E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - When the New York-based MLS team last beat rival D.C. United at Giants Stadium, 14-year-old Freddy Adu became the youngest player in league history to score a goal, the team was called the MetroStars and John Wolyniec scored for the home team.
Well, Adu is now a veteran playing in Salt Lake and the team is called the Red Bulls. As for Wolyniec? Some things never change.
Wolyniec, now in his third term with the Red Bulls, struck in the 19th minute for the lone goal in the Red Bulls' 1-0 win against D.C. United on Sunday. It was Wolyniec's third goal; all have been game-winners.
Inside the locker room, Wolyniec said he had trouble remembering that win on April 17, 2004.
"No, I don't, to be honest," he said before being pressed more about the game. "Oh yeah. 3-2. Yeah, I remember that game. I
had one."
So where was Jozy Altidore, who teamed up with Adu and scored four goals at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, that day three years
ago?
"I think I was in residency, probably eating lunch somewhere," the 17-year-old joked.
But Altidore isn't surprised that Wolyniec, who earned the start because Juan Pablo Angel was serving a one-game suspension
because of a late red card against New England last Saturday, scored the lone goal.
"I think Woly's been huge, I don't know what he's been eating lately, but he better give me some," Altidore said. "The way
he's been playing the last few weeks, basically the last month, he's been really good."
Altidore hasn't been with the Red Bulls for two full seasons, but he's sick of losing to D.C. United. And he's not alone.
With the exception of Wolyniec, Jeff Parke, Mike Magee and Chris Leitch, no other player in the locker room could say they
were part of the last team that beat D.C. at home.
But that changes now.
"I think they're clearly our biggest rival, they're the closest team in proximity to us, they've been in the division since
the beginning," Wolyniec said. "They've probably had the better of us as an organization, but it's nice to get a big win at
home, 1-0, and have a really good effort."
Claudio Reyna lofted a 45-yard free kick inside the box, where it was headed by Altidore to Wolyniec, who flicked it past
D.C. goalkeeper Troy Perkins.
"He's a hard worker and through experience, I think he's gotten a little bit better," Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena said of
Wolyniec. "Even on bad days, John helps our team and that's a nice comment to make of a player."
Jon Conway is in a similar role to Wolyniec, as the guy who comes in off the bench when there's an injury. That's basically
been his role since he arrived in New York, backing up Tony Meola last year and Ronald Waterreus this season. But when
Waterreus, the former Dutch international, missed his second consecutive game with left ankle swelling, Conway again stepped
up and made four saves for his third clean sheet of the year.
"I think we're getting there," Conway said. "Guys have been making great tackles and our positioning has been better. We're
just getting more comfortable with each other and now we're getting that solidarity back as a group."
Arena said he's seen an improvement from Conway, like many goalkeepers who are on the other side of 30 years of age.
"I thought Conway again was pretty good," Arena said. "He's done very well. He brings a great attitude to the team every day.
When he's called upon, he comes through."
As for any significance about beating D.C., a team that he once coached to the MLS Cup title, Arena doesn't see it.
"I know nothing about that stuff," he said. "The significance for us is the three points, whether it's D.C. United or the
Clifton Pirates."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or
its clubs.
