After putting together one of their best starts in franchise history, the New York Red Bulls have hit a snag.
Draws in each of their last three matches has resulted in a fall from the top spot in the Eastern Conference to third, currently staring at a four-point deficit behind conference leaders Inter Miami with a game in hand.
Frustration is building in the process.
New York has been administered two red cards in the past three matches. Andres Reyes was sent off in the 42nd minute of an April 13 match against Chicago Fire, forcing the Red Bulls to hang on for a goalless draw. On Saturday night at Red Bull Arena, their attacking efforts were put on hold in the 74th minute when defender Noah Eile’s clear handball thwarted a Vancouver Whitecaps break, forcing New York to settle for a 1-1 draw.
In between those draws came the squandering of 1-0 and 2-1 leads out in Los Angeles against LAFC on April 20.
The Red Bulls once again monopolized the majority of the attacking play on Saturday night against Vancouver, erasing a Brian White 15th-minute goal through Lewis Morgan, who tucked a diving header off a corner off the crossbar and into the back of the goal in the 56th minute. New York out-attempted the Whitecaps 16-11 and nearly had double their shots on goal at 9-5. They also held nearly 60% of the possession.
“Right now, a little bit irritated,” Red Bulls star midfielder Emil Forsberg said after the match. “I think we played a very good second half. I think of course they scored a good goal, but after that, I think we were the better team overall. We kept the ball and we kept creating chances. We came out, playing a fantastic second half, scored a goal and then we get a red card. Of course, it changed the game. I mean, it’s hard. We wanted to win today and I think we were on a good path but sometimes mistakes happen. We have to keep looking forward. Keep evolving. It’s irritating because I think we could have won today and we didn’t.”
It is leaving plenty to be desired from first-year head coach Sandro Schwarz, who indicated that there has been somewhat of a regression in his side’s play in recent weeks.
“The home game against Chicago and then LAFC was very good, and then today, after 20 minutes was not good in the first half, and this is what we have to analyze and we have to improve very quick,” Schwarz said. “And in some moments to have this consequence to play forward, to play forward very quick, and some moments to have more deep runs to create more situations in the box, in the opponent’s box, like at the beginning of the game. Also, the second half, beginning of the second half, we had these moments, and this is what we have to improve them and to continue to play forward to find the right moment for the switch, and then to create on the side these two-against-one situations, and then to have this consequence in crosses. This was not good enough today in some moments.”
New York has an opportunity to get back on track in a big way when they head to Florida to face Lionel Messi and Inter Miami on May 4.
