July 24, 2016 – 1:00 p.m. ET
MLS Regular Season – Game 22
Red Bull Arena Harrison, New Jersey -Tommy McNamara scored a wonder goal, but New York City FC fell to the Red Bulls, 4-1, Sunday afternoon at sweltering Red Bull Arena.
It is only the second loss for the Eastern Conference leaders in the last seven games and only the team’s fourth in 11 games away from home. Bradley Wright-Phillips put the hosts in front, 1-0, in the 20th minute on his 10th goal of the season. Wright- Phillips, who was played in behind by Sacha Kljestan, took a touch before slotting low inside the far post.
Three minutes later, the Red Bulls doubled their lead when Ronald Zubar latched onto a Kljestan corner kick and headed in from eight yards out. Kljestan scored from the penalty spot in the 41st minute to give the Red Bulls a 3-0 lead.
Two minutes later, McNamara pulled NYCFC back a goal with a golazo from 30 yards out into the upper right corner. He nearly added a second goal in the 59th minute, but his dipping shot from distance caromed off the
crossbar.
Wright-Phillips scored his second goal of the game in the 70th minute to increase the Red Bulls lead to 4-1.
What’s made it so tough for you guys to deal with Bradley Wright-Phillips and also Sacha
today? I think we didn’t defend well as a team. I think, as a team, we give them too much space. I believe, as a block, the way we planned to defend, we didn’t respect it. It was really too easy for them to penetrate centrally, and Andoni was sometimes exposed against two players. I believe that from the front players, we didn’t work hard enough to make it more difficult for them.
Patrick, Jesse’s talked about the refs a lot this year, not favoring his side. Do you think that has influenced other matches as well this year, or do you think in particular this one alone really influenced it?
I think you watched the game the same way I watch it. I think we all have to make our own opinion. I think it didn’t just happen like that. This is a plan. This is a way, I think, he wanted to go for, and he get fined for it. So that means he did some things wrong. You wanted to accept it or not, but that had an impact on the referee’s decision, as simple as that.
However, was tough play that fifth of the players from NYCFC received yellow card such as:
13’ – Ethan Wihte (Yellow Card)
65’ – RJ Allen (Yellow Card)
85’ – Frank Lampard (Yellow Card)
88’ – Federico Bravo (Yellow Card)
89’ – Ethan White (Second Yellow Card)
90′ – David Villa (Yellow Card)
Only two from the NY Red Bulls;
55’ – Ronald Zubar (Yellow Card)
58’ – Mike Grella (Yellow Card)
