Renowned former USA Men's Soccer Team international Jeff Agoos remained optimistic in Red Bull New York's chances of advancing into the CONCACAF Champions’ League Group stage following a 2-2 draw against TT Pro League club W Connection.
 
Prior to Thursday's First Leg clash of the CONCACAF Champions' League preliminary round at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Trinidad, Agoos, Red Bulls Sporting Director had said his side would give a good showing in the competition in hopes of resurrecting itself from their domestic slump.
 
"With the current form that we are in...I can say that I'm pleased to come away with two goals in a 2-2 draw," he said following the match.
 
Red Bulls in its debut at the CONCACAF Champions’ League are hoping to make it past the preliminary round and into the Group stage.
 
They have nothing left to play for domestically sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with just 10 points after 21 games.
 
Their focus will be on next Thursday's second leg clash against the Trinidadian club W Connection in the aggregate series in which the MLS club Red Bulls enjoy two away goals.
 
Agoos will surely be working closely with Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio over the next few days after having had a good overview of Thursday's match against W Connection from the stands.
 
Commenting on the performance of the TT Pro League club W connection Agoos said, "They(W Connection) play with a lot of aggression and they are very good up-front with very quick forwards."
 
Agoos a nine-time MLS All-Star will be enshrined into the US Soccer Hall of Fame later this month after being elected on January 15 2009.

"I can't praise the guys enough," Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. "I thought it was great because it's not just coming back in any game. It was hot, humid against a very difficult team, but again considering the circumstances and the way the season has gone, it was a very difficult task to keep going and believe in what we were doing and the boys did that."

Osorio proved how serious the Red Bulls were taking the competition by marching his best XI out against the Caribbean champions. Ernst Obster made his debut and the Austrian made it a memorable one as his right-footed shot took a deflection off W Connection fullback Kern Cupid and past W Connection goalkeeper Marvin Phillip for the equalizer three minutes into the second half.

"I'm happy I scored and hopefully I can score some more goals," Obster said. "At the end of the day, you don't ask if the goal is good or if the goal is bad."

The Red Bulls took a 2-1 lead at the hour mark when Alfredo Pacheco's attempted cross redirected off Joseph for an own goal by the W Connection captain.

The Red Bulls had a few opportunities to put the game away, but couldn't capitalize and the hosts equalized off a Pacheco gaffe as the Salvadorian defender missed a diving clearance attempt.

Hughton Hector, who helped set up W Connection's first goal, pounced and finished clinically, placing the ball over Danny Cepero's right shoulder in the 72nd minute.

Despite giving up a late equalizer, the Red Bulls are satisfied with a hard-fought tie and feeling good heading into the second leg.