MATCH INFORMATION
- D.C. United vs. New York Red Bulls
- RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- April 11, 2015 7:00 p.m. ET (WEEK 6, MLS Game #50)
- (MSG2 │ MLS LIVE)
- MSG 2 Channel Finder
- Download MSG GO
- #NYvDC
SETTING THE SCENE
Two of the longest standing clubs in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference face off in a clash for first place at RFK Stadium at 7:00 p.m. ET this Saturday when the New York Red Bulls travel to the nation’s capital to take on D.C. United. Match coverage begins on MSG2 at 6:30 p.m. ET
This match will be the second early season meeting between the two Atlantic Cup rivals, and a battle for first place in the Eastern Conference Standings. New York currently sit two points behind D.C. in the table, despite having played one less game.
The unbeaten Red Bulls handed D.C. its only loss of the early season in a 2-0 defeat at Red Bull Arena. New York is coming off of a bye week while United dramatically defeated Orland City SC 1-0 last weekend. Home form has proved valuable in the last two seasons as the home side has won all six contests.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS (3-2-0)
- 8/31/14: LOSS D.C 2-0 NYRB @ RFK Stadium (MLS Regular Season)
- 9/10/14: WIN NYRB 1-0 D.C. @ Red Bull Arena (MLS Regular Season)
- 11/2/14: WIN NYRB 2-0 D.C. @ Red Bull Arena (MLS Playoff Conference Semifinal First Leg)
- 11/8/14: LOSS D.C. 2-1 NYRB @ RFK Stadium (MLS Playoff Conference Semifinal Second Leg)
- 3/22/15: WIN* NYRB 2-0 D.C. @ Red Bull Arena (MLS Regular Season)
Red Bulls advanced to conference final on aggregate
*Match played earlier this season
NEW YORK RED BULLS
The New York Red Bulls return to action after having their second bye week of the season. Head coach Jesse Marsch admits it isn't the perfect situation, but it gives the team an opportunity to focus on training heading into this weekend's Atlantic Cup clash.
- "It's not ideal, but I think that our focus and attention to making sure that we keep training hard every day so that we are ready when game-time comes, means that we should be ready for the weekend." -Marsch
New York impressively dismissed D.C. in their meeting at RBA, thoroughly outplaying their rivals and earning a 2-0 result. Bradley Wright-Phillips and Lloyd Sam both found the back of the net for the Red Bulls, while the team’s high pressure in the midfield dictated most of the match.
The same methodology earned a similar result for New York when they traveled to Columbus and defeated Crew SC, 2-1 thanks to a Mike Grella second half long-range chip over Columbus goalkeeper Steve Clark. Bradley Wright-Phillips notched his second goal of the season after putting a penalty kick past Clark early in the second frame.
Both Roy Miller and Ronald Zubar are listed as doubtful at the back for the Red Bulls, with neither having played since the opening match against Sporting KC. U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team member Matt Miazga has filled in at the center back position for Zubar for the past two games and expects to do the same this weekend. Jamaican national team member Kemar Lawrence in place of Miller against D.C., but missed the Red Bulls last match against Crew SC for international duty.
The Red Bulls remain the only undefeated team in the Eastern Conference and are one of only two teams who have yet to lose in MLS with Real Salt Lake being the other Western Conference club.
D.C. United
United enter the weekend coming off two thrilling stoppage time victories—giving the squad their best start since the 2006 season. A Chris Pontius 93rd minute header gave D.C. a 1-0 victory against LA Galaxy two weekends ago, while a Luis Silva 91st minute free-kick was the difference in a 1-0 win on the road against Orland City SC last time out.
Luis Silva will look to provide the spark that D.C. was missing in their last clash against New York. Silva, who tied for the club lead in goals last season with 11, sat out the match at Red Bull Arena with a nagging hamstring injury.
D.C. will have revenge on their mind as the Red Bulls not only defeated them earlier in 2015, but also ended their 2014 season when a 2-1 D.C. win resulted in an 3-2 aggregate victory for NYRB at RFK Stadium in the MLS Eastern Conference semifinals.
PREGAME CHATTER
Head coach Jesse Marsch on heading to the nation's capital…
- "A rival game, a team we just beat, a team with revenge on their mind; there's a lot to this game. We have to make sure we're ready to go down there and have a real battle."
Captain Dax McCarty on the Atlantic Cup Rivalry…
- "It's always the same with D.C. It's never easy. We always go down to D.C. with the mentality that it's going to be a tough game, and this one is no different…I'm expecting a very competitive game, like it always is against them."
MEAT PIES FOR ALL
D.C. United and English Premier League side Sunderland AFC announced in early August that they had become football partners in an effort to grow each other's brand globally. As a part of that deal, the clubs—in conjunction with their hospitality partners, Centerplate—have launched a 'transatlantic food exchange' in which each side will serve a dish commonly found in the other club's stadium for this weekend's matches. RFK Stadium will be serving up a steak & ale pie with chips (fries), a staple at Sunderland's Stadium of Light and at pubs all over Britain. In turn, the UK sister club will have an English style cheesesteak on their menu with D.C.-inspired Old Bay shoestring fries and a cheese dipping sauce. Aside from a fair amount of cross-promotion, this is the most noteworthy partnership event to take place between the two organizations.
