WASHINGTON, D.C. ā Just a week after watching NYCFC march into RFK Stadium and walk away with three points, D.C. United faced another New York-area team with designs on stealing some road points.
The Red Bulls, however, would be sent packing with their tail between their legs.
United looked dominant throughout their 2-0 victory over their long-time rivals, riding a pair of first-half goals from Alvaro Saborio and Patrick Nyarko to the promised land. In an up-and down year, Friday nightās performance was a rarity for this United side: a complete one, from whistle to whistle.
āItās a rivalry. Itās a team that we hate, and they hate us,ā United defender Sean Franklin told MLSsoccer.com after the match. āIt was a good game for us to play tonight, bouncing back from our loss against NYCFC. It was just a good performance ā we talked about how we canāt be giving up points at home, how we needed a statement game, and I think tonight was the perfect night for it.ā
āYouāre pleased [at the win],ā said DCU head coach Ben Olsen, ābut the message is ā thatās what we can do. We canāt wait for it to be New York, the Red Bulls [in front of] a packed house. Itās not all on them. Itās on me too. We have to keep as high a standard as possible for each game.ā
The Red Bulls never looked particularly competitive yet still managed to put a pair of decent chances on frame, including a first-half attempt that required an acrobatic save from Travis Worra ā Unitedās third-string keeper who now finds himself thrust into the spotlight as US national team ākeeper Bill Hamid continues to recover from knee surgery.
Worra, seated next to Olsen at the post-game press conference, drew praise from his head coach.
āThe man next to me bailed us out once or twice,ā said Olsen. āThatāll be understated in this whole deal. I felt, again, [the saves were] huge. The gameās still about moments and he made two for us that kept us in there, kept the lead in the first half.ā
āIn the run of play, as a goalkeeper, when you make a big save ā I donāt even recognize it as a big save,ā added Worra. āI just recognize it as keeping the ball out of the net. ā