The New York Red Bulls will be searching for an offense that has been mostly missing in action throughout the early portion of the MLS season tonight when they face the San Jose Earthquakes at Red Bull Arena (7:30 p.m., MSG). The Red Bulls (1-1-2, five points) may have to do so without star striker Thierry Henry, questionable with an Achilles Tendon injury.
The Red Bulls have scored just two goals in four matches this season, tied for the lowest total in the MLS. New York is on a three-match winless streak.
The most frustrating part for the Red Bulls is that they are dominating play, having possessed the ball 65 percent of the time vs. Philadelphia, and 74 percent the week before vs. Houston.
"It’s annoying because you create chances and you have the ball most of the time and you end up losing the game," said Henry. "That can’t be an excuse. You play the way you want to play."
Coach Hans Backe has been pleased with much of the play, just not the end result.
"The way we’re playing out of the back four into the midfield is really rather good, fluid," Backe said. "We’re forcing them to sit back. I don’t think most teams want to sit back that way, but we’re forcing other teams to really play defense as we dictate the play."
The Earthquakes are also 1-1-2 on the season.