defender Bryan Namoff for a second bookable offense after a hard tackle on Herron, then Josh Gros with a straight red after a late challenge on Thiago.
United head coach Peter Nowak made one change to the team that played to a 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution at midweek. Ben Olsen was suspended, so Stephen deRoux was given his first-ever start in MLS play as Matias Donnet moved into a central midfield role.
Here's Nowak's team (3-4-1-2): Troy Perkins - Facundo Erpen, Bobby Boswell, Bryan Namoff - Joshua Gros, Matias Donnet (Robert Ssejjemba 65), Brian Carroll, Stephen deRoux - Christian Gomez (David Stokes 89) - Jaime Moreno, Freddy Adu (Rod Dyachenko 76). [Substitutes Not Used: Jeff Carroll, Brandon Prideaux, Nick Rimando, Clyde Simms]
"I don't think it was a physical game. I just think it was a good game to play. But all these yellow and red cards shown so early in the game and it's always difficult to go on with these games," Nowak said. "I'm pretty proud of the team, they way they played today and we lost three points but I don't feel like we were supposed to lose them but this is soccer and we have to deal with whatever the situation is. We're going to move on and make sure we're going to do better - all of us."TEAM NEWS
For the third consecutive match, United saw a second-half goal deny them victory. In the two previous games, they were late equalizers; this time it was a game-winner from the Fire.
"We're a little disappointed in ourselves. We came in, we wanted to win and we thought we should have won. Obviously two red cards in the game don't help us with numbers, especially when we're trying to push and that's really going to kill the game for us," said Troy Perkins. "But in the long run, I don't think we did enough to win the game tonight. We didn't create enough offensively, and we had just that single lapse defensively."
After a loss and a draw in the first two meetings between the clubs this season, the Fire have now defeated United in two consecutive meetings (one in the U.S. Open Cup). They face each other in the final game of the league campaign, and could be on a collision course for a meeting in the Eastern Conference Championship.
"There's a transition coming between us," said United 'keeper Troy Perkins. "It's not just a rivalry, it's more of an arch-rivalry now. It's not really going to be a soccer game anymore between us, it's going to be throwing fists and elbows."
In the week following the loss, Nowak has tried to stop the rot that has been United lose three times and draw five games in their last nine league matches.
"We had it out today," said United midfielder Ben Olsen to The Washington Examiner after practice on Tuesday. "[Head coach] Peter [Nowak] got into us and I think the good thing is, every game's a new chance to get this team in the right direction. We have the time and to be this concerned now, I still think is OK. I still think we have time to move in the right direction."
United has had just one clean sheet since mid-July, but over the same period of time, while they've been shutout just once, they scored more than one goal on just three occasions.
"I'm more concerned with the way we are not winning games," Olsen said to The Washington Times. "We are still playing good soccer, but we are not finishing. Our offense is definitely struggling, and our defense over 90 minutes is having it tough to keep a clean sheet. We have been wilting under the pressure."
NEW YORK RED BULLS
The New York Red Bulls failed in their chance to take advantage of their games in hand, falling 2-0 to the New England Revolution on Wednesday night at Giants Stadium. The Red Bulls now have 32 points from 28 matches and remain in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, still trailing the Kansas City Wizards by a single point for fourth place (and now five points behind third-place New England), as every team in the league has played the same number of games.
LAST MATCH
The Revolution had the previous weekend off after posting three wins and a draw in their last five games, while it was the final "game-in-hand" for the Red Bulls, just a point out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
But it was the Revolution who got the fast start, going ahead after just 16 minutes. Andy Dorman was sent free on the left from a quick restart, and while his cross after a long run was deflected, it fell to Steve Ralston at the edge of the area. He slipped a quick pass to Taylor Twellman, who thumped home a powerful angled drive inside the far side netting for his 10th goal on the campaign.
The Revolution then doubled their account early in the second half through another defensive lapse. Clint Dempsey hit a free kick from straight out from goal past the wall, and from nearly on the line, Jon Conway was able to push it out. But Andy Dorman cruised into the sweep home the rebound and secure the points.
