In a game that New York dominated, it took two brilliant assists from the elder statesman Thierry Henry made the difference for Red Bulls in their 2-0 win over DC United in the first leg of the Eastern Conference semifinal. Coach Ben Olsen will have some major work to do after his side were played off the park at Red Bull Arena – only some poor finishing and some great work at times from Bill Hamid kept the Red Bulls from scoring more.
DC United started well enough. Perhaps inspired by the introduction of the away goal rule in MLS playoffs, Ben Olsen’s side played an adventurous high line and pressed in the final third. Meanwhile, New York relied on a crossing game, with both full-backs Roy Miller and Richard Eckersley working the play on either flank. Meanwhile Peguy Luyindula, who replaced Tim Cahill, was instrumental in winning the ball on several occasions, leading to some good chances on the counter for the Red Bulls.
Neither team managed to do much in the first twenty minutes, and it was DC United who sparked the first real flourish going forward, beginning with Nick DeLeon running into acres of space out on the right only to see his cross bobbled into the keeper Luis Robles’ arms off the body of Fabian Espindola. Davy Arnaud followed up with a few long range chances, and Eddie Johnson saw his shot blocked and Chris Pontius miss a follow up in the 26th minute.
The Red Bulls weathered the storm however and made their own push forward, with both Bradley Wright-Phillips and Luyindula coming close, particularly when the latter just missed the rebound on McCarty’s deflected long range effort.
But it was the ever-present, calm, and visionary Thierry Henry who carved DCU open on 40 minutes for the opening goal. After Lloyd Sam completed a perfect pass to Henry on the edge of the 18 yard box, Henry chose a stunning no-look backheel which went past Luyindula to find an unmarked Wright-Phillips steaming in on the right, who scored on the open goal.
Things got far worse for DCU in the second half. Though United managed a couple of chances, including when Espindola’s shot went over after some good work from DeLeon’s incredible run through the middle of the Red Bulls defense in the 60th minute, New York were by far the better side. Bill Hamid tried his best to keep them at bay, making a key double save on Lloyd Sam and Wright-Phillips in the 67h minute, he couldn’t stop Luyindula six minutes later. It was Henry again who made the difference, his long chip pass from near the halfway line finding the midfielder in the 73rd minute, who controlled brilliantly and finished beneath a prone Hamid for New York’s second.
United were a total a mess in midfield and only slightly better at the back, and the Red Bulls had several chances to go three up with Wright-Phillips heading wide. It was perhaps a sign of Petke’s confidence that he took off Luyindula and Henry in the last fifteen minutes of play. Ben Olsen will need to find an answer to New York’s width and Thierry Henry’s brilliance if they hope to fulfill the promise of DCU’s incredible turnaround season.
