Captain and midfielder Dax McCarty has started all four games thus far for the Red Bulls.
The Red Bulls midfield: the key to their success?
by Anna Ferkingstad, New York Editor
The New York Red Bulls are not a defensive oriented team. The 2014 playoff strategy, in fact, seemed to be the very opposite: score enough goals that defensive blunders won’t matter as much. With a forward like Bradley Wright-Phillips and a league veteran named Thierry Henry, it was possible too. But this season is different.
It was evident as soon as Henry announced his retirement last winter, that the Red Bulls were going to need a new strategy. This became even clearer with the unexpected departure of New York legend and head coach Mike Petke. In the absence of Henry, new head coach Jesse Marsch now had a team without not only its captain but the very glue that held the midfield together.
The offseason may have been tumultuous (full of a plethora of big departures and arrivals) but the Red Bulls have shown in their first four games that they are a big threat in this year’s Eastern Conference. Two months is not enough time to evaluate a team’s character for a season but Saturday’s game against DC United made it evident that although New York still wears that Red Bull logo, they are a new club. In the absence of Henry, Tim Cahill, Ibrahim Sekagya, Eric Alexander and Jamison Olave (just to name a few) they have a new rhythm, and a new method of play.
The secret to the undefeated streak the Red Bulls currently hold? The triangle midfield composed of Dax McCarty, Felipe and Sacha Kljestan. Tie, win or loss seemingly rely on the way opponents defend and limit the mobility of this trio. The New York Red Bulls almost lost Saturday’s game against DC at RFK Stadium, because United was effectively limiting possession in between McCarty, Felipe and Kljestan. The first match against United on March 22 and the 2-1 win against the Columbus Crew on March 28, however, saw well-oiled midfield machine. The two wins were largely results of the central player’s abilities to alleviate defensive pressure and created scoring opportunities for the club’s potent strikers.
In Saturdays game at RFK Stadium, Kitchen’s goal from long range in the 67th minute meant that at one point (even if it was for just a moment) DC led 2-0 against their bitter rivals. A huge reason why? Well, Kitchen’s technique, mobility and ambition are a huge part of it. But also not to be overlooked, was the decision by United’s outside midfielders Chris Rolfe and Michael Farfan to actively tuck centrally throughout the game. This greatly prevented the mobility of McCarty, Felipe and Kljestan and created a speed of play that was a stark contrast that seen at Red Bull Arena in their last matchup in March.
The 2-2 draw between the two Atlantic Cup rivals at RFK Stadium, means that the trophy is still up for grabs. A win at RFK stadium would have secured the Atlantic Cup for the Red Bulls, who toppled DC United 2-0 when they faced only weeks earlier at Red Bull Arena. In the second installment of the 2015 rivalry, DC led 2-1 entering the final moments of the game. The Red Bulls would have made the four hour drive back up I-95 with zero points if it were not for the heroics of Lloyd Sam in the 92nd minute. Sam brought the game to a ties scoreline after slotting a deflection from DC goalkeeper Bill Hamid.
Perhaps, it was just karma for a DC side that secured their own last two victories with stoppage time goals. New York, however, looked undeniably hungry for a goal in the second half. Throughout the 90 minutes, the Red Bulls were comfortable on the ball and demonstrated an understanding of each other. They played as a team. Last season there was a tendency to funnel a large portion of transitional balls through Henry, but in the game against DC the entire midfield (wings included) acted as outlets for the defensive live.
The starting whistle released aggressive tackles and possession in New York’s favor but it DC midfielder Perry Kitchen that opened the scoring in the 26th minute, with a header on a corner kick by Taylor Kemp. DC’s second goal in the 67th minute was followed by a finished shot from Red Bull defender Damien Perrinelle less than a minute later to bring the scoreline to 2-1. Only three yellows were seen in the match, but the passion and aggression made it clear it was an Atlantic Cup match.
The Red Bulls acquired United States international Sacha Kljestan during the 2015 offseason.
Prior to facing DC, the Red Bulls had a 2-1 victory against the Columbus Crew and a bye week. In United’s last two games against Orlando City FC and the LA Galaxy, stoppage time goals gave them 1-0 victories. New York is yet to lose with a record of 0-2-2. The tie leaves DC United at the top of the Eastern Conference with the last Atlantic Cup game not occurring until late August. Next week, the Red Bulls head back to Red Bull Arena to face their first Western Conference opponents of the season, the San Jose Earthquakes.
As the season continues, keep an eye on the Red Bull midfield. As every team in their league continues to find their footing, the New York Red Bulls success will largely rely on the interactions between this central trio and the defensive and attacking lines.
