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Altidore returns from prom and scores in first minute

May 25, 2007 - 2:49 AM EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The whistle blew and the New York Red Bulls scored in the blink of a eye en route to a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Fire on Thursday.

Teenage phenom Jozy Altidore started the running of the Red Bulls on his first shot on goal.

Altidore took a pass from teammate Clint Mathis inside the goalbox and blasted a 12-yard rocket past the outstretched arms of Chicago Fire goalkeeper Matt Pickens 54 seconds into the game.

"I didn't know it was that fast," Altidore said. "I just saw an opening and saw a open space and took the pass from Clint and shot a good shot for a goal. It's awesome to score that early in the game."

Altidore, who has three goals this season, was excused from last week's 4-0 win over Columbus Crew so he could attend his senior prom in Florida. This Saturday Altidore will be graduating from Edison Academic Center in Brandenton, Florida. The goal was the fastest goal scored in New York franchise history.

With fans still walking into Giants Stadium on a beautiful night to get into their seats after missing the quick goal in the first minute, the Red Bulls struck again two minutes later on a miscue by the Fire defense.

Juan Pablo Angel took advantage of Fire defender Jim Curtin's bad header from a crossing pass from Angel's teammate Dane Richards.

Angel took the loose ball and shot a soft liner from six yards into the left corner beating Pickens.

The two goals scored by the Red Bulls tied a league record with DC United and LA Galaxy for the fastest two goals scored in the early minutes.

"I'm not really sure what happened on the two quick goals," Fire coach Dave Sarachan said. It could have been a missed assignment or just leaving an open space to get the shots off."

Angel, playing in his third MLS game since coming over from Aston Villa in the English Premier League, connected for his second goal of the game in the 68th minute.

"The start of the game was fabolous," Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena said. "The goals were nice and classy. The first one was big to give us the early two-goal lead and the second one was sweet, because he showed composure and scored with a defender in front of him."

Hanging out in the goal area, Angel took a back-heal pass from teammate Seth Stammler and juked Fire defender Chris Armas on a quick dribble to the left and shot a dribbler under the arms on Pickens.

"For every goal I score is good and if we keep winning is good," Angel said. "Scoring two goals tonight was nice. I'm getting adjusted with the team and players and once we have a full squad a lot of good things can happen."

The Red Bulls were without former US National star and midfielder Claudio Reyna, who missed his third straight game and fourth of the season with a nagging right groin strain.

Angel, who has struck gold with the Red Bulls by scoring fourth goal in three games, was named MLS Player of the week last week.

The Fire (3-4-1), who started the season going 3-0-1, have lost four straight. During the streak, they have been outscored, 11-3.

"It has been a tough stretch for us and the way to get back is to start stopping the opponents from scoring and getting ourselves chances to score," Sarachan said. "We just ain't stopping nobody right now."

The Red Bulls (5-1-2) are tied for first with the New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference. This is their sixth shutout in eight games and they have given up the fewest goal in the league with four in eight games. This is also the second straight shutout with Jon Conway in net. Conway had 10 saves.

"We weathered the storm, we slowed down every attack and the defense collapsed on there chances to score, because the most dangerous part of this game is a 2-0 lead and to hold it up for 87 minutes was good," Conway said.