After a less than stellar showing against Atlanta United on Saturday, D.C. United are back at it just a few days later with their second ever game at Audi Field. And this one is bound to be interesting—not only are the Black-and-Red facing their biggest rival in the New York Red Bulls, but the weather is likely to give us a rain game. Wednesday + rain = assured win, right? Donald Wine II The last time the Red Bulls came to D.C., it was to close down RFK last October. Then, they spoiled the party by taking a win home with them. They ain’t spoiling the party this time around. Darren Mattocks and Yamil Asad both add to their team-leading totals, and Wayne Rooney gets his first goal. BWP will add two for Red Bull, his 100th and 101st in MLS, but they won’t be enough as it’s 3-2 to the Black-and-Red. Ben Bromley It is a rough four days for D.C. United, having to play two of the top three teams in the Eastern Conference. But they get a second game at Audi Field, and a game with Wayne Rooney and his new teammates having more time to work together. But without improvement from the back line, preventing goals from high scoring teams is going to be a problem, and Bradley Wright-Phillips has shown no sign of slowing down. 2-2 draw as Rooney gets his first goal. BlasianSays The Metros are a middling team at best on the road. They have four wins to match their four losses in nine away fixtures, and they have just one win in their last five on the road. That bodes well for a team that’s UNDEFEATED AT HOME THIS SEASON [/sarcasm]. There will be goals in this one, four to be precise. Lucky for D.C., three of those will be by the Black-and-Red. Give me a Rooney brace sandwiching an Asad goal, and a 3-1 win. Adam Taylor Rain game? Rain game! These are (obviously) two very different teams than the versions of United and the Metros that played one of the funnest games ever at RFK Stadium a bit over six years ago. But what the hell, let’s go for the same 4-1 scoreline this time. No hat tricks in this one, but United get out front early through Paul Arriola and quickly double up via Darren Mattocks, with Luciano Acosta playing provider on both scores. Rooney comes on and scores his first for D.C.—from the penalty spot—in the second half. Kaku does Kaku things to set up BWP’s century goal, but Rooney scores another to finish things off. (Anyway, I really, really hope it’s that kind of rain game, and not the D.C.-Houston kind of rain game.) Jason Anderson The Red Bulls have won five of their last six games, but a closer look at the schedule points out that four of those games were at home. In their last four trips away from New Jersey, they’re a far more mediocre 1W-1D-2L. It feels like a work in progress since transitioning to Chris Armas as their head coach, and that should continue on Buzzard Point. United should rotate Darren Mattocks back in, and I suspect he’s going to produce a big game, opening the scoring midway through the first half on a cross from Zoltan Stieber. Early in the second half, Mattocks will get in behind before laying off for Luciano Acosta to make it 2-0. United can’t keep shutouts this year, so eventually BWP will get the Metros on the board, but United will keep enough of the ball to prevent a siege of David Ousted’s goal in the late stages. 2-1 DCU. Ryan Keefer Having little to go on since Chris Armas is still trying to do strange things to his lineup (Tyler Adams at outside mid being one of those), and knowing the Crew is on the horizon Saturday and jonesing to get some ground on them, I feel like Armas and Ben Olsen will do a touch of rotating, and I think Darren Mattocks and Zoltan Stieber continue to pile the goals in in a 2-1 win with BWP getting whatever that goal is that Metros fans are pining over right now. Wayne Rooney subs on and looks OK as he sharpens his teeth towards Saturday and the Colorado Rapids. Leanne Elston Oh hell yeah let’s do this. Honestly if this combination of things—rain, rivals, only the second game at Audi Field and the second of three games in seven days—doesn’t produce a win, then I don’t know. It just must be so. And goals are definitely happening. Give me 3-2 to the good guys, with Stieber, Asad, and Rooney (yes, Rooney!) scoring for the Black-and-Red. I don’t care who scores the Red Bulls goals, because Red Bulls. How do you think things will go down tonight? Share your prediction in the comments, but you know that first there’s a silly poll for you.