MONTCLAIR, N.J. – Red Bulls II continued their up-and-down United Soccer League season by dropping a 3-0 decision to Louisville City FC at MSU Soccer Park Sunday.

The defeat snapped NYRB’s (5-6-2) two-game winning streak and was the first time the team suffered a loss to Louisville (6-1-4, 22).

“I challenged them to see who wanted to win the game,” Red Bulls II head coach John Wolyniec said. “I thought in the first half we were playing to look good and do certain things but not really try and win the game. We definitely came up short so credit to Louisville. They’ve been a good team the past two years as they are this year … They had a plan and stuck to it and pulled it off so hopefully we’re better for it.”

It wasn’t until the 19th minute that either side saw a clear chance on goal, the first being a Vincent Bezecourt shot that made its way behind the Louisville defense via a Zeiko Lewis through ball, but the chance was stonewalled by Louisville goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh.

Six minutes later Kyle Smith slotted the ball past Evan Louro off a Brian Ownby assist to give Louisville the 1-0 lead.

NYRB II’s best chance of the first half came in the 42nd minute off a Brandon Allen free kick, which he earned mere inches just outside the 18. His attempt, however, sailed high above the crossbar.

Louisville tacked on another goal in the 55th minute, beating a New York offside trap, leaving Louro 1 v 1 with Ownby, who tucked it home.

“They came in with a really good game plan and were good in both boxes,” Red Bulls II midfielder Arun Basuljevic said. They limited our chances even though we had a few and could’ve capitalized a little bit. They were clinical and I think it came down to that. Two good teams going at it in really difficult circumstances today with the heat, but at the end of the day we haven’t been able to string together enough good performances. We need to take a hard look at ourselves and get better as the season goes on.”

Amidst the 90-degree heat at MSU Soccer Park, the pace slowed, as did the number of chances for both sides as the final whistle approached.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Lousiville recorded its third goal from the foot of Richard Ballard off a counter.

New York continues its homestand at MSU Soccer Park taking on Bethlehem Steel FC Friday at 7 p.m. ET.

Lineups:

New York: Louro; Najem, Ndam, Bilyeu, O’Toole (Ethan Kutler, 69th minute); Metzger, Basuljevic; Lewis, Bezecourt, Valot (Douglas Martinez, 69th minute); Allen (Junior Flemmings, 62nd minute)

Louisville: Ranjitsingh; Totsch, Craig (Sean Reynolds, 63rd minute), Morad; Smith, Abend, DelPiccolo, Jimenez; Ownby (Richard Ballard, 80th minute), Lancaster, Davis IV (Speedy Williams, 63rd minute)

Scoring:

Louisville: Kyle Smith 24′ Briand Ownby 55′ Richard Ballard 90′

Cautions:

New York: David Najem 66′

Louisville: Cameron Lancaster 90’+

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.