New York Red Bulls suffered a major loss over the weekend to rivals NYCFC, a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference semi final, losing 2-0 at Citi Field. The team has had difficulties scoring goals in 2025 despite improving the offense with striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. Captain Emil Forsberg, now in his second season in MLS, spoke about the issues after the game.
“We have to be a little bit more clever,” said Forsberg when asked about the team’s stagnating offense. “I think we created. We had some moments in the first half as well, around the box, put the ball into the box a bit more, see what happens. Sometimes you just have to bring the ball into the box and something will happen.”
The lack of goal-scoring is something that the stats won’t bare out given the team’s recent 7-0 victory over LA Galaxy. However, losses like the one to NYCFC and Nashville earlier in the week, show a story of a team that has converted from not caring about possession and striking with more direct play, to a team that is looking to build into the attack but can’t find the trigger once in their moments.
NYCFC played a style that we’ve seen Red Bulls play in the past. It was more direct with their lead striker, Alonso Martinez, running of the last defender’s shoulder and causing havoc with his speed. Red Bulls have had moments like that through players like Cameron Harper but those moments are not as often as they would like at this time in the season.
“Everybody is very disappointed,” said Forsberg about the result. “It’s important that we as a group stay positive. It’s a long season. We stick around for ourselves, we stick up for ourselves and we demand more as a team, as a group.”
Next is a chance for Red Bulls to start a new narrative as they enter the round of 16 against FC Dallas on Wednesday night. The game will be at SI Stadium where the team has performed well and in a knockout format where head coach Sandro Schwarz has only lost once in his time in MLS.
photo by Jordan Bank