Ben Olsen is never going to be happy about a loss to the New York Red Bulls. But the specific nature of D.C. United's 2-0 loss to their hated I-95 rivals left the coach directing some particularly choice language at his team on Sunday evening.
A club icon who produced some of his best performances as a player in this rivalry, Olsen ripped into United's lackadaisical start to this latest Atlantic Cup encounter in his postgame remarks, pointing to “a lack of animosity” in his squad from the opening whistle. That slackness was swiftly exploited by an amped-up Red Bulls side making their 2015 home debut.
“It was [expletive]. I don't know what we think we earned, what gives us the right to step on the field in the first half with that type of mentality,” Olsen told reporters before his team left Red Bull Arena. “But that will change. I know that.
“In the second half – in the scoresheet we lose the second half as well, but it was a different team. And it's mindboggling to me that we can have a half that way, and then all of a sudden turn up the juice and then put on a second half in which we're the team that has had success.”
Olsen cuttingly dismissed the notion that the Black-and-Red's large corps of injured and suspended contributors provides any sort of extenuating circumstances for a lack of bite.
“I don't care – I don't give a [expletive] if we've got some players missing,” he said. “I'm not asking us to go out and dominate. We know who we are. But the difference in intensity [between] them and our group in the first half … I don't mean to simplify soccer, but the commitment has to be there at a minimum, especially for our group.”
Harried by New York's snapping pressure, D.C. struggled to maintain any sort of extended possession in the early going and their rivals duly took a 1-0 lead after 25 minutes. United center backs Bobby Boswell and Steve Birnbaum inexplicably stood off as Bradley Wright-Phillips – last year's MLS Golden Boot winner – collected a high long ball from Dax McCarty at the top of the penalty box and rifled his first goal of the season past goalkeeper Bill Hamid.
That set the tone for the rest of the evening, even after the visitors improved noticeably in the second stanza. A late missed penalty kick by Chris Pontius kept D.C. scoreless, and put the cap on a thoroughly underwhelming display.
“They were better passing, they held the ball up better in the first half. Their composure on the ball was better. But that's what happens when you're loose and you can't get around the ball – they're going to dominate for long stretches,” said Olsen.
“I give [New York] a lot of credit. They're a good team and the way they press I thought was very good. We had trouble with that … we had trouble getting a hold of the game. That's what good teams that press you in the right way can do.”
Both teams had ample time to prepare for this one thanks to a bye week, and Olsen revealed that he'd specifically warned his players about the importance of energy and focus for all 90 minutes in New Jersey – a message that apparently did not sink in.
“A lack of winning 50-50s, being late to things, you just can't do,” he said. “We talked about it all week: Who's going to be the team that comes out a little flat after a two-week [break]?
“We were late today. We were late to the game.”