<doc-sep>10 days after opening Audi Field up in style against the Vancouver Whitecaps, D.C. United were hoping for similar joy against the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday evening. United were winless in five against the Bulls coming into the game, but hoped that the friendly confines of their new home would provide an advantage. Instead, the Red Bulls rained on their parade, as a game delayed by bad weather was decided in the second minute of the game, when Bradley Wright-Phillips scored for a 1-0 decision. “We didn’t come out ready enough,” midfielder Chris Durkin told B&RU in the locker room after the game. “It’s a rivalry, they are going to come out ready for the game. We didn’t come out fast enough.” Sitting on 99 career goals in regular season play in MLS, Wright-Phillips corralled a pass from Kaku in the box, cut back against Frederic Brillant, and fired under David Ousted for his 100th goal, celebrating but taking off his jersey to reveal another one with the number 100 on the back. “He’s too good, he’s too consistent,” Olsen said of Wright-Phillips. “His movement is as good as anyone this league has ever seen. He’s been a good player for them.” For United, who were looking to rebound after a 3-1 loss to Atlanta United over the weekend, it was exactly the start they wanted to avoid. And they were likely fortunate to enter the half down just the one goal, as the Red Bulls came close on several occasions to adding to their lead. “We were on our heels, and we got spooked early,” Head Coach Ben Olsen said of his team’s start in his post game press conference. “So we lacked some of the aggression, as far as stepping with the backline.” In the second half, United’s fortunes changed, to an extent. No longer were the being constantly pushed back by the Red Bulls, as the Black-and-Red started to create chances of their own. But on the night, United couldn’t convert chances into goals, which ultimately cost them. For just the second time this season, United were shut out, the only other time coming back on March 31st, in a 1-0 loss away at Sporting Kansas City. “We didn’t take our chances, and it cost us the game,” Wayne Rooney said after the game. Rooney had a couple of those chances himself, as he was brought on as a second half substitute, replacing Darren Mattocks, who had an ineffective night, as did much of the team, in front of goals. But Rooney was also involved in a play in which the Black-and-Red were incensed that they were not rewarded a penalty from referee Armando Villarreal. Rooney brought a long pass from Durkin down, but appeared to taken down in some fashion by defender Tim Parker, either just outside or inside the box. Everyone from United protested, but Villarreal waved on play, much to the chagrin of United. “I think it is a clear foul,” Rooney said after the game. “But sometimes the decisions are difficult for the referees.” “I thought the ref was poor tonight,” Olsen said after the game, speaking in general about how Villarreal called the game. “We didn’t get a shake all night long. That’s how it goes sometimes.” Despite that, there were still opportunities for United to grab at least a point in front of an announced crowd of 15,655. Rooney had a chance taken away from him at the top of the box by Kemar Lawrence, and another shot from in front of goal was blocked away. Yamil Asad had a shot saved by Luis Robles, while also having a shot from close range blocked by Aaron Long. “That hasn’t been our issue for most of the season,” Olsen said of his team’s inability to convert chances on Wednesday night. “We’ve been efficient with our chances. We created plenty of looks, and that’s important.” If United are to climb out of the cellar in the Eastern Conference and make the playoffs this year, they can’t afford many nights like this. With just 17 games left on the season, United still might need to earn 30 to 35 points to make it back into the playoffs after last year’s absence. They’ll get another chance on Saturday, when they host the Colorado Rapids. Olsen will likely make a couple of changes to his squad on short rest, though he’ll definitely have to replace Paul Arriola, who will miss the game due to yellow card accumulation. “Certainly there will be some fresh bodies on the field, it’s a quick turnaround,” Olsen said of what his rotation might look like against Colorado.<doc-sep>Happy Wednesday and United Day as the first weeknight match in Audi Field history commences tonight. Or, at least, we hope so. D.C. United resumes the Atlantic Cup rivalry against the New York Red Bulls, but thunderstorms are forecast for the entire match. We could be there a while. David Rusk has you covered for some Red Bull Buzzard Point lore. Before we get soaked, let’s dig into the news: D.C. United ‘working out kinks’ at Audi Field ahead of match vs. New York Red Bulls | Washington Post Hopefully, the team has worked out all the logistical issues that faced Audi Field at the opener. Vancouver are to transfer Alphonso Davies to Bayern Munich | MLS The Vancouver Whitecaps have accepted what could be a MLS-record transfer fee to send Alphonso Davies to Bayern Munich. The 17-year-old will remain with the ‘Caps the rest of the season. Ezequiel Barco benched after alleged romantic overtures toward teammate’s girlfriend | Dirty South Soccer Whoo boy. The Ezequiel Barco saga gets dirty for Atlanta United. PRO says late penalty call unjustified during Orlando City loss in Columbus | Pro Soccer USA PRO messed up. Surprising they didn’t realize that days ago when it happened. Audi Field opening and a tragedy trigger a lifetime of memories for D.C.