Juan Pablo Angel scored with seconds remaining in extra time Wednesday night to give the New York Red Bulls a 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo, snapping a four-game losing streak.
Angel's goal was his team-leading sixth of the season and came off a direct kick in the 94th minute. It sailed into the left side of the goal past lunging Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad.
Angel believed he was due after nearly scoring three times earlier. He was once denied point-blank by Onstad's fingertips, another on a great save, and a third time on a defensive breakup.
``I was feeling that after all those chances, I was going to get it,'' Angel said. ``There was a lot of energy in the arena, and I thought this is the one.''
The Red Bulls' first goal in extra time this year put them in a second-place tie with Toronto FC, with one game remaining before the three-week break for the World Cup.
The kick was more of a knuckleball that started high and then swerved past the left post as Onstad lunged at it.
``I was behind him,'' Red Bulls defender Tim Ream said. ``I'll tell you, that ball wasn't going straight at all. But I saw Onstad hit the mat, and then I didn't know what was going to happen at all.''
Sinisa Ubiparipovic gave New York (6-5-0) a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute off a pass from the outside from Chris Albright, who got the carom off Juan Pablo Angel's blocked direct kick.
The Dynamo (5-6-1) tied the score in the 65th minute when Houston captain Brian Ching knocked in his second of goal of the season.
``I think after we scored our goal, we took the foot off the gas and were unsure,'' Ching said. ``They're the home team and they took it to us. Disappointing, extremely. But hats off to Juan Pablo for putting a great ball into the back of the net.''
Eight yellow cards were handed out, one of which will cost Red Bulls defender Mike Petke a suspension Saturday against Chivas USA.
The Red Bulls also lost two midfielders during the match. Dane Richards went out in the first half with a strained right hamstring and is doubtful for Saturday's game against Chivas USA. Joel Lindpere went in the second half with a bruised left calf.
New York coach Hans Backe said this was their best game of the season as far as scoring opportunities go. The Red Bulls outshot Houston 16-13.
``It's been tough,'' Backe said. ``We'd been playing rather well, much better than the beginning of the year when we were getting the results. But today, we earned the results.''
