New York Red Bulls vs. D.C. United – Playoff Semifinals (Leg 2) Game Preview
Sunday, Nov. 8th, 3:00 pm ET, Red Bull Area, Harrison, NJ.
This is the second meeting between the two lifelong MLS rivals from both sides of the I-95, where New York Red Bulls won the last match 1-0 at D.C.’s RFK Stadium last week.
Hosts New York Red Bulls won the Major League Soccer Supporters’ Shield for the second time in the club’s history, but are now trying to go of the ‘big one’, the Audi MLS Cup that they have never won before.
The Red Bulls did hit a few potholes in early and mid MLS 2015 regular season, but ended up with in strong, if not dominating force. As far as their rivalry with hosts D.C. United, the Red Bulls seemed to be on par from day one of this Major League Soccer 2015 term.
The first meeting between the two this MLS season in March ended with the Red Bulls winning 2-0 at home. In April, New York came back from behind to finish with a 2-2 draw at RFK Stadium. And in the most recent MLS regular-season match in August, New York handed D.C. a devastating 3-0 defeat at Red Bull Arena.
New York Red Bulls continues to deal to their arch rivals D.C. United devastating blows in Major League Soccer’s post season as well, with Captain Dax McCarty scoring the lone and winning Red Bulls’ goal in Leg 1 this past Sunday.
To keep themselves in the race for the big title, D.C’s goalkeeper Bill Hamid will need to continue his spectacular performance and denying the many opportunities New York create for themselves.
United’s Chris Rolfe is likely to create danger in New York’s half, and it up to Red Bulls’ Dax McCarty to block Rolf and keep the ball, enabling New York to dominate possession for long periods, as done against D.C. so far this season.
New York Red Bulls’ strong defense has been a key component for success so far. A challenge this Sunday will be to keep that defensive wall intact as defender Damien Perrinelle will miss this upcoming match due to injury.
