Toronto FC forward Mo Babouli (11) and New York Red Bulls midfielder Dax McCarty (11) chase a loose ball during the first half at Red Bull Arena. Toronto FC lost 3-0 to the Red Bulls.Bill Streicher
Mistakes cost Toronto FC in a 3-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night.
Bradley Wright-Phillips had his first hat trick since 2014 to provide all of New York's offence and extend Toronto FC's winless run to four matches.
TFC (4-5-4) hasn't won a game since May 7 at home against FC Dallas.
"I think it's critical errors, really," said Toronto head coach Greg Vanney. "Tonight, again, set piece defending was an issue. Then I think also we can't make a couple mistakes."
Wright-Phillips scored in the fourth, 25th and 27th minutes for the fastest hat trick in MLS history. He has eight goals in the last seven games — the Red Bulls are 5-1-1 in that span — after going scoreless in the first seven.
Toronto had to deal without star striker Sebastian Giovinco for the majority of the match after the team's leading scorer left the game in the 22nd minute with an adductor injury.
Vanney didn't think the injury was too serious.
"I would say it doesn't look like anything significant in terms of amount of time," said Vanney. "We'll see as we assess over the next 24 hours. But I think he felt it coming on, and whatever it exactly is, I'm not sure."
The Reds are already without forward Jozy Altidore, who is dealing with a hamstring injury.
Without Giovinco and Altidore, Wright-Phillips was too much to handle.
The English forward opened the scoring with a header, off the feed from Sacha Kljestan, from the centre of the box. Kljestan again found Wright-Phillips, who froze the defender and went near post, to make it 2-0 before finding the back of the net from the corner of the six-yard box. Kljestan leads MLS with 10 assists.
New York (6-7-1) survived a full half playing a man down after Gonzalo Veron was shown a red card in the 43rd.
The Red Bulls, who had an MLS-low three points on April 24, moved into a tie with Philadelphia atop Eastern Conference. Toronto slipped into sixth place.
TFC has a break from MLS play until June 18 when they host the L.A. Galaxy at BMO Field. Toronto hosts the Montreal Impact in the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship on Wednesday.