HARRISON, N.J. – The defending MLS Cup champions and this season’s pace setters squared off in an entertaining affair Sunday night, as the LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls fought to a 1-1 draw at Red Bull Arena.
A second-half equalizer from Felipe allowed the Red Bulls (3-0-3) to remain unbeaten in the 2015 campaign – the last team in MLS that has earned at least a point in each of its games.
The Galaxy (3-2-3), fueled by Bradford Jamieson IV’s first MLS goal, stayed unbeaten in their last three.
Missing star striker and reigning MVP Robbie Keane, Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena opted to insert 18-year-old Academy product Jamieson into the starting lineup, and the move paid near-instant dividends. A moment of brilliance from the US U-20 forward opened the scoring in the ninth minute – the only goal New York has allowed in three games at Red Bull Arena this season.
A slaloming run saw Jamieson cut back and forth, wrong-footing defender Chris Duvall in the process, before firing a left-footed strike past goalkeeper Luis Robles and into the far post.
The Red Bulls nearly found the equalizer just four minutes later as Sacha Kljestan picked out forward Bradley Wright-Phillips, but his first-time effort was parried away by Galaxy 'keeper Jaime Penedo at point-blank range.
As the match ticked on, it looked as if New York would suffer defeat for the first time this season, but a fortuitous bounce saw the Red Bulls find the equalizer in the 58th minute. Winger Sal Zizzo burst down the left flank before providing low service to Wright-Phillips. Galaxy defender A.J. DeLaGarza deflected the Englishman’s effort, but the deflection found its way onto the head of Felipe, who knew little about his first goal in a Red Bulls uniform.
With the match deadlocked, the Red Bulls pushed for the winner and nearly found it in the waning minutes of the match as a Felipe free kick was inches too long for midfielder Mike Grella’s touch at the far post.
The Red Bulls have a quick turnaround as the Colorado Rapids come to town Wednesday night, while the Galaxy return to Los Angeles to take on that same Rapids squad Saturday night.
