Sports

Red Bulls’ emerging star helps snap losing skid

The Red Bulls’ 2-1 come-from-behind victory over New England snapped a four-game winless skid, shaking them out of their funk. Left back Kemar Lawrence, who led the way, knows all about fighting out of a malaise.

Sure, goal scorers Bradley Wright-Phillips and Daniel Royer will get the glory for the second-half comeback in front of 19,252 at Red Bull Arena, including New England Revolution and Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

But the man of the match for the Red Bulls (6-6-2, 20 points) was Lawrence, who set up both goals, helped prevent a couple on defense and dominated in 1v1 marking. He has been their best player for weeks after mourning the March passing of his grandmother, Norma Seymour, for the early part of the season.

“Every single thing I do, from training, game days, every single thing I do right now is for her, the memory of her. Going forward she’s going to be that motivation,’’ said Lawrence, whose missed the May 3 loss at Sporting KC for her funeral back in Jamaica two days prior.

“My grandma was my rock, my best friend. She’s a person I spoke to every day. It’s weird some days when she’s just not around. I even said it to [coach] Jesse [Marsch]. I have so much anger lately. I just have to come on gamedays and express it on the field.”

He did Saturday. After Damien Perrinelle had taken out Diego Fagundez in the box to give New England a ninth-minute penalty that Lee Nguyen converted, the Red Bulls took the game to the Revolution (4-5-4, 16 points). And Lawrence was the catalyst, setting up both goals.

“Kemar for the last six weeks has been easily our best player. … The guy is, like, possessed,’’ said Wright-Phillips, the beneficiary of one of Lawrence’s forays.

Bradley Wright-PhillipsGetty Images

Lawrence sent in a cross that keeper Cody Cropper spilled, and Wright-Phillips back-heeled in the 47th minute for his sixth goal of the year. Then in the 74th, Lawrence got behind the defense and sent in a low cross Royer swept home for his fourth tally.

“That’s our best game. And if you go through Kemar, I think Kemar has been if not our best player, then one of our best players this year,” Marsch said. “He started out slow, had a couple personal things he had to fight through with his family. But, my gosh, he’s playing the best he’s ever played.”

Luis Robles’ diving save to rob Fagundez in the 87th preserved the win. After getting outscored 8-1 in three straight losses to open the month, they broke MLS-leading Toronto’s six-game winning streak with last weekend’s draw. On Saturday, they took the full three points.

“We looked good. It felt good being out there. It felt like old times,” Wright-Phillips said. “We needed this. I’m not going to lie. It’s a big win. We needed this and a good performance.”