HARRISON, N.J. – For 89 minutes, the New York Red Bulls looked well on their way to the top of the Eastern Conference.
But as has been the case of late, mental mistakes cost the Red Bulls points as the team gave up two goals to D.C. United in the final six minutes of play to see what would have been a massive Atlantic Cup win turn into a disappointing 2-2 draw.
Steve Birnbaum and Lamar Neagle led D.C. in the late rally, and while the result extended New York's unbeaten run to 11 matches, their late-match collapse is just the most recent in a string of similar results.
"It's unacceptable," said a visibly upset Bradley Wright-Phillips after the match. "We had a chance to go top. As a team, we have to sort it out. It's embarrassing now."
"I don't really care that it's D.C.," added Sacha Kljestan. "I am more upset this is the fourth or fifth time this has happened this year. This game is different than the other ones where maybe we let our foot off the peddle. This one feels a little more unlucky, a little more unjust.
"We were on top of the game. I hit the post a couple of times. On another day, it could have easily been 6-0 maybe."
The Red Bulls' frustration stemmed from the fact that they were in prime position to take their place at the top of the Eastern Conference. With New York City FC losing to New England and Toronto FC beating Columbus, a win would have put New York in a tie on points with the Reds and in first place based on goal differential. Instead, New York are now tied with NYCFC on 44 points, staring up at their Canadian rivals.
Still, Jesse Marsch has not lost hope. Instead, the Red Bulls head coach downplayed another late-game collapse with the belief that a turnaround was coming.
"It's been frustrating how many points we've given away late in games," Marsch conceded. "When you add them all up and you look at it, you shake your head and go, 'How in the world does that happen?' They seem to come in different fashions.
"I'm still very 'glass half full.' This is a good team," he added. "The frustration of giving some late leads will continue to reinforce certain things with mentality. We’re making it hard on ourselves and we’re going to get there the hard way.”
