RED BULLS VS. D.C. UNITED – AUGUST 31, 2013 – 8:00 PM ET
BULLETIN BOARD RED BULLS BATTLE D.C. UNITED Just two points shy of first place in the Eastern Conference, the New York Red Bulls will host long-time rival D.C. United Saturday night at Red Bull Arena at 8:00 PM.
Conference leader, the Montreal Impact (12-7-5). New York’s next match is on Saturday, Aug. 31, when they battle D.C. United at Red Bull Arena at 8:00 PM. Tickets for Red Bulls matches are available by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or logging onto www.newyorkredbulls.com.
The Red Bulls are also in prime position in the teams’ third and final match of 2013 to win the Atlantic Cup – the trophy given to the victor of the New York-D.C. United regular season series. A win or a tie would ensure that the Red Bulls would take home the cup for the third time in four years. The Red Bulls will also look to go unbeaten against D.C. in a season for only the second time in club history (the other time was in 2010, when New York went 1-0-1).
The Red Bulls put pressure on Chivas USA in the first half and in the sixth minute, Thierry Henry chipped it to an onside Fabian Espindola, who raced in and shot it right at goalkeeper Dan Kennedy. Less than two minutes later, Kennedy was forced to make another save on Espindola after the Argentine forward received a feed from Henry.
The Red Bulls enter the weekend in a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference with Sporting Kansas City with 39 points off an 11-9-6 record, just two points shy of the first place Montreal Impact. Despite goals from Tim Cahill and Dax McCarty, a two-assist performance from Thierry Henry and a late rally, New York dropped a 3-2 decision to CD Chivas USA on August 25 at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA. Cahill had an on target chance in second half stoppage time cleared off the line by Chivas USA defender Bobby Burling to preserve the three points for the hosts. Led by head coach Ben Olsen, D.C. United is 10 th in the Eastern Conference and is coming off a 1-1 tie at home against Toronto FC at RFK Stadium last Saturday. United’s Dwayne De Rosario scored a spectacular long-range goal to put the hosts ahead in the 10th minute, but Bobby Convey’s strike 15 minutes into the second half helped give Toronto FC a point. United is 3-17-5 this season with 14 points and has won once in its last nine games. On March 16, New York hosted D.C. United in its home opener at Red Bull Arena and the sides played to a scoreless draw, despite the Red Bulls out-shooting D.C., 24-4. Fabian Espindola hit the crossbar twice and Henry and Cahill also forced D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid to make several big saves. On April 13, New York travelled to RFK Stadium and goals from Jamison Olave and Henry helped the Red Bulls secure the 2-0 victory and their first road win of the season. In the 29th minute, Dax McCarty sent the ball into D.C.’s defensive third to Henry. Henry’s shot from 25-yards out bounced past Bill Hamid and gave the visitors the 1-0 advantage. Olave added a goal in the 36th minute when Brandon Barklage flicked a corner kick towards goal and the Colombian redirected it in with his thigh. With the Red Bulls going 1-0-1 in 2013 versus D.C., New York has a chance to take home the Atlantic Cup – the victor of the season series between the sides – after United won it back last year. Based on the competition’s rules, the Red Bulls will earn the cup with a win or a tie. United would retain the cup if it wins by two goals or more on Saturday. NEW YORK FALLS TO CHIVAS USA, 3-2 Despite a late rally, the New York Red Bulls were unable to find a gametying goal and fell to CD Chivas USA, 3-2, at the StubHub Center Sunday afternoon. With New York down, 3-1, midfielder Dax McCarty scored his fourth goal of the season in the 86th minute to pull the visitors to within one, before Tim Cahill – who recorded New York’s opening tally in the 31 st minute – had his on-target volley cleared off the line by Chivas USA defender Bobby Burling in second half stoppage time, preserving the three points for the hosts. The loss kept the Red Bulls (11-9-6) in a second-place tie with Sporting Kansas City (11-9-6) at 39 points and two points adrift of Eastern
Kennedy again kept the Red Bulls scoreless with spectacular stop on Espindola in the 21st minute. Henry was played into space and passed it to Espindola, whose one-time shot was blocked by the Chivas USA goalkeeper. On the subsequent play, Cahill’s header from Henry’s corner kick was blocked off the line by Chivas USA. Despite New York’s chances, Chivas USA scored against the run of play in the 30th minute. Carlos Alvarez slipped it to Julio Morales, who cut to his left foot at the top of the box and put a low shot past goalkeeper Luis Robles. However, the Red Bulls responded immediately. Henry’s corner was headed by Cahill off the left post and over the line before Chivas USA defender Marco Delgado was able to volley it out, giving the Australian his seventh goal of the year. Chivas USA retook the lead and earned a penalty kick in first half stoppage time when Red Bulls defender Ibrahim Sekagya was adjudged to have fouled Erick Torres in the penalty box. Torres stepped up and sent Robles the wrong way to make the score, 2-1, heading into halftime. New York looked to tie the score in the 64th minute, as Jonny Steele cut it back to an open Henry. However, the Frenchman could not redirect the pass on target from 12-yards-out. Chivas USA hit the woodwork five minutes following Henry’s chance after a Torres roller was tipped by Robles off the left post. Torres scored the eventual game winner in the 81st minute, getting to a loose ball in the penalty box and putting it home. The Red Bulls were able to pull one back four minutes from full time, as McCarty nodded in a Henry free kick to make the score, 3-2, before Cahill had his right-footed attempt cleared off the line by Burling. New York Red Bulls 2, CD Chivas USA 3 August 25, 2013 – StubHub Center – Carson, CA MLS Regular Season Scoring Summary: CHV: Julio Morales 1 (Carlos Alvarez 3) 30’ NY: Tim Cahill 7 (Thierry Henry 6) 31’ CHV: Erick Torres 3 (penalty kick) 47’+ CHV: Erick Torres 4 (unassisted) 81’ NY: Dax McCarty 4 (Thierry Henry 7) 86’ Disciplinary Summary: NY: Bradley Wright-Phillips (caution) 76’ CHV: Edgar Mejia (caution) 87’ New York Red Bulls (11-9-6, 39 points) – Luis Robles, Brandon Barklage, Markus Holgersson, Ibrahim Sekagya, Roy Miller (Kosuke Kimura 40’), Eric Alexander, Dax McCarty, Tim Cahill, Jonny Steele (Marius Obekop 76’), Fabian Espindola (Bradley Wright-Phillips 58’), Thierry Henry