After a fairly pathetic showing before a home crowd of just under 15,000, the Red Bulls walked off the field embarrassed by a 5-1 drubbing. In a game expected to be intense as ever with the bad blood between the two sides over coach Osorio leaving for New York and Chicago denying the Red Bulls the chance to sign Lider Marmol, the Red Bulls must have forgot that you are supposed to battle in a rivalry, not roll over. Chicago looked aggressive as ever while the Red Bulls looked confused throughout.
The game got off to a quick start when Blanco found Chad Barrett who muscled off Jeff Parke and slotted the ball home in the 7th minute. The first half continued without much excitement as the hosts never really threatened to score the equalizer with what amounted to a very defensive starting lineup.
No changes were made as the teams took the pitch for the final 45. Perhaps they should have been as Chicago scored right off the bat again, this time with a long ball finding Blanco streaking, yes that's right, Blanco streaking down the sideline in behind Kevin Goldthwaite. When Blanco beats you with pace you know defensive ineptitude was involved in the play. Blanco's ball to the far post found Chris Rolfe wide open with a red faced Hunter Freeman about 10 yards behind him. Rolfe finished easily, heading home on the empty half of the net. This second goal prompted changes as Altidore and Mike Magee appeared at the midline to check in. They soon got their chance to come into the game as Jon Conway was picking the ball out of his net for a third time. Andrew Boyens, who was apparently good enough to merit losing Eric Brunner, took down Justin Mapp in the box and Blanco converted the penalty. Boyens was shaky on more than one occasion, but that goes for pretty much every Red Bull that saw action. With a new look for the Red Bulls, it was Conway's turn to disappoint, as the defenders again forgot their purpose in life and left Chad Barett wide open again. Thankfully his header was weak and at Conway, unfortunately he dove and it went under his arm. A mere two minutes later a Blanco corner is banged off the post and falls to Gonzalo Segares who scores. We now stand at 5-0 in only the 62nd minute. Blanco's personal damage for fantasy buffs? 1 goal and 3 assists. In the 74th the Bulls would find some small consolation when Hunter Freeman's corner found Jozy Altidore for the only NY goal of the game. With a 5-1 setback at home of all things, Osorio needs to get back on the bench quickly and sort things out as the team gets ready to take on Houston.
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