A month ago, the New York Red Bulls were the best defensive team in Major League Soccer, having allowed just one goal in its first five games at Giants Stadium.
But after a host of injuries to the backline and 11 goals against in the last four games, the Red Bulls have conceded goals at an alarming rate. The bye week couldn't have come at a better time for New York, which is 1-2-1 in its last four games after a 5-1-2 start to the season following Saturday night's 3-3 draw with Kansas City.
"In our short season so far, we went from a strong, solid team in the first four games to leaking way too many goals," Red Bulls captain Claudio Reyna said. "I think one of the things is not being able to consistently play the same back four and you could see it's not easy to step on the field and understand each other."
At various points in the past month, the Red Bulls have been without three defenders and one goalkeeper because of injuries. And on Saturday, Dema Kovalenko, who was slated to start in place of Hunter Freeman at right back, was a last-minute scratch because of a groin strain. Taylor Graham started in his place and Tim Regan made his second start of the season at left back for Todd Dunivant.
But the problems go beyond the injury-plagued backline.
"It's not just the defenders, it's the whole team," Red Bulls boss Bruce Arena said. "We lose the ball too easy, the midfield marking isn't good enough, our organization in the back is poor. It's a combination of things."
And then there's the goalkeeper. Following a 4-2 loss to D.C. United last Sunday, Arena said he thought he rushed Ronald Waterreus back from the sprained left ankle that kept him sidelined for five games.
Although the former Dutch international made eight saves Saturday, including a few stellar stops, he was at fault for Kansas City's third goal. Caught off his line, Waterreus could only look on as Yura Movsisyan chipped him from 25 yards out to put the Wizards in front 3-2 in the 79th minute.
"[He played] adequately, at best," Arena said. "I think he made a mistake on the third goal. He made a big save at one point in the second half, but that's a mistake from a veteran goalkeeper to come off his line like that.
"The other part that's a problem here is that we're bringing back injured players too early and they're not fit enough to play in these games," Arena added. "We have no choice, we don't have any players left."
If not for the heroics of Juan Pablo Angel, who scored a brace, including a 90th-minute penalty kick to equalize, the Red Bulls would have suffered their second home loss of the season.
Angel first found the back of the net in the sixth minute, powerfully heading Dave van den Bergh's cross at the far post back into the goal and then scored from the spot for the Red Bulls' first successful penalty kick goal of the year. Previously Clint Mathis missed against Houston Dynamo and New York didn't convert any of its chances in the preseason.
The former Aston Villa striker made it nine goals in his first seven games, a new MLS record.
"I think they played well in the second half and we couldn't manage with their counterattack, they passed the ball better and we struggled," Angel said. "At the end, we got an equalizer and that's positive."
The Red Bulls squandered several chances to go up 3-0 and it came back to bite them later when the Wizards rallied for three goals in a span of 46 minutes. That's after New York conceded just one goal in its first 450 minutes at home.
If there's a positive for New York its that the club, despite its poor form recently, remains in first place in the Eastern Conference with 21 points out of its first 12 games.
"I guess [it's a silver lining]," Arena said. "If there are any more, let me know."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
