HANOVER, N.J. – What a difference a few weeks make.
Back on April 16, the Red Bulls found themselves licking their wounds once again after dropping a snowy affair in Colorado. Nowadays, however, things are looking brighter in a Harrison.
Why is that, you ask? Let’s get into it.
BWP En Fuego
Coinciding with New York’s tough start to the season, forward Bradley Wright-Phillips endured a frustrating goal drought at the start of 2016.
After bagging 44 goals over his last two seasons, it seemed the back of the net was a lot harder to entering his fourth season in MLS. But after a couple of scintillating, vintage performances, that all seems like a distant memory.
“It was tough at the beginning,” Wright-Phillips said following New York’s 3-0 win over Toronto FC. “I don’t want to get too excited, but we’ve hit a good run of form. It was important after the NYCFC game to emulate that work rate and be clinical. We’ve done that tonight.”
Outsiders may have started to doubt the Designated Player after being shut out of their first seven matches, but his head coach never had any doubts.
“Everyone wanted to talk so much about how Brad wasn't scoring in the beginning of the year and where was he at, and all I just kept saying is our belief in him is at the highest level,” Jesse Marsch said after the win. “And that's not just me talking, that's our entire group.
“We see him every day. We see all the quality he has, and it's only a matter of time before he gets himself going. When he does, then the goals start to come in bunches. So here he is now. He's leading the league in scoring; that says it all.”
After scoring two memorable goals at Yankee Stadium the week prior, BWP followed up with an encore performance for the ages. Bagging his fourth hat trick in a Red Bulls jersey, Wright-Phillips eclipsed the franchise record, previously held by Thierry Henry.
The Englishman didn’t waste much time either, scoring all three of his goals within 27 minutes, the fastest hat trick in MLS history.
“It’s fun to watch,” goalkeeper Luis Robles said. “He’s such a great teammate and for him to possess the kind of quality he has is the cherry on top. In the beginning of the season he was frustrated, but that’s happened before. We know that not only is he a bit streaky, but when he does get on these streaks, it’s like everything he hits goes in the goal.”
So Fresh and So Clean
To go along with BWP’s hat trick, the Red Bulls defense posted a trio of their own, notching a third consecutive clean sheet. Over their last three games, New York has scored an impressive 11 goals while conceding zero.
After seeing their net breached 17 times over their first eight games, New York has conceded just three goals in their last six matches, making goalkeeper Luis Robles one happy camper.
“I think the most I’ve had is two in a row, so it’s nice to have that third one,” he told reporters after the win. “It was a great performance by the entire group of guys back there starting with Connor [Lade] and Sal [Zizzo] on the outside and of course the guys in the middle. [Ronald] Zubar has had a tough season, so for him to get back on the field and play the way he did today not only validates the belief we have in him, but also reaffirms the potential we have in the backline. And Aurelien [Collin] since he’s been here has been massive. His presence, his leadership, his effort, all of it has been great.”
The shutout was certainly in jeopardy after Toronto earned a penalty in the second half, but Robles came up big to stop Will Johnson from the spot to keep the clean sheet alive.
For Marsch, seeing his goalkeeper put up another zero on the scoreboard was particularly rewarding considering the leaky start to 2016.
“I think Luis wanted the shut out in a big, big way,” he said. “Obviously now they encroach and he gets another chance at it, and I think the second one they encroach too. But what a great save. At that point it's a little bit of a mind game and Luis wins it, and he makes a great save.
“It's great to see Luis being rewarded, because even when we gave up those 17 goals, I honestly don't think Luis was at fault in one of them. So that's just phenomenal. It almost doesn't make sense, right?
“So for him to now reward himself more with shutouts and great performances and obviously a big save, I think it's good for the team, but it's also great for him.”
Climbing the Ladder
About that 1-6 start…
Since the aforementioned loss to the Rapids, the Red Bulls have gone 5-1-1. With their uptick in form, New York has not only clawed their way out of the cellar, but also ascended to the top of the Eastern Conference.
“I told them for right now we're at least in first place the East, which is remarkable given how rough our start was,” Marsch said. “It felt like a long period of time like where we were just in a dark moment. But we continue to try to reinforce important things, and continue to try to push and know that we were going to use that to make us better and to see now where we're at, it's very validating. But we have to use the time to get some rest, but continue to push it always.”
Aside from a forgettable performance against D.C. United, the Red Bulls have looked much more like the side that raised the Supporters’ Shield a season ago. In contrast to their poor start, the Red Bulls have enjoyed a renaissance of sorts as their offense continues to click while their defense remains stingy.
“We always believed that we’d hit a good run of form, but it is kind of weird to be top of the league tonight after how we felt just a few weeks ago,” Wright-Phillips said. That’s football.”
Now boasting both the league’s top goal scorer (Bradley Wright-Phillips) and the league-leader in assists (Sacha Kljestan), there is a renewed sense of optimism within the team as they head into the international break.
“It’s a little bit crazy that we’re up there having started so poorly,” Kljestan admitted. “It is what it is and we’re happy about it. It’s difficult to take a couple of weeks away when you’re on a roll, but it’s a good time—especially when it’s hot like this—to get a few days away and recharge the batteries mentally and physically.”
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