Angel’s Dramatic Stoppage Time Goal Breaks Red Bulls Four Match Losing Streak

What a dramatic finish tonight at Red Bull Arena as the Red Bulls were mired in a four match league losing streak between US Open Cup Qualifying Wins and the Friendly win over Juventus. But the Captain of the club imposed his will on the game and when he needed to come out on top, he has done so in grand fashion.

Drama came into second half stoppage time as the Red Bulls earned a free kick from at least 30 yards away from the Dynamo net as Conor Chinn got fouled. Angel waited for Houston to get their wall ready and he concentrated very hard on the task at hand. After referee Hilario Grajeda blew his whistle & Angel somehow found the inside of the far post and scored the match winner for the Red Bulls.

Red Bull Arena Erupted with joy & Angel ran towards the bench and found John Wolyniec after he was subbed out in the 83rd minute for Conor Chinn. Celebrating the goal and once the ball was placed inside the center circle; Grajeda blew his whistle to end the match. The match was dominated by the Red Bulls statistically and on the field when they created plenty of chances to attack. “We needed to stop the losing streak.” Said Angel. “I thought it was a great victory. I was disappointed because we had a number of chances where we should have done better.”

The first goal of the match came in the 15th minute when John Wolyniec was taken down just outside the area by Richard Mulrooney & Angel took the free kick. He smacked it off the wall and then cleared, but Chris Albright was able to send the ball back inside the area towards Sinisa Ubiparipovic. Mulrooney kept him onsides and Ubiparipovic converts the first goal of the match. Once that happened, once again old reliable Pat Onstad made huge saves to keep the Dynamo in the match.

Angel in the 37th minute had a breakaway and caught Onstad on the ground as he slipped, but never backed off. Once Angel got close he tried to chip the ball, but Onstad got his left paw on it and deflected it away. Another Angel chance in the second half  in the 58th minute and this time Onstad was standing up. As soon as Angel ripped the ball, a two handed save parried it away and into the crowd. “Pat made some great saves at 1-0 to keep us close.” said Dominic Kinnear.

That’s when Brian Ching got his second goal of the season as the Dynamo attacked and converted the equalizer. Bobby Boswell played a nice cross towards Ching on the far side of the field. It was chested down, broke away from the defender and slotted it home in the 65th minute. From the point on it felt like the Dynamo were going to take a point away from the road or possibly steal three points from Red Bull Arena. But on this night that wasn’t the case.

Juan Pablo Angel created the biggest goal in this season so far and it was the first dramatic comeback victory inside Red Bull Arena. It is true that Angel has lost a step, but I have to say that he hasn’t lost his explosiveness or the moment when he has to put away an important goal for the club. He has done so once again.