The New York Red Bulls cannot win in the playoffs. The New York Red Bulls have never played in an MLS Cup. The New York Red Bulls have never won an MLS Cup.
These are the sentences that every writer, pundit, supporter, and football fan say when they start the sentence, “The New York Red Bulls are a great team but…” The question has never been about the Red Bulls quality of players but their resolve come playoff time. But this Red Bulls team is different and showed their true mettle on Sunday night thanks to a superstar performance from Thierry Henry. They defeated their hated rivals DC United 2-0.
From the blow of the first whistle, this was the Red Bulls game to win. Midfielders Dax McCarty and Peguy Luyindula acted as destroyers in the midfield, stopping every DC United advance. By holding United to their defensive third, the Red Bulls were able to sustain long periods of pressure.
Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips looked to have a golden opportunity on goal in the 18th minute but was ruled offsides. To combat the league’s leading score, DC United center-backs Steve Birnbaum and Bobby Boswell implemented a high line to force BWP offsides on multiple occasions.
United would have their own chances early on. Much like in the first match in this season series, United midfielder Davy Arnaud was integral to DC’s early chances always making the decisive pass and a critical tackle to set up the counter-attack. His shot in the 25th minute looked promising but was saved by Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles.
Despite this early chance, DC was largely held at bay on the attacking end. Their lack of fluid passing, coupled with the significant size advantage that Red Bulls center-backs Jamison Olave and Ibrahim Sekagya had over United forwards Fabian Espindola and Eddie Johnson, meant DC had serious troubles scoring.
New York would continue to pummel DC with opportunities all throughout the first-half. Although it was Wright Phillips who had the lion’s share of shots it was Henry and Luyindula who were able to spot in open space. The trio would link up on a shot in the 38th minute, with Henry finding Luyindula in space who would pass it over to Wright-Phillips. Wright-Phillips shot though would go over the bar.
The Henry-Luyindula-Wright combination would finally find success in the 40th minute when an Henry back-heel would find Wright-Phillips, whose shot would go past United goalkeeper Bill Hamid. Although Henry’s pass was impressive, Luyingdula should also be given credit for a simple dummy run that moved Birnbaum out of position.
With the 1-0 advantage, the Red Bulls continued to look for another goal. Red Bulls midfielder Loyd Sam flew down the flank in the 52nd minute and laced in a near-perfect cross into Wright-Phillips, whose header was saved by Hamid. The Red Bulls attack, which has scored 38 goals at home this season, continued to find open space in between a normally stout United defense.
Hamid would come up strong again for DC in the 67th minute when he would make two spectacular saves, first to block a shot by Sam then to halt Wright-Phillips on a 1v1 opportunity.
Despite Hamid’s best efforts, the Red Bulls were not to be denied. Henry would find a surging Luyindula in open space. The Ugandan international, all alone against Hamid, buried his shot and gave New York the 2-0 lead.
With the win and the 2-0 goal advantage, the New York Red Bulls head to Washington DC on Saturday to put away United. In the 19 years of MLS, New York has never beaten DC in a two-game playoff series.