(Red Bulls Head Coach Jesse Marsch – Photo by Mike Lawrence / Sportsday Wire)
The New York Red Bulls broke a three-game scoreless streak, but they could not overcome the Colorado Rapids, as they lost 2-1, on in the snow.
The Red Bulls’ disastrous start continues, as they fell to 1-0-6 on the season.
Jermaine Jones gave Colorado the lead in the 21st minute.
The Red Bulls tied it, and scored their first goal since March 19, when Ronald Zubar headed it in to tie the game in the 60th minute, on a set up from Sacha Kljestan.
Colorado got the game-winner in the 82nd minute when Jones set up Dominique Badji, a second-half sub, with a pass to get by the Red Bulls’ defense and make it 2-1.
Red Bulls Head Coach Jesse Marsch said of how frustrating the result is, “I’m having a hard time explaining what we’re going through because it’s another game where I feel like in many ways we established ourselves, especially in the second half as the better team. We’re on top of the game more and somehow the game slips. So it’s incredibly frustrating. I can’t explain it. I’ve never been through situations like these where consistently we actually do okay, but can’t reward ourselves enough for goals and feels like almost every time the team comes on the field we give away chances that wind up in the goal.
“Honestly, it’s wild what we’ve been through. I’ve told the team that I’m gutted for them. That kind of effort and that kind of push that they showed and belief; that’s our pathway to the success that we know we can get to. I will continue to say the same things, which is that I know we have a good team and this is going to turn. This is going to turn.”
Marsch said of Zubar, “It was good to get him back. I thought he had a good performance. It was good to have two actual center backs play center back for us, so that was a good thing. Karl Ouimette picked up an injury so hopefully he’s not too bad. Luis (Robles) had a great game, made some great saves. Alex Muyl came in and played pretty well. I thought there were a lot of really good efforts, and in the end, we seemed to come up empty.”
Marsch said of what he told the team at halftime, “It’s because of the elements, right? The wind is a big factor so now when you’re pushing the game, almost anything that comes down the field in the box causes trouble. We knew in the second half we were going to be on top of it. We felt like 1-0 going into the half was a good score, and if we could push the game and get a goal and then keep ourselves going that the game would be there for us. We got the goal, we tied it up and just let the game slip. That’s the only way to describe it, we let the game slip.”
Red Bulls goaltender Luis Robles set an MLS record by playing in his 113th consecutive game.
Robles said of the conditions on the field, “I mean it was windy and at times you just felt like the ice was hitting your face and your eyes and that made it difficult. The elements were definitely not favorable, but that being said they also had to deal with it. I felt we did a good job adjusting our game plan.
Robles said of the Red Bulls’ start and having Ronald Zubar back in the lineup, “Zubar played well, he played great. He picked up a knock at the end but I don’t think it’s anything serious. That’s sort of been the story in the first seven games of the season, guys are picking up injuries that are preventing us from really finding a rhythm and finding a flow. And listen, guys are hurting. It’s not as if it’s a flippant or whimsical attitude towards being 1-6. The guys in that locker room, they’re hurting because when we look at the way we play, maybe we’re missing a little quality, maybe we’re not as sharp – but the fight’s there and these guys are really busting their butts too, to make sure that for 90 minutes we’re going to be fighting and stay on top.
“And whether it’s a little luck or whether it’s a little this or that, you know, I don’t think we have the answers right now. But I do believe if we can learn from these failures, it’s going to enable us to not only be a successful team, but a championship team. So right now is critical, but I have a lot of belief in the guys and a lot of belief in the leadership.”