One of the oldest local rivalries in Major League Soccer, the I-95 showdown between D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls (nee MetroStars) has also traditionally been one of the most one-sided.
United have racked up a 24-15-5 league record against their northern counterparts and won the Atlantic Cup trophy in four of the five years it's been contested, while D.C.'s four MLS Cup championships have only added to the frustration of New York fans.
But all that might be changing. Led by a braintrust of former United heroes, the 2007 Red Bulls have far outshone their southern neighbors thus far, surging out to a league-best 6-2-2 start on the strength of a dazzling strike force that has notched 19 goals. Add in a stingy defense that has allowed just 0.80 goals per game despite numerous injuries, and there's little doubt that the Red Bulls travel to Washington for Sunday afternoon's game brimming with confidence.
"That's the big difference in this thing - New York's actually a good team this year," said United midfielder Ben Olsen. "The close proximity is where this rivalry's come from. Now you have a team that's pushing the top of the table."
Former D.C. and U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena, assisted by former United stars John Harkes and Richie Williams, has rebounded from the USA's disappointing 2006 World Cup expedition and is giving New York's long-suffering supporters reason to believe that they can knock off their hated enemies in the capital city.
Olsen played for Arena at the collegiate, professional, and international levels -- and lived under his roof as a Project-40 rookie in 1998 -- and believes his former coach has stamped his authority on this Red Bulls side.
"It wasn't a fluke that this guy wins everywhere he goes," said Olsen. "He's an elite coach, and because he got a lot of stick from the World Cup doesn't mean he's not a great coach. He's showing that he knows how to pick a team and get the team willing and able to win for him. They're working together, they're fighting together, they've had some fortune. It's a Bruce team: they fight, defensive pressure is good, and they've got a couple of really talented guys."
The Red Bulls have also benefited from the financial clout of their parent company, using the league's new designated player rule to acquire two influential veterans from the English Premiership. Former U.S. national team captain Claudio Reyna has brought composure and stability to the Bulls midfield, while Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel has been on fire since arriving from Aston Villa, averaging more than a goal a game.
Feasting on the service provided by capable wingers like Dane Richards and Dave van den Bergh, Angel's predatory instincts have already punished several MLS defenses and United's back line is well aware of the danger he presents.
"He's very composed in and around the box," said Bryan Namoff of Angel. "That's something that we definitely have to keep a good focus on, and try to stop him. They're coming in here with some momentum, they've won a lot of games. It's going to be a tough game and we can't take anything lightly."
With Brian Carroll's quadriceps contusion United's only injury of note, D.C. coach Tom Soehn can call on all but one of his first-choice players on Sunday and he'll be eager to see his stuttering strike force test the makeshift Bulls back line. United will look to use the full width of the RFK Stadium field and switch their angle of attack with greater efficiency than in recent games.
"A lot of teams, if you look at the way they're playing, they're going to shore up the middle," said Soehn. "That's the most dangerous area, and if you can do a good job of spreading the field, you're going to open up space for yourself and we've certainly got to do a better job of recognizing that."
Despite New York's success so far this season, Soehn isn't quite ready to concede his squad's dominance in the rivalry yet.
"We didn't play them yet [this year], how can it change?" he said mischievously. "We always have a good rivalry with them, and it's not going to change. There's a lot of ties between old D.C. United teams and this New York team, so there's always going to be a little more at stake. We're right down the highway from them."
But the first-year boss readily acknowledges the two teams' disparate positions in the standings, adding, "Right now, we're the underdogs. They're ahead of us."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
