E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - According to Bruce Arena, the New York Red Bulls actually played better in a 2-0 loss to Chivas USA on MLS Primetime Thursday than they did Sunday in a 1-0 win against D.C. United.
Wait ... what?
"We created more chances than we did the other day," he said. "We had much more of the ball and played better defensively, however we gave up two goals."
Indeed, Chivas USA was the more opportunistic team, scoring on two of their few chances while the Red Bulls were snake-bitten by the post and crossbar twice.
"Today was a strange game," Juan Pablo Angel said. "I felt we created some chances and hit the post twice and then we made two mistakes we were punished for."
Angel made his return from a one-game suspension for a red card against New England July 14. Angel, who scored in a team-record six consecutive games earlier in the year, was shut out for the fifth game in a row. But it wasn't for a lack of chances.
Angel came close to scoring his 10th goal of the year five minutes into the game, but his flicked header off a Claudio Reyna free kick skimmed off the far post and out. In the 17th minute, Angel headed a Reyna free kick on target, but Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan dived to his right to make the save.
In the second minute of stoppage time, Angel was thwarted again. This time his header beat Guzan but was cleared off the line by Rodrigo Lopez.
"You're not going to score every game and I know that," Angel said. "I'm not disappointed because we were still able to create some chances even though most of them were off set pieces, the chances were still there. I'd be worried if I didn't get the chances."
Arena went with a 4-3-3 formation for the first time this year, playing Jozy Altidore, John Wolyniec and Angel up front as he used a 17th different lineup in 17 games this season.
"I thought it'd be good and we'd put a lot of pressure on them," said Altidore, who hit the crossbar four minutes into the second half. "I felt we still lacked a little bit of energy though and just couldn't put something together."
The Red Bulls were beaten by a former MetroStars forward as Ante Razov headed in career goal No. 104 in the 38th minute and a former Seton Hall University standout as Sacha Kljestan added a late insurance goal off an assist from Razov.
And with the exception of the two goals, Chivas did little else, according to Seth Stammler.
"We felt Chivas had two chances and buried them both and that's unfortunate for us," said Stammler, who started in central defense for an injured Jeff Parke. "At the same time, we know we have to do better with our chances and hopefully put one away to at least tie it."
The Red Bulls knew they'd be without Parke, who tore his hamstring Sunday in the first half against D.C. United. But they lost Carlos Mendes to flu-like symptoms as well, and Arena had to go with Chris Leitch, who was signed earlier this month.
"It was a little bit of a tough break having our center backs out tonight," Arena said. "I had to make a couple of changes, but that's all part of it. You can't complain about that. Stammler had a good game for us tonight. He's one player I would single out that was pretty solid on the night."
The Red Bulls have 17 days to get healthy before they face Eastern Conference rival Toronto FC on August 12 at Giants Stadium.
"I think in general it will be good to get some bodies back and get the team healthy," Angel said. "We're looking forward to the next part of the season and hopefully getting enough points to make it to the playoffs."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
