The New York Red Bulls host a complicated team of DC United in the Eastern Conference semifinal where the New York side has a 1-0 lead after the first 90 minutes. The match will not be easy and the home team knows that the visitors will come to play an aggressive match at Red Bull Arena.
Red Bulls Preview
The New York Red Bulls finished the regular season as the best team in the entire league with 60 points, only ahead of FC Dallas by a better goal differential. The team is going into this game with many factors on their favor but not overconfident that things will go their way.
"D.C. is going to come to Red Bull Arena fighting for dear life. If you have one slip-up all of a sudden, the game can be in balance there," said Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch.
New York's 12th man is ready for the game
Let's pack Red Bull Arena tomorrow! Big game! #REDTogether #RBNY pic.twitter.com/ur8dlhs6Xl
— Connor Lade (@clade5) November 7, 2015
We want everybody at the Red Bull Arena tomorrow ! i will be with you in the stance to support the guys ! #REDTogether #RBNY #MLSPlayoffs
— Damien Perrinelle (@DamP_92) November 8, 2015
Heading down to Harrison From Albany to see @NewYorkRedBulls @DaxMcCarty11 @MikeGrella10 demolish @dcunited #REDTogether #MLSCupPlayoffs
— Robyn Waterston (@robynwatersivey) November 8, 2015
The Bulls have only lost one of their last six games and have not lost against D.C. United at home since 2012. The visiting side failed to score in the two games in New York during the regular season. The away goal is a big advantage for Marsch's side but they know that in 90 minutes anything can happen.
Sacha Kljestan is in great shape in the last few games. His assist on the McCarty goal was his third MLS career playoff assist. In the last six games of the regular season he had two goals and four assists. For McCarty, it was only his second MLS Playoff goal and his first since 2010.
Damian Perrinelle suffered a knee injury that will set him out for the rest of the post-season and that is quite a big loss for the team from the Big Apple. Goalkeeper Luis Robles expects that the lack of a central defender like Perrinelle does not complicate his job much more, as he just recorded his second career clean sheet.
D.C. United Preview
It is a bit scary for United to look at all of the stats piling up against them before this crucial game. However, there are some things that are going their way. In head to head matches, they hold the lead with a 33 wins, 10 draws and 24 losses. In MLS Cup Playoffs they have nine wins while the NYRB only has three.
They know that a goal from them counts a lot as they are playing away from home. Two away goals could really complicate things for the NYRB. The last time that D.C. scored against New York, the game ended 2-2.
"We need to get a goal in the few chances that we have or do better on set pieces. We have to shore up the other side," said United head coach Ben Olsen.
The manager knows just how good his enemy can be when playing at home and how bad their scoring record is on the road. This season, D.C. United has only averaged 0.5 goals per game away from home. One of the key points is to create opportunities that they lacked off in the first game of this series.
Fans still believe in their team
Got home from work to find my 1 year old with her @dcunited program and scarf. Excellent parenting! Come on United! pic.twitter.com/ghpS7xINaa
— Gabriel Weigle (@Gabewhy) November 6, 2015
Hey, @dcunited and @ScreamingEagles, how about a Black and Red Friday to support the team this weekend? Go #DCU! pic.twitter.com/h9z0Ln3jPg
— Will Zerhouni (@WillZerhouni) November 6, 2015
Go D.C. United! Beat Red Bull New York! Vamos Black and Red! Siempre Unidos! #DCU #MLS #PlayOffs #SoccerIsLife @dcunited
— Schalke USA #S04 (@schalke_usa) November 7, 2015
Spotted NY-bound Coach Olsen at Union Station this afternoon. Vamos, @dcunited! @MLS #DCU pic.twitter.com/ziElvt8cQY
— Christopher Jewell (@cdjewell) November 8, 2015
Bobby Boswell should be coming back to this game after serving a one-game suspension. During the first leg, his spot was taken by Kofi Opare. The hardest thing for the coach was to see Sean Franklin leave the game with an achilles injury. He has not made a decision about if he will be playing or not.
There are other muscular fatigue problems for some of the D.C. United players, but they hope they can keep that aside and push for a good result at New York. It's bee a rough ride in the last few games, but a win against the Red Bull could give them the momentum they need to face whoever stands in their way.
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