The second and final leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals awaits this Saturday at RFK Stadium as the New York Red Bulls attempt to clinch a spot in the Conference Finals for the first time since 2008.
If the Red Bulls advance, the first leg of the Conference Finals will be held at Red Bull Arena on November 23. Tickets for RBNY’s potential final home match are available for online purchase, or by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER.
Here are some important statistics, a look back to the first leg, and what to expect this Saturday.
Eastern Conference Semifinals – Second Leg (Red Bulls lead 2-0)
- 2014 vs. D.C. United: 2-2-0
- Goals For: 3 - Lloyd Sam (9/10), Bradley Wright-Phillips (first leg), Peguy Luyindula (first leg)
- Goals Against: 3 - Davy Arnaud (4/12), Luis Silva (8/31), Eddie Johnson (8/31)
New York Red Bulls (Fourth seed)
- Record: 13-10-11 (2-0-0 in 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs)
- Last Five Matches: 4-1-0
- Leading Goal Scorer: Bradley Wright-Phillips (27; 3 in playoffs)
- Assist Leader: Thierry Henry (14; 3 in playoffs)
- Saves Leader: Luis Robles (111; 3 in playoffs)
D.C. United (First seed)
- Record: 17-9-8 (0-1-0 in 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs)
- Last Five Matches: 2-1-2
- Leading Goal Scorer: Fabian Espindola/Luis Silva (11; 0 in playoffs)
- Assist Leader: Fabian Espindola (9; 0 in playoffs)
- Saves Leader: Bill Hamid (110; 5 in playoffs)
First Leg – New York Red Bulls 2, D.C. United 0
Red Bulls Arena hosted the first leg of the Conference Semifinals and fourth meeting between these rivals on November 2. D.C. United created the first chance of the game when Nick DeLeon sent in a dangerous cross to Fabian Espindola, but the striker didn’t appear ready for it and the ball deflected off of him, safely into the hands of Luis Robles. The Red Bulls then created many chances of their own, and eventually capitalized in the 40th minute when Thierry Henry’s backheel found a wide-open Bradley Wright-Phillips who scored to give the Red Bulls a 1-0 lead.
New York would double their lead in the 73rd minute on a long ball from Thierry Henry which found an onside Peguy Luyindula. The Frenchman displayed an excellent first touch to control the ball and nutmegged D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid to make it 2-0. The Red Bulls had more chances in the five minutes that followed Luyindula’s goal, but a deflected shot from Wright-Phillips followed by a clean header by Dax McCarty missed the net by less than a yard. The match ended as a 2-0 Red Bull victory with one remaining leg to play at RFK Stadium.
Second Leg – Saturday, November 8 at 2:30 p.m. ET (TV: NBC)
For the Red Bulls, the 2-0 lead plays favorably to their style of play, which prides itself on defense first.
“Our game plan perhaps could be tweaked during the game depending on what goes on, but we are going to stick with what has gotten us results over the last month, month and a half,” head coach Mike Petke said. “The compact defense, limiting space in the middle, and looking to exploit when we win the ball, looking to go forward. That’s who we are…that’s where the game’s going to be won.”
The Red Bulls are 0-2 in games played in Washington, D.C. this year, but they have won the last two matches they’ve played against their Atlantic Cup rivals. If New York can score one goal at RFK Stadium on Saturday, D.C. will need to score at least four goals to overcome the aggregate score and away goal tiebreaker.
As for D.C. United, they need to score goals. Down 2-0 with one game remaining, expect D.C. to make changes to their lineup from last week. Although it is unlikely that the Eastern Conference leaders will tweak their game plan much for the start of the match (if at all), expect them to come out attacking in the second half if they’re unable to score or concede.
“They’re top of the East, they’re the favorites,” Petke said. “I don’t care what the score was going into this game, they are the favorites. They’re top of the Eastern Conference going into the playoffs, so they will not be desperate.”
D.C. is set to welcome back defender Sean Franklin from injury. Franklin, who appeared last weekend as a substitute, is said to be, “100 percent,” according to D.C. United head coach Ben Olson. However, the status of Chris Rolfe and Luis Silva still remains unclear.
