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Stammler's goal lifts Red Bulls past Chivas USA

Jun 6, 2010 - 4:19 AM HARRISON, N.J.(AP) -- Seth Stammler scored in the 27th minute and the New York Red Bulls went into the World Cup break with their second consecutive win, 1-0 over Chivas USA.

Stammler scored his second goal of the season after the Chivas defense cleared the ball out about 30 yards in front of the goal. Stammler fired a low shot that easily beat diving goalkeeper Dan Kennedy to right post.

"I was fortunate it got through all the traffic in front," Stammler said. "I got a nice touch with my right (natural) foot. My left foot's on fire right now. It popped right out to me, and I thought at worst the goalkeeper would give up a rebound that somebody could put in."

The Red Bulls (7-5-0) appeared to have a second goal in the 81st minute as leading-scorer Juan Pablo Angel slid into a crossing pass from Joel Lindpere, but the goal was disallowed as the officials ruled Angel offside.

Aside from Stammler's goal, this was a defensive battle that Red Bulls coach Hans Backe admitted was a subpar effort. He indicated a schedule that had New York playing 12 games in 42 days had sapped his team of energy, especially the strikers and midfielders.

"It wasn't pretty, that's for sure," Backe said. "We defended well, but we couldn't get the ball up the field."

The win put the Red Bulls in a first-place tie in the Eastern Conference with Columbus, which lost 1-0 at Colorado. New York now has 21 points, six more than they recorded all last year in MLS play.

Chivas USA (3-8-1) remained in last place of the Western Conference.

"We tried, but in the end New York got the win. They fought hard," midfielder Blair Gavin said.

Both teams stopped several threats in close. Chivas nearly scored early in the first half when midfielder Ben Zemanski's shot hit the crossbar behind Red Bulls goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul.

Coundoul made several strong saves in the second half, juggling one before gathering it in away from the goalmouth. Defender Tim Ream also broke up a point-blank chance by Chivas' Carlos Borja in the 48th minute when he stepped in front of an open goal and cleared the ball before Borja got the shot off.

"Bouna did a good job to redirect him, actually," Ream said. "I knew he couldn't get a second touch, so I stepped up and put my foot in there and blocked it. That would have changed the game completely at that point."

The Red Bulls put their ninth player on the injury list when midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic suffered a left hamstring strain in the first half.

"We've got 10 days now," Ubiparipovic said. "I'll get some rest and come back. I don't think it's that bad."