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Red Bulls look for first win vs. Real Salt Lake

Apr 17, 2009 - 9:10 PM By Nicolino DiBenedetto Stats Writer

Real Salt Lake (2-1-0) at New York (0-2-2), 7:30 p.m. EDT

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AP) -- The New York Red Bulls' improbable run to their first MLS Cup final appearance came at the expense of Real Salt Lake. The Red Bulls haven't won since.

New York looks to snap a season-opening four-game winless streak when it hosts Salt Lake on Saturday night.

The Red Bulls' last victory was 1-0 over Salt Lake in the Western Conference final Nov. 15, one that followed a stunning 4-1 aggregate win over reigning two-time MLS Cup champion Houston in the first round of the playoffs. New York's run, though, ended with a 3-1 loss to Columbus in the league final.

The Red Bulls (0-2-2) have failed to carry that success into 2009, producing a league-low one goal while allowing five. Their only score came on an own goal by New England's Jay Heaps in a 1-all tie at Giants Stadium on March 28.

The Red Bulls haven't gone winless in five games to start a season since they opened 0-1-5 in 2006.

New York failed to find the back of the net for a second consecutive game last Saturday, playing to a scoreless tie at Houston in a spirited match that featured six combined yellow cards and one red card apiece.

"We have a lot of young players who are still adapting to the game," Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel said.

Angel is looking for his first goal after netting 33 in 47 games over the past two seasons. He found the back of the net in the Bulls' last home meeting with RSL, a 2-1 victory Sept. 13.

New York is 2-0-6 all-time against Salt Lake, taking last season's series 1-0-1.

Real (2-1-0) is looking to win a third consecutive game after beating D.C. 2-1 last Saturday, but the team is still stinging from its loss to the Red Bulls in November.

"I have some ill feelings when I think back to that game," RSL coach Jason Kreis told the team's official Web site. "Definitely, I have a sore spot in my stomach when I think of that game and I hope the rest of the group does as well."

Robbie Findley has been a big reason for Real's recent success with three goals and two assists in the last two games. The speedy forward assisted on both goals against United after netting the team's first-ever hat trick in a 4-1 win over Columbus on April 2.

"It's just quality finishing - that's mainly what we've been lacking (in the past)," Real's Yura Movsisyan said. "This year everybody is refocused, re-energized and ready to get at it."

Movsisyan, though, has failed to convert on 12 shots - six on goal - through three games after emerging as RSL's top scoring threat with a career-high seven goals last year.

The forward will likely partner Findley up top again as they look to test Red Bulls goalkeeper Jon Conway, who's expected to make his first start since a 1-all tie at Salt Lake on Oct. 9.

After that contest, Conway was suspended 10 games for taking a banned substance. He was 9-10-9 with a 1.50 goals-against average and seven shutouts before joining then-teammate Jeff Parke as the first players to be found in violation of MLS' substance-abuse policy.