HARRISON, N.J. — This isn’t the offense that the New York Red Bulls or their fans have become accustomed to seeing over recent seasons.

While the Red Bulls have managed to muster up opportunities in their opening five games of the 2016 MLS season, the team has just four goals to show for it, all of which came against the Houston Dynamo. That inability to put away chances was again on display against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night.

Despite the Red Bulls’ willingness to get numbers forward and gathering dangerous sequences in the first half, Jesse Marsch’s side was stifled by the Sporting backline and goalkeeper Tim Melia.

The team’s offensive struggles have been wide spread, with holding midfielder Felipe currently leading the side with two goals on the year. Striker Bradley Wright-Phillips, who has been the engine that has driven the Red Bulls in the attacking third over recent seasons, epitomizes the squad’s lack of a finishing touch, being shut out over the first month-plus of the season.

Wright-Phillips, whose penalty was saved with just under half an hour remaining in the match, however, certainly shoulders much of the blame.

“Last season I remember missing two penalties in a game,” said Wright-Phillips. “I’ve definitely felt like this before and it’s very frustrating as a striker when you’re getting these chances, you want to put them away. Again it’s not today, it’s not the day. I’m not disappointed in the chances, but the penalty I’ve got to be scoring that one. There’s a chance to be getting back in the game. I messed up.”

With Wright-Phillips and company struggling up front, it’s evident that the team needs a spark. Designated Player Gonzalo Veron is still recovering from injury, while rookies Alex Muyl, who appeared against Sporting KC, and Brandon Allen were each on the gameday roster.

The Red Bulls have recorded 26 shots on goal to start the season, and while that number probably needs to increase, the chances have been there for the taking. Sean Davis, who filled in for the suspended Felipe on Saturday, believes that it’s a matter of when, rather than if, the Red Bulls begin to finish the chances afforded to them.

“I think for the most part we were able to put the game on our terms and we could dictate things, but at the end of the day it comes down to the two boxes, conceding and scoring,” said Sean Davis. “Unfortunately the ball wouldn’t go in for us today. We’re not discouraged at all, we have a really good group here. I’m really excited for the future because I know we’re going through a tough period but we’ll get through it and be better because of the experience.”

Over the offseason, the Red Bulls stressed the importance of keeping their team intact. While injuries have plagued the side through the early portion of the season, key players like Wright-Phillips, Mike Grella and Dax McCarty remain in the team’s starting lineup.

While the team’s goalscoring problems may seem complicated, Marsch simply chalked up the latest result on Saturday to being on the wrong side of the scoresheet.

“To be honest with you, I’m not sure how to explain it,” Marsch said following the defeat. “Right, I mean, I know that when I’m watching my team play that it’s a good team and that we’re in many ways executing game plans the right way and in a lot of these games I think we come out in many ways as the better team on the day but walk away with not enough goals and giving up too many. So obviously that is the recipe for losses.”