November 1, 2014 (HARRISON, NJ) The New York Red Bulls pulled out a victory for the ages Thursday night when they came back to defeat defending MLS Cup Champions Sporting Kansas City 2-0 at home. It was a result that was made possible thanks to a last minute goal by the 2014 MLS Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips that sent the crowd at Red Bull Arena into hysterics. In many ways, it was a result reminiscent of an earlier game this year. The opponent that night was DC United, and the hero Lloyd Sam, but many other facets of the game were near identical. DC returns this Sunday in what will surely be a much different contest than the aforementioned 1-0 result that went to the Red Bulls.
RBNY NEED TO KNOW: New York Red Bulls v DC United
The results over SKC in their previous matches should leave the New York Red Bulls full of confidence, and possibly tired legs with the quick turnaround. Ideally, the team would be able to get a week’s rest after Thursday’s victory. Instead they must play less than 72 hours after their most recent triumph. It is an issue the Red Bulls have dealt with quite a bit this year. Since the start of August, the Red Bulls will have played an average of about 1.5 games per week. Given the age of some of the key players such as Henry, Olave, Cahill, and Luyindula, the added workload might have cost Red Bull a spot in the playoffs. Instead, the team stepped up and managed an 8-4-1 record in that time. Mike Petke echoed the sentiment that the congested schedule was nothing new to this team. “I think over the last two years you could argue that our schedule has been tough in many stretches, so perhaps they are a little bit used to it, but at the end of the day, we know the task that we have ahead of us – doesn’t matter if we have two days rest or seven days rest – it doesn’t so much change the way we’re going to approach this game, what’s going to change is perhaps making sure that the people that I’m going to put out there are 100 percent physically ready and if not then I’ll have to make an adjustment or two.”
The adjustments made may also relate to the performance of some of the substitutes in Thursday night’s win. The addition of Peguy Luyindula and Ambroise Oyongo injected added life into the Red Bulls attack and both players were vital in the buildup of the winning goal with Oyongo providing the assist on a floating cross that left the SKC defense bewildered before a soft flick on header found the net from Wright-Phillips. The players replaced were Eric Alexander and Richard Eckersley, but Petke insisted that performance in Thursday night’s win will not impact his lineup decision this Sunday. “… like I said a little bit of tired legs, but all things are pointing to that everybody tomorrow will be feeling refreshed and be ready to roll on Sunday.”
DC come into the game fresh off of a season that saw them finish first in the Eastern Conference after languishing in last place with a franchise worst 24 losses last season. Consequently, they come into Sundays encounter as the favorites. Despite the label, the Red Bulls expect a dog fight. Red Bull Arena has seen some classics between these two teams in recent years, including a playoff encounter in the first round just two years ago. In that game, Kenny Cooper scored what would have been the go ahead goal on a penalty that was called back due to infringement into the box during the kick by Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez, and Joel Lindpere. Minutes later, Rafa Marquez was ejected and DC scored the lone goal to win the game and advance to the Conference Finals. Neither team carries many of the players from that night, but that doesn’t keep from stoking the flames between these bitter rivals. Mike Petke had this to say on the rivalry, “It’s always a really good, passionate, competitive game when we play D.C. whether it’s because we’re rivals, or just two teams that turn it up a notch in those games. I’m trying to remember a game that wasn’t exciting.”
If the Red Bulls have one edge, it is their fierce attack at home. The Red Bulls scored a conference leading 55 goals this year, 38 of which have come at Red Bull Arena. However, with the MLS Playoff rule changes this year, scoring on the road has become more important thanks to away goals now being counted as a tie breaker in the home and home series. So while scoring at RBA will be important, keeping the clean sheet will be a focus for a team that managed only 3 all year. The most recent coming against, you guessed it, DC. Petke spoke the importance of taking advantage of the rule change, “You know and that’s one thing you have to talk to them about and a little bit extra sharp on their toes so they’re aware of that and hopefully that translates into them you know playing very stingy defense for sure, but yeah at the end of the day it’s more talking them into it than actual you know working on way to play because like I said before the game plan is always to get a shutout and to score goals.”
Win or lose, the Red Bulls will travel down to DC next weekend to determine who will advance to the Conference Final. The Red Bulls will have to dig deep to find the results they need to see them play the winner of the New England/Columbus matchup. If they do indeed advance, it will be the first time they do so since the 2008 season that saw them win the Western Conference and fall to the champion Columbus Crew in the MLS Cup Final. For now though, their focus will be on the regular season Eastern Conference champions, DC United. One game at a time.
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Main Photo by Rob Tringali/New York Red Bulls
