Red Bull defender Andrew Boyens was a late sub for New Zealand as the Kiwis qualified for next summer’s World Cup. They beat Bahrain 1-0 today to qualify for the first time since 1982.
Of course, we all know Red Bull will go through an offseason roster overhaul whenever they get around to naming a sporting director _ and Dietmar Beiersdorfer is expected back in town next week to go over some front office issues. But if Boyens makes the New Zealand roster (likely) and stays on the Red Bull roster (certainly possible), he’d be the first New York player to play in the World Cup since Clint Mathis back in 2002. Four years earlier, Alexi Lalas, Tab Ramos and Marcelo Vega made rosters.
And for the record, right back Carlos Johnson and his Costa Rica team faces Uruguay in a playoff, in San Jose today and Montevideo Wednesday, leaving the Red Bulls with a chance at TWO defenders playing in South Africa next summer. Â