Harrison, NJ – Red Bull New York left it late against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday as Tim Cahill scored at the death in a 1-0 victory at Red Bull Arena.
Both sides traded scoring chances throughout the match, but the final blow was dealt by the home side as Cahill nodded home a free kick in the first minute of stoppage time to help New York (7-4-3) maintain its first place position in the Eastern Conference with 24 points.
Los Angeles (5-4-2) has lost three of its last four league matches to remain stuck on 17 points for the season.
The Red Bulls had the first great chance of the match when Fabian Espindola chipped a shot over the on-rushing Carlo Cudicini in the 28th minute. The shot trickled slowly toward goal but A.J. DeLaGarza tracked back to clear the ball off the line.
Los Angeles came within inches of breaking the deadlock just before halftime when Robbie Keane's superb free kick forced an even better save out of Luis Robles, who pushed the effort over the crossbar by the skin of his fingertips.
There was more good play to come from Robles as the Red Bulls 'keeper produced a string of fine saves in the second half to keep the visitors off the board.
The clean sheet proved to be vital as the Red Bulls nicked a late goal to steal all three points. Juninho delivered an perfect free kick into the penalty area that rooted Cudicini to his line and Cahill took advantage, sending his glancing header into the back of the net from inside the six-yard box.
It was Cahill's fourth goal of the season, all of which have come in the club's last five games. The Australian has been a key figure during New York's six-game unbeaten run, a streak that it will hope to extend in its next outing against the Columbus Crew on May 26.
The Galaxy will attempt to get back on the right track when they host Seattle Sounders FC at The Home Depot Center next Sunday.
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