HARRISON, N.J. – Nothing like some home cooking to get back on track.
Following a challenging road trip, the Red Bulls returned home to earn a gritty point against the Timbers on Sunday before taking all three from Orlando City SC on Wednesday night.
Powered by two highlight-reel finishes from Connor Lade and Felipe on either side of the break, New York has improved their home record to 7-2-1 and now find themselves up to third in the Eastern Conference.
Lots to break down in this one, let’s dive right in.
Lade at Last
Defender Connor Lade is one of the longest tenured Red Bulls on the current roster, but the Morristown native still managed a career first on Wednesday night.
The franchise's all-time leader in games played amongst Homegrown Players with 69, Lade had managed to score in both U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League play, but never in an MLS match.
That all changed in the 38th minute, as the 26-year-old unleashed a curler that found the upper 90, staking New York to a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“I was joking with Luis [Robles] and said I’m glad [my first goal] wasn’t an own goal,” he said after the match. “It was a long time coming. I’m just glad to get that weight off my chest and just really overall happy with the team tonight. I thought we put in a good shift and earned a good result against a good team.”
“Connor is awesome,” head coach Jesse Marsch said. “Every time I get a question about Connor, I love gushing about him because he's just the kind of guy that every coach loves to have. He'll do whatever it takes. He'll fight for his teammates. He'll play any position. He'll win his battle.
“I said he saved our season earlier in the year where he had some of these moments, cut up on his eye, wearing some kind of Rambo headband. That's who Connor is and we're very fortunate to have him.”
Added captain Dax McCarty: “I couldn’t be happier for Connor. He’s the most humble and hardworking guy on our team. He’s a kid who you know exactly what you’re going to get every time he steps on the field.
“It was a fantastic finish. I think the guy only scores golazos.”
Set Piece Studs
Lade may have bagged the game-winning goal, but Felipe was not to be outdone.
In their 2-0 win, the Red Bulls managed to make the most of their set piece opportunities, scoring from a corner kick in the 38th minute before the Brazilian stepped up to belt in a screamer direct from a free kick in the 59th minute.
It’s no secret that the Red Bulls have put a premium on their set piece execution this season, and their ruthless precision was on display once again on Wednesday night.
“It’s a big focus for us,” McCarty added. “We have to keep trying to be innovative and switch things up. Set pieces changes games, no question about it. If you’re not good on set pieces, you’re behind the eight-ball and not giving yourself a good chance to win the game.”
With Sacha Kljestan given a rare day off, the likes of Sean Davis and Felipe were tasked with set piece duties on the night, but there was hardly a drop off in quality. No stranger to bagging goals from distance, Felipe stepped over a free kick from just outside the area and fired to the near post, beating Orlando City keeper Joe Bendik for the 2-0 lead.
“Felipe has been lethal,” Marsch continued. “We built in different deception for different plays so it keeps the keeper guessing. He doesn't know where the ball is coming from. That means when a guy steps up to hit it, if he hits it well, it can go in.
On the corner kicks, we're always trying to come up with creative ways to unbalance teams and create matchups. Overall, the set piece portion of this season has been very good, probably our biggest bright spot.”
After the goal, the Red Bulls put forth a nice tribute for Gideon Baah who was lost for the season with a broken tibia.
“He is part of the family,” Felipe said. “He is part of our group and we just want him to [have] a speedy recovery and come back stronger.”
Fortress Stands Tall
Since opening in 2010, Red Bull Arena has been proved to be one the toughest venues in MLS for opposing sides. Now 7-2-1 on the season at home, the Red Bulls continue to roll in front of their home fans.
Following yet another clean sheet, New York's shutout streak reached 546 minutes at home. The Red Bulls have not allowed a goal at Red Bull Arena since the 86th minute of Orlando City's last visit on April 24.
In the process, goalkeeper Luis Robles earned his seventh clean sheet of the season, making seven saves, including a diving save to stop Cyle Larin on a breakaway late in the match.
“We've got a shutout string at home that's pretty good right now,” Marsch said. “I feel like the more that we are defensively sound at home, and that's been a little bit of a shift we've made this year, I think last year we kind of almost attacked all out trying to find a way to get goals. This year we've been a little bit more cautious to protect ourselves from the counter.
“It means we've managed to give up fewer goals. We always have faith that the goal will come for us. We have enough quality in the attacking part of the field that if we can get shutouts, we feel like we'll get wins.”
In their sixth consecutive home shutout, Robles made his 126th regular season start in goal for New York, passing Tony Meola for most starts and appearances in goal.
All of Robles' appearances for New York have been consecutive and is the league record holder in that category. That type of consistency has helped to abate the effects of an ever-changing backline as the Red Bulls defense continues to roll.
“When we defend as a group, stay compact, keep our line high, and when we’re able to put pressure on them way up the field, that’s when we’re most effective,” Robles said after the match. “I know there’s going to be a lot of credit going to the guys in the back and maybe myself, but even more credit belongs to those guys up front. They’ve really been busting their tails to close balls down so that they aren’t having time to look up and play an easy ball.
“In order for us to be successful as a group, there has to be that initiative and leadership in front. That was there tonight, and as long as its there every single night, I feel confident that we’ll continue to get results.”
