FIRST LEG
OCTOBER 21, 2006 -- D.C. UNITED 1, NEW YORK RED BULLS 0
NEW YORK RED BULLS HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA
On scoring chances:
"We had three or four chances in the game and they had one, and we lose. At the worst today, we should get out of here with a point."
On the team's performance in the first half:
"The first half was not good on our part, I thought we didn't have the confidence to go forward. In the second half it got a little bit better.
"Neither team played well in the first half."
On D.C. United's goal:
"The goal on their part, I could write the script on that. That is how they are going to score. It's going to be a combination of [Jaime] Moreno and [Christian] Gomez. That's the difference in this game; you have to make the play that counts.
"It was pretty obvious that one play was going to make the difference today and they made the play today.
"I think you have to give Gomez and Moreno a lot of credit on the play. I think they are the only two players in the league that can pull that off."
On preparing for the next game:
"We will get going during the week, the issue now is just recovering from this game and getting prepared for next week. I am not worried about all those little psychological games. We'll get them ready during the week."
On Amado Guevara:
"I think Amado (Guevara) played it a little too safe. He sat back too much. We tried to push him forward in the second half. "
On D.C.'s attack:
"They were trying to hit diagonal balls to flank players, no question about that. We had to do a little better adjustment, especially on Marvell's (Wynne) side. He was tucked in too much to deal with [Josh] Gros a little better. I think they did that better in the second half.
"How many goal scoring opportunities did they have all game? It wasn't like we were on our heels defensively."
On the conditions:
"I think the conditions of the game today were difficult for both teams and you could argue it favored our team. Obviously we are a little more comfortable on it. We had an advantage. At the end of the day, we didn't take advantage of it."
On the performance of the younger players, [Jozy] Altidore and Wynne:
"I think their performance was spotty today. It was not surprising, as well as you see the young kid (Freddy Adu) on the other team. It wasn't a great day for Freddy either."
On Wynne:
"I think Marvell didn't understand where he needed to position himself. There was a misunderstanding and he got it sorted out in the second half and he played a little better. Defensively, he was fine for the day. We didn't get him forward as much as possible, but I thought he did a good job defensively."
On Todd Dunivant:
"I thought Dunivant was a guy that gave us a lot going forward today: the crosses in the first half, the cross to Schopp, the chance he got in the second half. To Todd's credit, he did pretty well today."
On Markus Schopp:
"I think an experienced guy there helped us out a little bit, but he's not fully fit. He hasn't played a 90-minute match in a long time, and he's playing with a little bit of an injury, so I thought he did OK. I didn't think he held anything back."
NEW YORK RED BULLS MIDFIELDER DEMA KOVALENKO
On D.C. United:
"It's disappointing. They were not better than us today. We did a good job the whole game, but one play is what made the difference.
"They're (D.C. United) not that good, they are an OK team. They can be beaten. We showed today, we had some great chances."
On the next game:
"It's not that easy for us to go there but it won't be that easy for them. We are going to give them hell there. We are going to give them everything. It's not over.
"We have 90 minutes, to prepare ourselves mentally and go in there and put this thing away.
"They have played well at home, but we can still win. We are going to try and win. We are not going to give up. We are going to play and fight. Anything can happen."
NEW YORK RED BULLS DEFENDER JEFF PARKE
On the header that struck the crossbar:
"It's a good ball in by Youri; it would have been nice to get it come down a little more. I just got a little unlucky, it kind of sums up the day with us. I knew right when I came off my head it was a little high."
On the play on the defensive end:
"I thought we were all right. I think there were a couple of times we could have done better with their plays. For the most part, we did all right. That one play we fell asleep on, and we suffered."
On preparing for the next game:
"I think that we have to play a little better. Today we did all right but that one play we gave up, we have to create more chances so we can get the early goal on them and put their backs against the wall. I think we have the team that can do it."
