E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The last time the New York Red Bulls beat D.C. United at Giants Stadium, back on April 17, 2004, John Wolyniec scored for the home team. Three years later, the veteran forward from Staten Island, N.Y., did it again as the Red Bulls defeated D.C. 1-0 Sunday afternoon.
It was the Red Bulls second win in their last seven matches and first win against their Eastern Conference rivals since Oct. 8, 2005 at RFK Stadium.
Fresh off scoring four goals in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, Jozy Altidore made his return to the Red Bulls lineup, starting up front with John Wolyniec as Juan Pablo Angel served his one-game suspension because of a stoppage-time red card against New England last Saturday.
Carlos Mendes also returned after missing last Saturday's game against New England with a right calf contusion, starting alongside Jeff Parke centrally in the Red Bulls' back four as Seth Stammler moved into the midfield.
But Stammler was pushed back defensively when Parke left the game at the half with a right hamstring strain. Joe Vide came on to play in the midfield.
The Red Bulls thought they had earned a penalty kick just after the quarter-hour mark when Altidore was tripped by Greg Vanney as he made a cut inside of the penalty area, but referee Abbey Okulaja thought otherwise.
Three minutes later, though, the Red Bulls struck after Josh Gros was given a yellow card for a challenge on Claudio Reyna. The Red Bulls captain floated the free kick into the box, where it was headed by Altidore to Wolyniec, who flicked the ball past D.C. goalkeeper Troy Perkins for his third goal of the year, all of which have been game-winners.
Wolyniec was the Red Bulls' most dangerous scoring threat throughout the game. He hit the side netting on a break down the left side in the 49th minute and flicked Reyna's free kick over the net three minutes later.
D.C. threatened to equalize in the 38th minute when Bobby Boswell headed Devon McTavish's service off the crossbar and then pushed the follow-up volley across the face of the goal.
Just before the hour mark, D.C. had two more golden opportunities, but Nicholas Addlery, who came on for Clyde Simms in the 55th minute, was stopped by Jon Conway on a shot from 12 yards and Christian Gomez chipped the ball over the net as Conway came off his line to cut off the angle two minutes later.
The Red Bulls missed a chance to double their lead on 60 minutes after Clint Mathis was taken down by Brian Carroll inside of the penalty arc. But Reyna put the free kick over the net.
Both teams made changes in the 73rd minute, with Dema Kovalenko making his return for the lineup after missing five games with a right groin strain. He replaced Reyna. Stephen deRoux came on for D.C., replacing Marc Burch.
Fred flicked a Gomez free kick wide in the 88th minute, but any hope D.C. had of equalizing ended in the second minute of stoppage time when Fred was given a straight red card for a challenge on Dane Richards by the midfield touchline.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
