The Black-and-Red take their first step in defending the Atlantic Cup when they meet rival side New York Red Bulls for the first time this season on Saturday, April 15. United brought the Atlantic Cup back to D.C. last season after completing a particularly strong 2016 campaign against their foes, earning one victory and two hard-fought draws in their three matchups.
United hosted the Red Bulls for their first meeting of the 2016 season on Friday, May 13, and outplayed their rivals for much of the match. The Black-and-Red opened up the scoring in the 20th minute, when winger Patrick Nyarko launched D.C.’s attack with a perfect through ball into the box to Marcelo Sarvas. Marcelo found former-United forward Álvaro Saborío making a run on the opposite post, and Saborío tapped the ball home, giving United the 1-0 lead.
The Black-and-Red added extra cushion their lead in the 43rd minute, when Saborío stole the ball from a dribbling Red Bulls player and sent it forward to Lamar Neagle on the right flank. Neagle dished a cross to Nyarko on the left post, and Nyarko one-time volleyed the ball with the side of his right foot to beat New York goalkeeper Luis Robles and secure United’s eventual 2-0 victory.
Weather stole the show when the rivals met for the second time at RFK Stadium on August 21. After lightning forced a 75-minute delay, United and the Red Bulls returned to the pitch in sloppy conditions, and the Black-and-Red struggled to contain the New York attack early on. Red Bulls’ forward Bradley Wright-Phillips netted a goal in the 38th minute and Felipe added a second in the 64th, leaving the Black-and-Red struggling for momentum late in the second half. United remained feisty and tough despite the two-goal deficit, though, and the Black-and-Red comeback was on just six minutes later. Marcelo converted a penalty kick in the 70th minute, and three minutes later a Taylor Kemp corner kick and Steve Birnbaum header set up Patrick Mullins for the equalizer. The game ended in a 2-2 draw, but the Black-and-Red were happy to come away with a well-earned point.
The drama only intensified in the rivals’ final meeting of 2016. United traveled to Red Bull Arena on September 11 and again found themselves in a 2-0 deficit for the vast majority of the match following Gonzalo Veron and Wright-Phillips goals in the 35th and 54th minutes, respectively. New York’s comfortable 2-0 lead remained intact until the 89th minute, when Birnbaum found space at the top of the box and slotted home a goal. The Black-and-Red comeback was on again. United continued to claw their way back and successfully found the equalizer in the fifth minute of stoppage time, when Neagle poked in a loose ball following a last-second corner kick. The victory gave the Black-and-Red another valuable point in their playoff pursuit and sent the Atlantic Cup back to D.C.
The rivalry continues this Saturday when United travel to New Jersey to meet their Eastern Conference foes for the 72nd time in history. Just like 2016, expect this season’s three matchups with New York to be ripe with gutsy drama.
