Ties that Bind: Club Connections between RBNY and D.C. United
- Steve Birnbaum and Sacha Kljestan are playing their first games since starring in two games for the USMNT, with Birnbaum starting both games and Kljestan racking up two goals and two assists.
- Lloyd Sam was on the Red Bulls from 2012-2016, when he was traded to D.C. United. This will be his second game against his former team. In total, he played 106 games with New York, scoring 20 goals and recording 22 assists. Against D.C. United, he appeared in nine games, scoring five goals.
- D.C. United’s Taylor Kemp (2009-2012) and Patrick Mullins (2010-2013) played collegiately at Maryland, where former Red Bull players Seth Stammler (2000-2003) and Jeremy Hall (2006-2008) also played, although not at the same time.
- Chris Duvall (2010-2013) of the Red Bulls played college soccer at Wake Forest with Jalen Robinson (2012-2013) of D.C. United.
- D.C. United coach Ben Olsen graduated from Virginia, where Red Bulls midfielder Derrick Etienne Jr. played one season.
- D.C. United’s Luciano Acosta and the Red Bulls’ Gonzalo Veron played against each other in Argentine’s Primera Division from 2014-2015. Acosta played for Boca Juniors and Estudiantes de La Plata.
- Dax McCarty played 13 games and was named captain with D.C. United in 2011 before a mid-season trade sent him to the Red Bulls, where he has thrived ever since.
- Red Bulls Coach Jesse Marsch played 15 games with D.C. United in 1996-1997.
- Bob Bradley was an assistant coach for D.C. United in 1996-1997, and was the Red Bulls head coach 2003-2005.
