Red Bull Arena (New Jersey) Saturday, March 11th, 2017 k/o 14:00   MLS Attendance: 19,375         New York Red Bulls 1-0 Colorado Rapids
2016 /17

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SECTIONSSEARCHTIPSSIGN IN New York Post FacebookTwitterGoogleLinkedInEmailCopy SPORTS Red Bulls near history as they beat Rapids at their own game By Brian Lewis March 11, 2017 | 6:26pm Modal Trigger Red Bulls near history as they beat Rapids at their own game Daniel Royer Bill Kostroun MORE ON: NEW YORK RED BULLS Red Bulls must avoid reverting to bad habit against Colorado Red Bulls on cusp of adding striker from Norway Will a winter of change get Red Bulls over MLS hump? Frustrating draw could ruin Red Bulls'' CONCACAF hopes U.S. National Team icon and ex-MetroStar Tim Howard stood on his head, robbing his former team again and again. But it was keeper Luis Robles and his Red Bulls that ground out a 1-0 win, and made some history in the process. After getting knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, the Red Bulls have bounced back to win their first games of the MLS campaign. First came last weekend’s season-opener in Atlanta, and on Saturday it was a home-opening shutout of Colorado before an announced crowd of 19,375. “That was a gutsy performance by us,’’ said Robles, who broke an MLS record with his 142nd straight appearances. “The last two games we were able to see games out and that’s something that we really struggled with last year.” They struggled getting out of the gate last year. They staggered to a 1-6 start before having to rally and finish atop the East. Saturday they became the first league team to six points and top the East after two weeks, thanks to getting an own goal last weekend and another Saturday, running their unbeaten streak to 18 games. Right back Sal Zizzo sent in a ball toward a streaking Daniel Royer that Rapids defender Eric Miller misplayed for a 45th-minute own goal. “The way we play we make our own luck,’’ said Bradley Wright-Phillips. “Thank you to the other teams for two own goals: sign ‘em up.” Wright-Phillips could’ve easily had a brace. The Red Bulls held 61.1 percent possession and outshot Colorado 13-3, including 7-1 on goal. Howard, a North Brunswick (NJ) native, made seven saves and stoned Wright-Phillips in the second, 24th and 73rd minutes. “On another day, any other keeper I score at least two,’’ said Wright-Phillips. “He was quality.” As have been the Red Bulls, who ran their MLS unbeaten streak to 18 straight, dating back to last season. The league record is 19 in a row by Columbus in 2004-05. They can tie that next Sunday at defending MLS Cup champion Seattle and break it March 25 at home vs. Real Salt Lake. Robles broke a record as well, his 142nd straight game breaking the mark by Chris Klein. For a player who’d been mulling retirement and arrived on a low-paying prove-it deal in 2012, it’s been an amazing ride. “I remember July 2012 when you didn’t know who I was, and I was sitting there thinking it was a good run, it’s time to move on,’’ said Robles, who stoned Dominique Badji in the 72nd minute. “Though my parents were definitely supporting me, my wife (Cara) was hounding me: “It’s not done yet, you need to give it one more try, do whatever it takes, bypass an agent, Google (MLS), I really think you’re going to regret this if you don’t give it one last try.” So it was with her encouragement and motivation that I pursued it. We never thought it could’ve been something like this.” Derrick Etienne got his first MLS start, and newcomer Fredrik Gulbrandsen made his league debut in the 88th minute. FILED UNDER COLORADO RAPIDS , LUIS ROBLES , MLS , NEW YORK RED BULLS , SOCCER , TIM HOWARD SHARE THIS ARTICLE: FacebookTwitterGoogleLinkedInEmailCopy READ NEXT Soccer refs go on strike after repeated threats from playe...