Cahill hails New York´s character, Petke frustrated

New York Red Bulls star Tim Cahill has praised his side’s character after their come-from-behind 4-3 win over Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

Cahill scored the opening goal of the game in the 11th minute before Fabian Espindola made it 2-0 midway through the first half.

A hat-trick from Alvaro Saborio gave Salt Lake a 3-2 advantage in the 82nd minute but the hosts rallied with goals to Espindola and Dax McCarty in the 89th and 94th minutes to collect maximum points and maintain second spot in the Eastern Conference.

“This team’s got a lot of character,” Cahill said.

“If we would have lost this game today (the media) would have thrown the kitchen sink at us and there’s a lot of pressure going into the (next) game against Kansas City, because that’s a massive game as well.

“Overall, when you look at it, it’s just such a great game to be a part of.

“After I got the knock (in a tackle in the fourth minute), I just didn’t want to miss the game.

“They’re the best team in the league and you don’t want to miss games like that.

“Now, you look at it and it’s all worth it in the end. A really good game, I’m really happy.”

French superstar Thierry Henry also heaped praise on his team-mates after the win.

“You knew they come up with five minutes (of stoppage time) so you knew you had time to win it and Dax won it for us so the place went mental,” Henry said.

“I am happy with the win, it is the first time I have personally beaten Salt Lake and the team are unstoppable at the moment.

“Like I said to you it was an amazing effort, a great effort, we came back into it and go three points, I am happy.”

Rookie head coach Mike Petke was also pleased with the result but lamented his side’s defensive performance.

“Defensively they press you to one side and do a phenomenal job and if you don’t switch the ball quick enough they have you,” he said.

“We did well there and were able to get behind them and create. There was some phenomenal stuff from Thierry and Espindola working in combinations and getting forward and defensively in the first half we were sound.

“Second half did not start the way we wanted to, we let them dictate the pace and the pressure and did not put them under but we had some moments as well.

“I did not see the stats yet but I am not sure how many shots on goal they had but when they scored the third goal they could not have had more than three or four, maybe five.

“That is frustrating me a bit but they are a good team, a very lethal team.”