The final score of Saturday’s match is no indication of the amount of action the Red Bulls displayed for a full 90 minutes at Red Bull Arena.
Looking at the box score you’ll notice one of the more glaring stats centered on how New York out-shot D.C. United 24-4, undoubtedly a strong outing and sure signs of the team’s improvement in the possession game.
But the most unfortunate stat of all comes in the form of a zero – as in, how many goals the Red Bulls were able to register, all while keeping a fiery D.C. United scoreless in the process. Players and coaches admitted it was shocking and hard to believe New York could not tally at least one goal, but at the end of the day it comes down to one thing.
“That’s what happens sometimes,” said Head Coach Mike Petke. “It’s not written in the stars, it’s not meant to be in a way. I can accept that.”
For all the circumstances that surrounded the one-point finish, the reality is that even the created chances came down to chance. That’s not to say D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid did not have a strong showing in goal, as he was forced into making seven saves. On the contrary, this was just one of those matches where, to take a cliché statement, bounces just didn’t go New York’s way.
Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles admitted it’s obviously better to see a ‘keeper go through that onslaught of shots on the other end of the pitch, rather than having it directed his way. He also feels that, from his vantage point, it’s only a matter of time before the Red Bulls start capitalizing on those chances.
“It’s a work in progress,” Robles said after the match. “I know that we have a lot of talent up front and eventually when we start clicking on all cylinders it’s going to be even more fun to watch those guys not only play together, but score a lot of goals.”
Midfielder Dax McCarty, although baffled by New York’s inability to snag two more points, was also quick to assure that the goals will eventually come if the chances created in Saturday’s match become commonplace.
“It’s a little bit unfortunate, you know,” McCarty said while exiting the pitch. “Usually we get those bounces at home, but it wasn’t to be today. So we gotta regroup, keep playing like we did tonight, and the wins will come.”
The Red Bulls will look to get that first win of the season when they return to action Saturday on the road against the Montreal Impact for a 4:30pm kick off. The club returns home on Saturday, Mar. 30, to host the Philadelphia Union at 3:30pm. Tickets are available at Red Bulls Ticket Central, or by calling 877.RB.SOCCER.
