New York Red Bulls head coach Bruce Arena was typically blunt after his team lost 1-0 in New England on Saturday night.
"We didn't play well enough to win the game," Arena said.
The Red Bulls gave up multiple second-half chances but fell to an eighth-minute Pat Noonan goal in their attempts to earn a precious point in the home of an Eastern Conference foe.
"Neither team played well tonight," Arena said. "It was a sloppy game."
One bright spot was the play of goalkeeper Jon Conway. Inserted into the lineup in place of Tony Meola in an attempt to give the team a spark, Conway responded with seven saves, including a couple of critical blocks to keep his team in the game.
"Jon made a bunch of saves as we were pushing forward," Arena said.
The one save Conway couldn't make on the evening sent the Red Bulls to defeat. Steve Ralston's through ball eluded Red Bulls defender Carlos Mendes and found the run of Noonan. The striker's attempt with the outside of his right boot found its home in the far corner of the net past the helpless Conway to give the home team victory.
"The ball ran on Carlos and Noonan was in one on one," Conway said. "It's one of those shots with the outside of the boot where it's either over the bar or in the corner of the net. Unfortunately for us, it hit the top corner."
Arena said that Noonan's finish was an important turning point in the contest.
"The early goal is a factor," Arena said. "Give Noonan a lot of credit. He beat Mendes and then finished well."
Another turning point occurred in the 81st minute as Red Bulls captain Amado Guevara was sent off by referee Brian Hall after receiving his second caution in the space of a minute for dissent.
Arena went to the officials' locker room after the contest. After a brief conference with the fourth official in which Arena did not enter the officials' locker room, Arena walked away.
"I wanted to at least get an explanation [about Guevara's sending off]," Arena said.
The Red Bulls now return home for a critical two-game stretch at Giants Stadium. Last-place Columbus visits next weekend before the Revolution travel down I-95 for a rematch of Saturday's contest.
"We can play at home the next [two] games trying to get the three points," Arena said.
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
