HARRISBURG, Pa. – After scoring at least a goal in 22 road matches, now Red Bulls II can’t find the net away from home.
NYRBII (6-9-3) shot blanks for the second game in a row, in a 2-0 defeat to the Harrisburg Island at FNB Field.
Playing their second United Soccer League game in four nights, the visitors also had to contend with a shortened bench.
“Tough to turn around from Sunday,” head coach John Wolyniec said. “we played two games in the heat. We didn’t come out well, gave away too much early, started to get a grip on the game in the second half but weren’t able to captilize in some of our good plays.
“We didn’t create enough of these good plays. We fought to the end so I give credit to our guys in that sense, but digging a hole early in the first half is not a good idea on a hot night when we’re playing three games in a week.”
Harrisburg opened the scoring with a pair of first-half goals, scored by James Thomas and Paul Wilson in the 20th and 41st minutes, respectively.
Goalkeeper Rafael Diaz made a season-high six saves to keep the match close.
“It really just comes down to who wants it more in the box,” defender Ethan Kutler said. “You know we had a couple good chances in both games and sometimes you don’t get lucky enough and the other team does. It’s not to say the defense is doing our job because clearly the last two games we’ve given up two goals apiece.
“We’re not doing our jobs and the forwards aren’t either. We got to get back to the training ground and get more confidence on and off the ball and just take it step by step to the next game.”
Red Bulls Under-18 player Zaire Bartley made his NYRB II debut in the 78th minute as he came on as a substitute for David Najem.
Returning from athletic pubalgia surgery, Stefano Bonomo made his season debut on the bench but did not get any action.
Despite New York holding 58 percent possession, Harrisburg outshot the visitors, 17-14.
Red Bulls II return home to host the Charlotte Independence at MSU Soccer Park at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Scoring summary:
New York: Diaz: Najem (Zaire Bartley, 78th minute), Schmoll, Abidor, Kutler; Tinari (Zeiko Lewis, 45th minute), Basuljevic, Shigenobu; Valot, Martinez, Flemmings
Harrisburg: Miller; McLaws, Mohammed, Calvano, Brent, Thomas, Wilson (Danny Di Prima, 90th minute), Grosh (Rasheed Olabiyi, 80th minute), Benbow (Jake Bond, 68th minute), Dabo, Mensah
Scoring:
Harrisburg: Thomas 21′ Wilson 41′
Discipline:
New York: Bartley 84′
Harrisburg: Calvano 23′ Dabo 55′ Thomas 73′ Mohammed 86′
