issue refunds to season ticket holders.

"That wasn't Sounders soccer," general manager Adrian Hanauer said. "It was quite frankly embarrassing, humiliating, and they don't deserve that."

The Sounders, considered MLS Cup contenders entering 2010, are at the bottom of the conference, but a win over the Red Bulls could vault them into a tie with fourth-place San Jose.

"When you make mistakes, you suffer for them," midfielder Freddie Ljungberg said of the team's play during an 0-2-2 stretch. "We need to cut out those mistakes if we want to start winning."

Those mistakes are part of the reason Seattle has been outscored 7-1 in the last three games. The team also fell 1-0 to New York at home on April 3 due to a defensive miscue.

In an effort to bolster its defense, Seattle signed Jeff Parke on Thursday, more than a year after it selected the defender in the 2009 expansion draft.

Parke played 132 games with New York from 2004-08, but his status for his first meeting with his former club is in question due to receipt of his International Transfer Certificate. The paperwork stems from the Pennsylvania native playing last season with Vancouver of the USL instead of signing with the Sounders.

Fredy Montero, who has three goals in three matches against the Red Bulls, will try to end a three-game goal drought. The forward has two goals in eight games this season after leading the Sounders with 12 last year to earn the MLS Newcomer of the Year Award.

The Red Bulls fell 4-0 at San Jose last weekend after allowing only four goals over the previous six games. Each of the tallies came after defender Luke Sassano was issued a red card for a tackle on the Earthquakes' Bobby Convey in the 13th minute.

A lineup comprised of reserves tried to help New York create some momentum Wednesday, as the team stepped out of league play to beat New England 3-0 in the U.S. Open Cup.

The Red Bulls have outscored opponents 10-3 in winning all five games at their new stadium across all competitions.

Juan Pablo Angel, who has only been used in MLS play, has three of his team-leading four goals in three games at Red Bull Arena. The forward had a goal in a 1-all tie with Seattle in the last home meeting on June 20.