"I’m really proud of our group."
Head Coach Jesse Marsch started his postgame message with those six words, following an unlucky 2-0 loss to the Portland Timbers on Friday night.
The New York Red Bulls rolled out a lineup with nine changes from their previous game against FC Cincinnati, with only Felipe and Kemar Lawrence re-taking the pitch for the second game in a row.
"We had the game on our terms and looked like our team playing so many new guys, to have them all understand their roles and play so well in a really tough place to play against a good team, a good attacking team that we kept at bay for most of the game, I love this team." Marsch said. "This team has a lot to it, this team is deep and a lot of good things happening with our group right now."
The Red Bulls started a three-game stretch in six days with a 3-1 win over Orlando City SC at Red Bull Arena, followed quickly by a thrilling 3-2 comeback win in Cincy to advance to the U.S. Open Cup Final. New York hung tough with Portland at Providence Park, and were inches away from a draw after a dangerous free kick skirted wide of the post, a perfect header was deflected at the last moment and an empty-netter doubled the Timbers lead.
"We had a great week," Marsch said. "It’s obviously disappointing when you play that well and don’t get the result, but you have to look at it in terms of the big picture and feel really good about it.”
New York will quickly turn their attention to New York City FC and look for revenge after dropping two league matches against their local rivals in 2017. The Red Bulls topped NYCFC in Open Cup play to knock the blue team out of the tournament earlier this year.
The two teams match up at Red Bull Arena on Friday, August 25.
