Everybody from fans to media to the MLS’ own website ripped the Red Bulls for not adding a difference-maker before the transfer window closed this week.
But Red Bulls’ sporting director Denis Hamlett countered by saying they already have two in Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sacha Kljestan, insisting they’re already a contender. And they looked the part in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Orlando City SC before a sellout crowd of 25,219.
The Red Bulls (12-8-2, 38 points) spotted Orlando the lead on Carlos Rivas’ 18th minute tally, but equalized on an own goal a dozen minutes later. Wright-Phillips made the difference with his 60th minute winner, and Sean Davis curled in a beautiful score from 22 yards out for the icing on a sweet victory.
Now they’ve bounced back from last weekend’s loss to New York City FC and have won seven out of eight overall going into Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup semifinal at Cincinnati.
“We feel good about our roster,’’ Hamlett said. “We have two difference-makers.
“For the last 2 ½ years Bradley and Sacha are two difference-makers. So when people constantly have this dialogue that we don’t have difference-makers, I’m looking at Bradley and see a guy that’s been a prolific scorer since he’s been in this league. What he’s done the past 2 ½ years that I’ve been here has been amazing. The same with Sacha. So we feel like we do have those.”
To Hamlett’s point, Wright-Phillips’ 69 goals since the start of 2015 are the most in MLS history over a three-year stretch. Kljestan is three away from the three-year record for assists. And Saturday against Orlando (8-10-6, 30), they had more than enough.
They fell behind early when Kaka — sent off by VAR review for shoving in extra time — set up Rivas. But they equalized when Tyler Adams sent in a cross toward Kljestan that Orlando’s Leo Pereira accidentally deflected in for an own goal.
Alex Muyl missed a wide-open net in the 59th minute, but redeemed himself a minute later by sending in a low cross from the right wing that Wright-Phillips slid home.
“He’s just now become so much more of a cutthroat goal scorer,’’ coach Jesse Marsch said of Wright-Phillips.
Davis added a third goal, the fifth time they’d hit that mark in their past six games. After having lost red-hot Daniel Royer (knee) last week, it is an auspicious sign heading into their fifth Open Cup semi, but first since 2003. Having never won an MLS or Open Cup had their fans pining for a big name this summer, and the league website even graded their window a D.
“We’ve had success over the years and gotten closer. This year we’re in the Open Cup semifinal. The East has gotten better and that’s made it more difficult, but we feel we’re right there,’’ Hamlett said.
“It’s the furthest we’ve been, and no disrespect to Cincinnati — we have to turn up in that game and be ready for the atmosphere — but we should win that game,’’ Wright-Phillips said. “Don’t mistake this for being cocky, but with the quality we’ve got if we lose this it’ll be on us. We would be the only people to blame for that.”