-area soccer family | Washington Post A longtime Black-and-Red fan lost his life just days after the Audi Field opener. He will be honored during tonight’s match. Steve Goff has the incredible story of one of the club’s most passionate fans. Megan Rapinoe nominated for FIFA Best 2018 | Stars & Stripes FC Megan Rapinoe is the only American nominee for the FIFA Best 2018 award. Let’s hope she brings a trophy home to the United States! Ethiopia-Eritrea thaw continues with plans for soccer game | NBC Sports Ethiopia and Eritrea are starting to have normal political relations again after recently ending a 20-year war, and as part of that process, the two nations’ national teams will meet in a friendly next month. That’s all for today, folks. Hit the comments to let us know what was missed and Vamos United!<doc-sep>Notes: Midfielder Ulises Segura has been upgraded to probable after missing eight matches with a knee injury; he is unlikely to start anytime soon but is available. . . . United is eager to acquire defensive help, especially on the corners, before the summer transfer and trade window closes Aug. 8, several people familiar with the pursuit said. . . . The club has engaged in preliminary discussions about an offseason tour of China that would include several friendlies. . . . The starting time of the Aug. 12 home match against Orlando City has been pushed back two hours to 8 p.m.<doc-sep>
D.C. United has historically dominated the Atlantic Cup, but in recent years the New York Red Bulls have made up quite a bit of ground. United hasn’t beaten the former MetroStars in five straight meetings, and over the last five years D.C. has gone 4W-5D-10L (-10 goal difference) in the series. It’s gross, it’s unconscionable, and none of us should stand for it. Tonight, United gets the chance to push the series back in the direction it needs to go in, but they also have other concerns. The Black-and-Red are staring at a 14 point gap between them and the final playoff spot in the East, and the only way to climb back up the table and make a real go of this season is to win. Not draw, not lose with honor...win. The pressure is on, as will be the case for the rest of the season. Key player: Luciano Acosta The Red Bulls have based their entire season around being stingy defensively, and their goals against (both as a total and in goals per game) is the best in the league. Their ability to get numbers around the ball is the key, and but it comes with a risk: any extra numbers to the ball mean giving up spaces elsewhere. Acosta has to exploit those spaces with his passing and creativity, and he’s going to have to break the pressure by using his dribbling ability. Lucho loves to use that to entertain, but tonight it plays a really important tactical purpose. If Acosta is able to draw extra defenders in but still get an accurate pass away, United will be able to carve out chances regularly. If not, though, this game will get choppy, which is right in NYRB’s wheelhouse this year. Location: Audi Field (Washington, DC) Kickoff time: 8:00pm Eastern Projected D.C. United starting 11: (4141) - David Ousted; Oniel Fisher, Frederic Brillant, Steve Birnbaum, Joseph Mora; Chris Durkin; Zoltan Stieber, Paul Arriola, Luciano Acosta, Yamil Asad; Darren Mattocks Bench: Steve Clark, Jalen Robinson, Junior Moreno, Russell Canouse, Ian Harkes, Bruno Miranda, Wayne Rooney Based on having three full days between Atlanta and tonight, I think we see very little rotation from Ben Olsen. The only change I suspect we’ll see is Mattocks starting over Rooney, who will still probably play 35 or so minutes in this scenario. There could also be a move made at defensive midfield, as Durkin’s skill set is more suited to the all-out defensive approach Colorado will bring on the weekend, though it’s not clear whether Canouse or Moreno would get the start if that were to happen. Projected Red Bulls starting 11: (4231) - Luis Robles; Michael Murillo, Tim Parker, Aaron Long, Kemar Lawrence; Marc Rzatkowski, Tyler Adams; Alex Muyl, Kaku, Daniel Royer; Bradley Wright-Phillips Save for possible rotation in the back, the real question is which two from Rzatkowski, Muyl, and Davis will start. Adams and Rzatkowski can both play on the right, which complicates things here a bit, but other than that the team is fairly predictable. Chris Armas is not going to rotate BWP out for this one, I’m sorry to tell you. Referee: Armando Villarreal Available TV: NewsChannel 8 and regional affiliates (check the link for the over-the-air alternate channel in your area), including CW Richmond in RVA. Available streaming: ESPN+ for those outside the blackout radius (you might want to check that against this from MLS, which checks your zip code against the blackout list) For listings in other countries, check out LiveSoccerTV.com. What do we have to say about it? : We’ll have predictions and a look at NYRB later today, but until then, tide yourself over with Filibuster and some discussion of whether United should rotate a bit more than I’m expecting. What are you drinking? : Press box bottled water, the most thrilling drink of all. This is the place for all your pre-game, in-game, and post-game discussion. Vamos return to dominating this rivalry!