D.C. United will face their second New York-based team in as many weeks when they welcome longtime rival New York Red Bulls to RFK Stadium this Friday, May 13. The rivalry between United and the Red Bulls is one of the longest and most contentious in MLS, dating back to the league’s inaugural year in 1996. But though the Black-and-Red have the edge in overall records (33-25-10 in regular season play) as well as playoff victories (4-2 in six postseason series), they’ll come into Friday’s match with something to prove, having fallen to the Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the MLS Cup the past two seasons.
Despite suffering a 2-0 loss against New York City FC last Sunday, the Black-and-Red are undefeated in two of their last three games, and are gaining confidence in their play each week, with offseason adjustments paying dividends. Chemistry is growing as the team continues to rely on strong performances from veterans and recent acquisitions alike. Captain and longtime United center back Bobby Boswell was recently named to the MLS Team of the Week, while offseason signing Patrick Nyarko continues to be ones of United’s most dangerous attacking weapons this year, most recently having notched United’s goal in the 1-1 draw against his former side Chicago Fire on April 30. Luciano Acosta, who followed up goal of the week honors on April 23 with an assist on Nyarko’s goal the following week, made his fifth league start for United last Sunday against NYCFC, putting in an impressive 82 minutes, and is developing on-field chemistry with his teammates as he learns more about MLS with every passing match.
With the integration of new pieces to the puzzle, United are showing a more varied and versatile attack while also looking solid defensively, having posted two shutouts in the past five games.
The Red Bulls will travel to D.C. with hopes of continuing their recent undefeated streak. With a 3-6-1 record thus far this campaign, the 2015 Supporters’ Shield winners have endured a frustrating start to the season, particularly away from home, where they are 0-4. But things have looked brighter for D.C.’s northern rivals of late, as they followed up a 3-2 win against Orlando City with a 4-0 blowout defeat of FC Dallas and a 1-1 draw away to Orlando this past weekend. Sacha Kljestan has been in impressive form for the Red Bulls, with a team-leading six assists as well as two goals to his name, and he was pivotal in the recent thumping of FC Dallas. On the other end, the recent signing of longtime MLS veteran and former all-star center back Aurelien Collin from Orlando should help address some of the defensive holes that were evident early on.
As two tenacious teams who rely on quick ball movement and speed in the attack, United and the Red Bulls should come out , so expect a high-energy back-and-forth game of exciting soccer. Additionally, with the danger that the Red Bulls pose on set pieces--as they showed with a beautifully-rehearsed free kick goal against Dallas--look for United’s defensive organization to play a key role.
Kickoff is set for 7 PM on UniMás.
