Just a week after snapping a club-record 15-game winless streak, D.C. United took the field on Saturday evening and snapped another dubious mark, winning back-to-back matches for the first time since October of 2012.
Davy Arnaud’s first-half strike would be enough for United, who rode the goal to a 1-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls, staking an early claim to the Atlantic Cup in front of 12,364 at RFK Stadium.
The Red Bulls – playing without the services of the still-recovering Tim Cahill – fell to 0-2-4 with the loss. The visitors struggled to produce any real chances during an opening half that saw them register just a single shot on goal, though they peppered United goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra – starting again for an injured Bill Hamid – with a bevy of opportunities down the stretch.
OPTA Chalkboard: Finishing touch lacking for RBNY
United, on the other hand, wasted no time in finding the back of the net.
In the fourth minute, a Fabian Espindola corner kick found center back Bobby Boswell at the near side of the box. Boswell, involving himself in a corner-kick goal for the second time in 2014, rose above Henry and played a glancing header to the far post. Arnaud was right there to finish, his diving header eluding the grasp of New York 'keeper Luis Robles.
New York found their rhythm early on in the second half, nearly leveling the match in the 57th minute. Lloyd Sam made a pacy run down the right flank, cutting back and playing a driven cross to fellow midfielder Eric Alexander at the top of the area. Alexander’s strike, however, would sail inches over the crossbar.
Two minutes later, Dykstra was forced into action, pushing away a near-own goal by Sean Franklin. Peguy Luyindula would get his chance several minutes later, but the Frenchman’s hard-hit attempt clanged off the near post.
New York would press until the final whistle, but attempts by Sam, Henry and midfielder Dax McCarty would all go wanting.
The Red Bulls, now winless through their first six matches, will regroup before welcoming Philadelphia next weekend, while United travel west to face the Columbus Crew.
Box Score:
Goals: Davy Arnaud (4')
Disciplinary: Eric Alexander (14'), Cristian (16'), Roy Miller (30'), Perry Kitchen (71'), Jared Jeffrey (90')
DCU Lineups: Dykstra; Fernandez, Parke, Boswell, Franklin; Rolfe (Caskey 72'), Kitchen, Arnaud (Jeffrey 66'), DeLeon; Espindola, Johnson (Doyle 84')
RBNY Lineups: Robles, Miller (Lade 84'), Sekagya, Olave, Kimura, Steele (Wright-Phillips 66'), Alexander (Isquierdo 90'), McCarty, Sam, Henry, Luyindula
