The month-long Leagues Cup break did little to solve the New York Red Bulls’ lack of killer instinct in front of goal as Sando Schwarz’s men were once again snake-bitten in a 1-1 draw against Charlotte FC, their first game back in Major League Soccer play on Saturday.
New York attempted 20 shots across the 90 minutes compared to Charlotte’s eight, but just three were on target. It was the seventh time in their last 11 games that the Red Bulls have attempted 10 or more shots in a match but scored one or fewer goals.
An inability to get three points has stalled a more legitimate push toward a top-three place in the Eastern Conference from the Red Bulls, who have now drawn seven of their last nine matches and have 12 draws this season compared to 10 wins — providing a disappointing angle in a season that has featured just four losses.
“When we have 12 draws, it’s too much,” Schwarz, who was quick to find a silver lining, said. “But this is what we must analyze differently. I think this draw [Saturday], is okay against this very good team, and especially when it’s the first game after the break and to come directly into a rhythm here to play on turf is not so easy. But the whole team adapted very well and I don’t want to compare this draw with another draw, especially with home games when we played [well] sometimes and had draws.
“For me, it’s OK now. Our main part, our main goal every Saturday is to be prepared. This is the main part of our life, to win games. But at this point, I would not compare this to another draw.”
There cannot be much room for grace, however. Just eight games remain in the MLS season and the Red Bulls, who sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, sit just three points ahead of NYCFC in fifth and four in front of Charlotte.
The root of the problem has been the lack of a bona fide and traditional “No. 9” striker that can efficiently finish the abundance of chances. While Elias Manoel scored New York’s lone goal on Saturday, he had gone four games without a goal. In his last five matches, he has one goal on 10 shots. Dante Vanzeir has not scored in his last 15 MLS games, his last goal coming on May 4.
There has been an added pressure put on the shoulders of Lewis Morgan, who has admirably filled in up front from his normal position as a winger — roles he has switched back and forth from throughout the season. He has 12 goals, but none of his six attempted shots on Saturday hit the target.
The string of draws further magnifies the prolonged absence of star midfielder Emil Forsberg, who is eligible to come off the club’s injured list after sustaining a foot injury while on international duty with Sweden back in June. Schwarz, however, said that the 32-year-old is still not ready despite making “great progress.”
In his last five MLS matches with the club before his injury from May 11 to June 1, the Red Bulls scored three or more goals three times — the sort of attacking prowess that would make them a legitimate threat heading into the playoffs.
