HARRISON, N.J. (August 30, 2015) – The New York Red Bulls take a 2-0 lead over D.C. United into the locker room after 45 minutes. New York outplayed D.C. in the opening half, and were able to cash in on their opportunities with goals from Lloyd Sam and Bradley Wright-Phillips.
Sam struck in the 33rd minute to open the scoring. The play started with a long pass in transition from left back Kemar Lawrence. Lawrence’s stretch pass was on the money for Bradley Wright-Phillips, who controlled at the top of the box, turned and found a cutting Sam. Sam stepped into open space down the right side of the penalty area and fired a shot by Hamid towards the opposite post.
It is the seventh goal of the season for Sam, second behind only Bradley Wright-Phillips. Sam now has a goal in each of the three games against D.C. United this season. He scored the game-winner on March 28 in the Red Bull Arena home opener, and got the tying goal in stoppage time to earn the Red Bulls a point at RFK in April.
Wright-Phillips teamed up with Mike Grella to double the lead in the 42nd minute. Grella ran down the right wing and drove a cross into the path of Wright-Phillips, who volleyed a laser into the top right corner.
Wright-Phillips now has 12 goals on the season, while Grella has seven assists, including four in last five games.
New York got off to a hot start, generating all of the chances in the opening 20 minutes, launching six shots and forcing Bill Hamid into three saves, including denying Mike Grella in a 1-on-1 situation in the sixth minute. Grella found himself in on Hamid after Sacha Klestan slotted a ball through the legs of Steve Birnbaum, but Hamid charged out to meet Grella’s shot.
Kljestan was also stopped by Hamid in the 12th minute. Kljestan took possession and made his way into the box and by defenders, but Hamid again came out to deny the opportunity.
D.C. United’s only chance on goal came in the 21st minute on a free kick from just outside the edge of the penalty area. D.C. forward Chris Rolfe stepped up and delivered a curling attempt on goal, but Luis Robles was able to punch the ball away.
Hamid’s best work came in the 30th minute, when he denied Kljestan with a point-blank save on a header. Hamid then got some help from the defense as a rebound was cleared just as Bradley Wright-Phillips stepped to put it into the open net.
The Red Bulls finished the half leading shots 15-2, and shots on goal 6-1. The home side also took over 56% of the possession.
The Red Bulls have next weekend off before hosting the Chicago Fire on Friday, September 11. Kickoff for that match is scheduled for 7 p.m., with coverage in English and Spanish on Univision.
