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New York Red Bulls Drop Points at Home Against Struggling Real Salt Lake

By Matthew Nelson

Mar 25, 2017; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls forward Fredrik Gulbrandsen (9) has his shot blocked by Real Salt Lake defender Chris Schuler (28) during the first half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2017; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls forward Fredrik Gulbrandsen (9) has his shot blocked by Real Salt Lake defender Chris Schuler (28) during the first half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Red Bulls played host to Real Salt Lake this weekend but did not pick up all three points against the struggling side.

After losing in Seattle last weekend, the New York Red Bulls traveled home again to play against Real Salt Lake, a side that only scored one goal this season from a penalty. Most people thought that the Red Bulls had this match in the bag and would collect all three points against the struggling RSL side. But instead, RSL came to Red Bull Arena and stole their second point of the season after going 90 minutes 0-0, keeping New York fans wondering why they couldn’t score. Here are three takeaways from this match for the New York Red Bulls:

Finishing, Finishing, Finishing

Though both sides game close to scoring, the Red Bulls missed some very clear cut chances that should have been put away fairly easily. In the 19th minute, Bradley Wright-Phillips, the one person you would expect to score from this range, missed a wide open header just six yards from goal. Wright-Phillips also found himself one-on-one with RSL goalkeeper VanOekel but his touch around him took him too far wide in the 81st minute, allowing centerback Maund to catch up to him.

Another clear cut chance fell to Fredrik Gulbrandsen in the 74th minute. Gulbrandsen found himself wide open on a corner kick five yards off the goal line but put the ball wide of VanOekel’s goal. If the Red Bulls finished just one of these chances they would have claimed all three points at home. Instead they were held to zero and missed a chance to go top of the Eastern Conference.

Tyler Adams Looked Good

18-year-old homegrown player Tyler Adams, after only playing 45 minutes last season, was given the start Saturday afternoon and did not disappoint. You can watch his highlight real against RSL here:

Adams had a phenomenal game as a deep-lying playmaker, picking out deep passes that cut through the RSL backline. If Adams keeps having games like this, it wouldn’t be a surprise if we see him eventually in a USMNT jersey in the coming years.

Here is what head coach Jesse Marsch had to say about Adams:

"I’ll say that Tyler is tenacious in there. He’s aggressive. He’s confident on the ball. … The thing that he’s still developing is the savviness and sense of how to move around with the game and set plays up in front of him."

Kljestan Was Missed But Not Too Much

The usual Red Bulls playmaker Sacha Kljestan was expected to play against RSL earlier in the week but due to a late injury to USMNT striker Bobby Wood, Kljestan was called in for Friday’s route of Honduras and Tuesday’s match in Panama.

Whenever you are without Sacah Kljestan it is safe to say that you are going to miss him on the pitch. Arguably one of the best attacking midfielders in the league, Kljestan brings a certain caliber to the Red Bulls side that is not easily replicated. That being said, Saturday afternoon the Red Bulls were able to create plenty of chances for themselves without Kljestan, partially due to Tyler Adam’s contribution, party due to Alex Muyl’s contribution and party due to RSL struggling to contain the New York midfield.

Regardless, with a good chance of losing Kljestan again for USMNT duty in the future, the Red Bulls don’t have to worry too too much about being able to create without him.

Next: Winningest MLS Franchises in League History

The Red Bulls’ next match will be Saturday, April 1 against the Houston Dynamo.

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