MATCH RECAP, pres. by Provident Bank: Red Bulls Battle, Fall in Ohio

The New York Red Bulls lost to the Columbus Crew, 2-1, on Saturday in Ohio.

"I was incredibly proud of the effort," Head Coach Troy Lesesne said. "I think the two goals that we give away, we have to do better in these moments. Then when we have an opportunity like that we have to capitalize obviously on the penalty, but for coming into a place that's a really difficult place to play, against an opponent that I have a lot of respect for. I felt that we controlled the game and we had a lot of opportunities to, not only get into the game with a draw with a penalty but maybe even be in a position to win it."

Elias Manoel scored for New York, heading home a cross in the first half to draw even. He later missed a penalty that would have drawn the sides even.

"That one stings because the guys poured a lot into the game, and have a lot to be happy about and terms of the progress that we've made in the last month and a half," Lesesne said. "I think we're on the right way. That's the last thing I told them, we're on the right way. We need to be unhappy because we could have gotten more there. I don't want to say deserved because, I don't think you can say that word when you lose. But I do think that we could have gotten more there. If we continue to have performances like that, then we're going to again be on the right way towards where we want to go this season."

Manoel scored his second goal this season, the 4th of his MLS career. Omir Fernandez has recorded an assist in back-to-back matches,11th of his MLS career.

Columbus got goals from Cucho Hernández and Yaw Yeboah in the victory.

"We have to be better," Sean Nealis said. "We know that they haven't really lost too much at home here, we had our opportunities and we kind of squandered it. Again, we have to look ourselves in the mirror and be better. They were clinical in two opportunities and we weren't good enough. We had our chances and we just have to bury them. I think that's going to be the message going forward. Especially you know, as we get closer and closer to playoffs and all these games means so much more and every team will be given so much more during these games. We have to be better and that's going to be the message this week."

Frankie Amaya has recorded a goal or an assist in back-to-back matches, after recording his seventh career MLS assist and his first of the season.

New York will host New England Revolution on Saturday, July 8 at Red Bull Arena for Marvel Night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET with coverage on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and New York Red Bulls Radio in English via TuneIn, NewYorkRedBulls.com, and New York Red Bulls app.