Sports

Red Bulls’ face yet another summer swoon

The Red Bulls have started their annual summer swoon, mired in a three-game winless skid and having won just once in their last seven on the road. And after Sunday’s humiliating loss at Western Conference doormat Chivas USA – a defeat that prompted coach Mike Petke to apologize to the fans – they’re trying to figure out exactly what went wrong, and how to fix it.

“I’m not going to speak about what we discussed. That’s private. But they’re just as disappointed as I am,’’ said Petke, who did bemoan his Red Bulls’ profligacy in front of goal, and Chivas USA keeper Dan Kennedy’s proficiency in it.

“You don’t live your life on could’ve, would’ve and should’ve; but re-watching that game we could’ve been up 4-0, or definitely 3-0. That’s a case where we didn’t capitalize on our opportunities, and Mr. Kennedy had a phenomenal performance.’’

“It’s tough to take a positive when you lose, of course. But they showed up from the whistle, which is good. At the end of the day you don’t look for excuses. But you have to finds reasons; and that’s what we’re doing.’’

On Sunday, Petke seemed particularly perturbed with Fabian Espindola’s wretched finishing – and with good reason. The Argentine striker could’ve and likely should’ve had a first-half brace, going in alone on Kennedy in the 8th minute but being stoned at point-blank range. Three minutes later, Thierry Henry sent him in again from the left side, but Kennedy robbed him from three yards out.

But today, Petke refused to single out Espindola.

“Espindola got himself some good opportunities to get goals. That’s a combination of not taking your chances and (good goalkeeping),’’ said Petke. “But we lose as team and win as a team. That’s true of any team that wants to be a true team. Guys are hurting from this, to be sure.

“Every team goes through many different things. Now we’re going through something the last couple games…It’s my job to get over it and get the team over it.’’

Since knocking off Sporting KC, they’re winless in their next three games with a pair of humbling losses. And since their U.S. Open Cup loss at New England on June 12, they’ve won just once away from Red Bull Arena – that Sporting KC win – and have been outscored 16-7 on the road.

Their recent funk is being exacerbated by the fact their margin for error is razor-thin. The top five teams in each conference make the playoffs, with just three points separating the second-place Red Bulls (39) from sixth-place Houston in the East.

“I’m drawing a blank on a time when the division was this tight,’’ said Petke. “I’ve said all along that’s parity. Any day any team in this league can win. That’s the way they want it and that’s the way it us. There’s not going to be a Manchester United in this league, a Barcelona in this league, losing two games and running away with it

“I don’t think that makes an excuse for why we lost to a team at the bottom of the table. I’m not making that excuse. That’s just the way it is, and it’s frustrating.’’