Bradley Wright-Phillips missed two penalties as 10-man New York Red Bulls slumped to their fourth successive defeat after losing 2-1 at home to Vancouver Whitecaps this morning.
The Red Bulls went into the clash with a point to prove as they looked to end a three-game losing streak and bag their first ever MLS victory over Vancouver in the process.
Despite a rough couple of weeks, things seemed like they were looking up for Jesse Marsch's side, who were awarded a penalty after just four minutes when Steven Beitashour fouled Sal Zizzo.
However, Wright-Phillips - without a goal in four games - saw his penalty saved by David Ousted, before things went from bad to worse for the hosts. Sacha Kljestan was issued a straight red card on 11 minutes for aiming an elbow in the direction of Kendall Waston - but the worst was yet to come.
Four minutes later, the Red Bulls' task of a maiden win over their Canadian counterparts grew far steeper as Kekuta Manneh tapped home Beitashour's cross to cap a disastrous opening to the game for New York.
New York emerged from the second half with a renewed sense of purpose and it seemed only a matter of time before they equalised. It seemed certain to come on 64 minutes when Beitashour conceded his second penalty of the game.
Inexplicably, though, Wright-Phillips's effort from 12 yards was again saved by Ousted to leave Marsch bemused on the sidelines.
It proved a costly miss as Kianz Froese - who replaced goalscorer Manneh - added a killer second on 77 minutes to compound the Red Bulls' misery.
Anatole Abang pulled one back on 82 minutes to throw them a lifeline, but it proved a false dawn as Vancouver held on for all three points.
Shane Callaghan
