The New York Red Bulls kept a streak alive when they played the New England Revolution this past Sunday. It is not a favorable streak for the New York team, as they have not won 18 consecutive matches on the turf of Gillette Stadium (0-13-5).
Without no less than six starters in Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez, Heath Pearce, Jan Gunnar Solli, Markus Holgersson, and Teemu Tainio, New York lined up with reserve players who have had more time in MLS matches this season than their injured counterparts. A few weeks ago, you may remember players such as Connor Lade, Brandon Barklage, and Tyler Ruthven helping New York go on a franchise record tying five game win streak. Back then, NY head coach Hans Backe kept saying the squad were “lucky” and performing much above their rookie and inexperienced level. Now Backe is lamenting that the team is too injured and how “annoying” it is that they rarely have back-to-back consistent lineups. Many fans and even some players are saying injuries cannot be blamed for the past few results. The players know this is the squad who won five in a row and are blaming their play on the field for the loss at New England.
What did beat the Red Bulls then? New England’s midfield was an impressive sight to behold Sunday night. While New York won the possession game, the Revs midfield cut out any real threat New York started to pose. New York ultimately had to rely on long balls over the top from defender Wilman Conde; rarely any found its target though. New England held New York scoreless, a feat only RSL in the second game of the year managed to do. On top of that, New York had 0 shots in the first half, the likes of which have not happened since the fall of 2009.
In my match preview, I wrote that for New York to be successful, they needed to get Kenny Cooper the ball at his feet as well as to move the ball around the top of the 18. Instead, New York fell to its old tricks and play back passes while switching the field more than play a forward pass or even take on a Revs player one-on-one. Usually Mehdi Ballouchy is the king of this for New York (when Henry doesn’t play) but Lade, Lindpere, and even Dax McCarty fell prey t this tactic. On no less than two separate occasions, McCarty spn 180 degrees, gave Conde the ball and Conde ran almost to the 18 with the ball looking for anyone to make a positive move. When Wilman Conde is trying to be your central attacking midfielder, you have a serious problem. As far as Kenny Cooper is concerned, too many long balls were played over the top and over the last few weeks he has been putting in double duty without Henry. New York looked a little more lively in the second half but y then it was truly too late for Cooper to do much in the way of runs. Cooper’s best chance came off a shot he let fly from outside the box that rang off the inside of the far upper 90. Matt Reis was not in goal for New England; instead it was Shuttleworth who has a worse record in net than Red Bulls rookie Ryan Meara. Cooper only had one shot from distance to try and test the keeper and it is mind-boggling why New York didn’t take more long range shots to test the young keeper from Buffalo.
New England’s two goals came from lazy and lethargic play by New York. Lee Nguyen scored about halfway through the first with a shot that is a definite gal of the week candidate. Nguyen received the ball after having passed and making a run to the top of the 18. With two Revs players in close vicinity, five Red Bulls were worried about the two Revs players heading into the box and neither Mehdi Balouchy or Dane Richards paid any attention to the movements of Nguyen who curled the ball around Ballouchy into the near post. Watching on television, I could see Ryan Meara uttering the same words I do to my teammates after an opponent rips a long range shot, “No f***ing pressure”. New England’s second goal came late in the match as Shalrie Joseph sent in Saer Sene, who had bowled over Roy Miller to get to the ball though no foul was called. Meara who came off his line stopped Sene’s attempt but newcomer Bengston had the ball fall perfectly to his feet for his first MLS goal. No Red Bull had followed Bengston on his run, instead they all just starred at the play hoping referee Drew Fischer would whistle the play dead. I generally try to stay away form calling out a ref’s decision but Sene’s forearm connected with Miller’s back and extended, which 99.9% of the time is called a foul.
With a 1-2-3 record in their last six, New York now faces a brutal three game home stand in the span of eight days. The Seattle Sounders, Chicago Fire, and Philadelphia Union all visit Red Bull Arena for afternoon matchups that will truly test New York’s depth. Red Bull fans are just hoping their team gets a little healthier and maybe signs a player or two through the transfer window this week.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
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