Photo by Matt Mathai
It’s not always pretty when D.C. United and New York Red Bull get together. An MLS East coast rivalry has fallen in glamour of late, but is still fierce in competition when the two meet. Saturday’s encounter was more to the not-so pretty side, as United and the Red Bulls drew, 0-0 at Red Bull Arena.
Much of the buzz surrounding the match had to do with the league’s worst kept secret, the impending arrival of Thierry Henry. But as the hype died down, there was a soccer game to be played.
The match started with D.C. throwing the first punch, a low strike to the far post by Santino Quaranta. His fifth-minute attempt was blocked by Bouna Coundoul. With the two sides trading jabs throughout the match, Quaranta’s strike was one of the lone, underwhelming shots landed by United.
With Red Bulls winning the last match-up between these teams, New York turned up the pressure and kept it on. A struggling D.C. defense has delivered several bend-but-don’t-break performances this season. It was Juan Pablo Angel and company’s job to break that defense.
A 16th-minute cross from the Red Bulls drew Troy Perkins well off his line, as the goalkeeper was able to punch the ball away. But his punch fell to the feet of Seth Stammler. The Red Bull mainstay ripped a shot toward goal, but the backpedaling goalkeeper was able to push the ball over the bar for a corner.
Seven minutes later, Red Bull were in striking distance, this time with an Angel free kick. Just inside of 40 yards, the 34-year-old forward’s shot dipped on goal, before Perkins could knock it away.
Angel was close to scoring again in the 26th minute, this time thanks to the vision of midfielder, Sinisa Ubiparipovic. His long throughball down the left flank had Joel Lindpere looking to the middle of the goal. Angel came across the goal in search of a near post shot, but Julius James was right behind his mark and managed to poke the ball away.
The two sides went to half with New York forcing the majority of the quality scoring chances, but with nothing to show for it.
Searching for any kind of offensive threat out of his team, coach Curt Onalfo pulled the ineffective Danny Allsopp at half for Jaime Moreno.
It was rather dull second half at Red Bull Arena, another 45 minutes of play warranted no goals as the matched finished the way it started, 0-0.
Coupled with Red Bulls win in D.C. earlier this year, New York captured the Atlantic Cup for 2010.
For United, it wasn’t a winning performance, but a point on the road will suffice.
For Red Bull, there is still that no. 14 guy supposedly coming to town.
D.C. will host the Seattle Sounders on Thursday at RFK, with that match set to kick off at 8 p.m.