NEW YORK RED BULLS DEFENDER TODD DUNIVANT
On the chances of winning the series:
"It's frustrating, but we have 90 minutes and we are down 1-0. We have plenty of time to make this thing up. It's the playoffs and you have to win games on the road if you want to go through.
"We have nothing to lose, throw caution to the wind and go out and try to win this thing. Nobody expects us to win this series now, so we have nothing to lose so we can go down there, have fun and try and get a result."
On the play in the second half:
"I think we settled down in the second half and started to create more chances. We didn't quite have that touch in the final third that we needed to. We have to be a little more aggressive in the box and be hungry to get some goals."
On the attack:
"I think we were too cautious. It was difficult because we were going into the wind. For whatever reason, we weren't creating good chances and combining very well."
On Dema Kovalenko:
"He's going to win a lot of balls and fight and do all the dirty work, so I just try to feed off of that. He played in some great balls to me."
D.C. UNITED HEAD COACH PETER NOWAK
On getting the win:
"When you come here and not only play good soccer, but win a game and finish the series at home, it's [good]."
On his team's play:
"I was pleased with every aspect of the game. We controlled the game, we had a couple of good chances in the first half. We dropped a little bit in the second half but we still kept control and basically, waited for our chance. We knew the game would open up in the second half and we would have a chance to score and win the game. We played as a team today and that's more important than anything."
On the team's defense:
"I think, as I said, if the other team does not score the goals, we will not lose the game. We've been punished lately with a lot of goals against us and today, we've kept a clean sheet and that was the whole deal. We cannot chase the game, we've chased the game in the last five, six, eight, I don't know how many weeks, but today, we were patient and also kept playing."
On the traveling fans:
"The other part is they could put our fans on the lower bowl or higher bowl or outside the stadium, but we would still play for them. I'm very thankful to have these fans and the team [feels] the same way."
D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER CHRISTIAN GOMEZ
On the game:
"It was a tight game, not much space to create but we were able to play through the middle with Ben Olsen and Jaime Moreno and fortunately for us, we were able to stretch them a little bit and I got open to score the goal."
On relationship with Moreno:
"It's been two years since Jaime and I have been working together here on the same team and we do things on the field as well as off the field, spending time with each other families and it's good to reflect that understanding and communication that we have on the field."
D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER BEN OLSEN
On Christian Gomez's goal:
"It was a great goal. It seems that him and Jaime really know each other in that box area and it's dangerous because they don't want to foul them and they do a good job with the one-twos and they know each other very well."
On getting a win instead of a tie:
"It was OK either way. That's how you do this, you get your tie and hope to win at home. Fortunately, we snuck in the goal and the job's half done. We have to go out and win the next one too."
On the game:
"It was ugly, but it's the playoffs. Teams are fighting and it's not that easy, especially on turf and a windy atmosphere, to play beautiful soccer. And today, we came together as a team again for the first time in a while. We competed for each other and we played smart and we concentrated for 90 minutes. It's hopefully the first step in getting back our form."
D.C. UNITED FORWARD ALECKO ESKANDARIAN
On the series:
"You look at it as it's halftime and it's 1-0. We have another 90-minute half to play and we have to take care of business. We have to go out with the same effort and intensity as we came out with today and our team's defense has to play the same way we did today."
On Christian Gomez:
"I was kind of (upset) because I didn't get to see a replay of the goal because I thought it was so nice but he was awesome. I think I actually started cramping up running after the goal because he was running away so fast. He's the MVP in my book, no question."
D.C. UNITED GOALKEEPER TROY PERKINS
On earning the clean sheet:
"It feels good because we haven't had one of those in a long time. More importantly, the guys in front of me all the way to Jaime, we defended as a full team today and really had the determination not to get beat."
On minimizing defensive errors:
"We focused on it all week. That's something that we sat down and watched film on and really stayed on top of. We know that is what's going to win us a championship."
On winning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year:
"For me to get that, it was shocking. I had a good season and I guess in the long run, I do deserve it but I have to give props to those two guys [Matt Reis and Joe Cannon] who were [nominated] with me."
