HARRISON, N.J. – A letdown after clinching a playoff berth?
That’s not the way New York Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch sees a 5-2 loss to Orlando City SC Friday night at Red Bull Arena.
“It’s a night where you feel like everything that can go wrong does,” Marsch said. “You have nights like this; we’re not immune to it. I feel strongly that we’re a good team, but there’s going to be nights where everything seems to go against you.”
It was a promising start for the Red Bulls, who dominated possession in the opening 20 minutes. But they conceded a corner and before they could blink, Cyle Larin latched onto a Kaká corner and the Lions had a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute.
“I thought we could have scored first,” Red Bulls midfielder Sacha Kljestan said. “We started the game on the right foot, we give up a goal, but we get one right back so we showed a good mentality, but unfortunately we gave up three goals in almost the exact same way tonight, and when you do that, it’s tough to win.”
Indeed, OCSC absorbed pressure and kept punishing the Red Bulls on counterattacks.
“I just think on the night, our pressure wasn’t quite right. I think that our front six didn’t do a good enough job winning the ball up the field, and I don't think they were too dangerous from their possession,” Dax McCarty said. “But then again, when they won the ball from us and they counterattacked us, they just scored, it felt like every time they attacked so that’s something we need to sort out.”
They will have to sort it out without Matt Miazga, who was sent off for his second bookable offense in the 77th minute and will join the US U-23 team for the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship.
“It's a blessing in disguise probably to get Ronald [Zubar] back, and get him a couple games,” McCarty said. “He's had a tough season with injuries so I think he's been itching for a couple games so I think this is a great opportunity for him and I think it's going to be good to have that depth going into the postseason.”
The Red Bulls remain atop the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of Columbus Crew SC and are level with the Vancouver Whitecaps in the race for the Supporters Shield.
But that’s not the trophy Marsch wants.
“Everyone started talking about us with the Supporters' Shield and all this crap, but I don't care about the Supporters' Shield,” he said. “I just want us to continue to move along and tonight was a step backwards for us, but that's okay.”
And Marsch is confident the Red Bulls will bounce back in a positive way against Columbus next Saturday.
“I promise you this: this team won't be phased by this,” Marsch said. “It's a hard one to take, it's a kick in the teeth, but we will find a way to regroup and we'll be ready to go again next weekend.”