It was the third win for the Revs in four meetings between the clubs this year, the other encounter a scoreless draw. It was also the first time since July 8 New England had hit for multiple goals in a game, a span of 12 games overall.
Red Bulls head coach Bruce Arena made two changes to the team that defeated the Columbus Crew 1-0 at home at the weekend. With Carlos Mendes suspended, Taylor Graham made his first start since April 29 in the center as Arena went to a back three, Marvell Wynne pushing into a wingback role. Amado Guevara returned from suspension, coming in for Danny O'Rourke in the heart of the midfield.
Here's Arena's team (3-4-1-2): Jon Conway - Jeff Parke, Taylor Graham, Seth Stammler - Marvell Wynne, Dema Kovalenko, Amado Guevara (Blake Camp 77), Chris Henderson (Markus Schopp 46) - Youri Djorkaeff - Edson Buddle (Josmer Altidore 59), John Wolyniec. [Substitutes Not Used: Peter Canero, Tony Meola, Danny O'Rourke, Joe Vide]
"I think a little bit more urgency at the opening kickoff tonight would have helped. I think guys are tentative. I just thought our first 20 minutes was very poor tonight," Arena said. "I don't think we gave ourselves a chance in the first 20 minutes to be a team that could try to take the initiative in the game. Shocking display on the ball, lack of confidence by our players in the first 20 minutes."TEAM NEWS
The Red Bulls boss had no problem voicing his displeasure with his team's performance after the loss. "My frustration is with the team on the field tonight. They played poorly in large segments of the game, had too many mental breakdowns. The technical breakdowns happened but it seems like it has been a struggle since I've been here as well as obviously the season. There was an effort at times for 90 minutes. Effort is one thing, but to be able to grow throughout the season and grow from game to game, it just doesn't seem we have enough players that can do that and tonight it showed that."
There were problems all over the field. Amado Guevara played a slightly deeper in midfield, behind Youri Djorkaeff, but Arena felt he didn't do well. "I don't think Amado played particularly well; he didn't help us on either side of the ball tonight," Arena said. "Youri was OK. I think he can help us keep the ball a little bit better. At times he has to come back too deep to get the ball. In the first half the passing was very poor, and if we can't pass better behind Youri, it forces Youri to get further and further away from the goal."
Arena brought Dema Kovalenko back to MLS to provide bite in the midfield and for much-needed leadership. But he, too, struggled against a New England team that he doesn't believe is better than the Red Bulls.
"I don't think they're better than us, this team. I really don't," Kovalenko said of the Revs. "I think D.C. is a better team, Chicago maybe a little better. But, I don't think [the Revolution] is better than us."
If there was a positive, it was the play of newly-signed Austrian midfielder Markus Schopp. He came on at halftime, replacing Chris Henderson was instantly the Red Bulls most effective attacking player.
"I thought he showed that he his going to be a quality player, however we realize this year that it is going to be hard to get him to a point where he is going to play 90 minutes," Arena said. "He's a player that we think next year is going to be important for us. We're obviously going to try and get as much out of him as we can this year."
As well, rookie Marvell Wynne played well, in the first 45 minutes playing as a wingback in the 3-5-2. In the second half, with the addition of Schopp, Arena reverted to a 4-4-2. "For whatever reason he is much more comfortable playing out of a 3-5-2," Arena said of Wynne. "He's a young kid and he's got a long way to go, but in defense of Marvell the last couple of games Marvell has shown improvement."
While the Red Bulls missed an opportunity to ensure they could control their own destiny, they are still just a point out of the playoffs - and if things don't change, with a home match against Kansas City to conclude the regular season.
"We're going to continue to push them as hard as we can over the next four games. In reality they're a point behind fourth place. They've got to somehow between and the end of the year be a minimum of a point better than Kansas City," Arena said.
"We're still in it, we still have four games left - two home games and two away games - and now we're going to see what this team is made of," Kovalenko said. "We're only one point behind Kansas City. We just have to go to D.C. and every game is going to be like that, every game is going to be a fight, every game is going to be a tough game."
