After failing to score for the first time, the New York Red Bulls know they need star forward Juan Pablo Angel to get untracked. He could be facing the perfect opponent to do that.
Angel and the Red Bulls return home trying to bounce back from their first loss when they meet FC Dallas on Saturday night.
New York (2-1-0) started with back-to-back 1-0 wins, including a victory over Chicago on March 27 in the first game at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls ended a league-record 27-match road winless streak the next week by beating Seattle before last Saturday's 2-0 loss at Chivas USA.
"We didn't look good on Saturday," coach Hans Backe said. "We played two very good matches to start the season and then we didn't perform well on Saturday in L.A. We need to do better than that."
Angel hasn't scored after finishing tied for third in the league with 12 goals in 2009.
The Colombian star has been a thorn in the side of FC Dallas (0-0-2), scoring three times as these teams split two meetings last year, with each winning at home.
FC Dallas lost its final three games at Giants Stadium and is excited about the opportunity to play New York on the natural grass surface at Red Bull Arena.
"I think a lot of guys are going to be up for it because it is a new stadium," defender Ugo Ihemulu said. "From what we've seen so far, they've always had pretty good turnouts. They have a pretty good team this year."
The Red Bulls made a huge splash by adding midfielder Brian Nielsen on loan from Denmark's Vejle on Thursday. Nielsen could see his first MLS action Saturday.
"Brian is a very promising young player who has pace and can deliver quality service with both feet," sporting director-general manager Erik Soler said. "We are thrilled to sign him and he will immediately compete for a spot in our starting lineup."
This will be the first road game for FC Dallas after opening with two draws. Eric Avila scored in the 93rd minute to salvage a point in a 2-2 tie with Columbus last Saturday.
"I don't think last year's team would have been able to do that," coach Schellas Hyndman told FC Dallas' official Web site. "I think this year's team is so much more focused and conditioned to get results."
Both teams are looking to reach the playoffs after missing out last year. In addition, Dallas is relishing the chance to become the first visiting team to win in Red Bull Arena.
"We're coming off two home ties, which isn't exactly what we wanted to do," defender Heath Pearce said. "It still puts us in a position to go, get a win in New York, which puts us right back in position for everything."
