Soccer

Red Bulls draw after coughing up another lead

Last season’s Red Bull team won the Supporters’ Shield — the first silverware in team history — as much with toughness as it did talent. But that toughness is very much in question this year, as this underachieving team wallows in mediocrity and teeters on the playoff precipice after yet another disappointing performance.

This time it was coughing up a late lead to the sad-sack Earthquakes, allowing a late goal and held to a 1-1 tie at home against a last-place team that had lost four straight.

“We’ve got 14 games left, and we have to have the mindset of fixing our mistakes. If we don’t we can kiss the playoffs goodbye,’’ goalie Luis Robles said. “In the first half we did a good job limiting their crosses, and even on the crosses (that got in), our defenders were able to get back and make great plays.

“But it takes a certain mental toughness to do that for 90 minutes, and right now, looking at the last four or five games, that’s in question, that mental toughness … I’m talking about mental toughness. Starting from myself and all the way up to the (strikers), we have to question if we have that, and if we don’t have that, how are we going to get it?’’

The Red Bulls (5-6-9, 24 points) seemed destined for a win and their first clean sheet since June 8, until conceding Steven Lenhart’s first goal of the season off a scramble in the 85th minute in front of 20,001 stunned fans at Red Bull Arena.

“I had a terrible head for a clearance, and I don’t know if somebody volleyed it across the box and it was a scramble,’’ midfielder Eric Alexander said. “They got a touch and scored.’’

It had been Lenhart who handed them their lead, called for a handball in the box. Hours after being added to the All-Star game, Bradley Wright-Phillips converted a 33rd-minute penalty kick for his league-high 17th goal of the year. But against sorry San Jose, they couldn’t make it stand up.

“Personally, I should’ve scored more so I’m not in the best mood,” Wright-Phillips said. “We’ve got to work harder as a team not to concede silly goals.’’

Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill — also both named All-Stars — were vexed as well, bolting without talking to the media. And coach Mike Petke was disconcerted about the 21-7 foul discrepancy in favor of San Jose.

“It’s laughable. I just sit back and laugh. I told the fourth official I’m not even going to yell at you, I’m just going to laugh,” Petke said. “It’s funny. It’s become that. … It’s (not the) reason we tied, but it’s unenjoyable to sit and watch that.’’

Petke then added the disclaimer, “Notice how I haven’t used two words that starts with ‘R’ [referees] or ‘O’ [officials].

“It’s become — not just with me, my team, but talking to other coaches and watching other MLS games — it’s become a serious problem.’’