Lewis Morgan Back to Provide Boost as Red Bulls Face D.C. United
The New York Red Bulls struggled to accumulate wins and points while Lewis Morgan was away, trying to help his native Scotland in the Euros. Now, with Morgan back, the Red Bulls hope to find their winning form when they host D.C. United in Harrison, N.J., on Saturday night.
New York Red Bulls’ Recent Performance
Current Standing
New York (9-4-7, 34 points) begins this week in third place in the Eastern Conference, holding a two-point lead over Charlotte and trailing FC Cincinnati by five points.
Impact of Lewis Morgan’s Absence
Morgan, who scored nine goals before heading to the Euros, was sorely missed. During his absence, the Red Bulls managed just one win in four matches, going 1-1-2. They scored three of their five goals in that span during a 3-0 victory over Toronto FC last week. Cameron Harper, Elias Manoel, and Dennis Gjengaar found the net in that match, following a 2-2 draw with Montreal three nights earlier.
“It’s great character from the whole team, it’s great mentality,” Red Bulls coach Sandro Schwarz said. “We have seen since the first game and every training session that they are working very seriously and we need all the players, especially in this long season.”
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Team Changes
While Morgan returns to bolster the squad, the Red Bulls will be without Frankie Amaya, who is transferring to Mexican club Toluca.
D.C. United’s Struggles
Current Standing and Recent Form
D.C. United (4-9-7, 19 points) is facing a difficult stretch, failing to win in their past eight games (0-6-2) following a 3-2 win against Atlanta on May 11. The downward spiral started with a 4-1 defeat to the Red Bulls on May 15, with D.C. United letting in three goals in the second half.
Throughout the consecutive games without a win, D.C. has been on the losing end of an 18-7 goal differential. Three of the losses were by a margin greater than one goal, with one being a 4-1 defeat to the Houston Dynamo last week, during which Carlos Ferreira netted three goals against them.
“The standard is just not nearly good enough all around,” D.C. goalkeeper Tyler Miller said. “Everybody needs to really raise their own level and dig deep.”
Key Player: Christian Benteke
Christian Benteke remains a key player for D.C. United, scoring his 14th goal of the season last week. He is just two goals behind Real Salt Lake forward Cristian Arango for the league lead. Benteke has scored three of his goals during the current skid.
Conclusion
As the New York Red Bulls look to regain their momentum with the return of Lewis Morgan, they will face a struggling D.C. United team desperate for a positive result. This matchup is crucial for both teams as the Red Bulls aim to solidify their playoff position, while D.C. United seeks to end their winless streak and climb up the standings.