Five years ago, the New York Red Bulls opened up their own soccer-specific stadium after years of playing in the cavernous Giants Stadium.
On Sunday, they will renew their rivalry against D.C. United (5 pm; ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN) after defeating their rivals in the playoffs last season.
And as they enter their sixth season in their home in Harrison, the MLSsoccer.com editorial staff decided to vote on their top five moments at Red Bull Arena so far. Here they are:
1. October 27, 2013: Supporters' Shield celebration
This one certainly didn't start out as a potential top five moment. With the 2013 Supporters' Shield on the line and New York needing to defeat Chicago to claim their first silverware in team history, Mike Magee netted in a goal in the sixth minute. But after that, the Red Bulls took over, starting off with a spectacular goal from Thierry Henry. The game finished 5-2 in favor of the home side but the best moment came after the final whistle. The team celebrated with the fans, who had been through years of heartbreak, and were able to hear club legend and then-head coach Mike Petke give an emotional speech that nearly brought him to tears.
2. November 7, 2012: Playoff game against D.C. United postponed due to snow
Hurricane Sandy devastated the Tri-State area when it made landfall on October 29, 2012, and it affected the MLS playoff schedule as the New York Red Bulls were set to meet D.C. United at Red Bull Arena over the weekend. The first leg of the playoff series was moved to D.C., with the game ending in a 1-1 draw between the two rivals. The second leg was scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 7 but the game would not end up being played that night. A Nor'easter hit the area, dumping over a half-foot of snow on thes stadium as the two teams were set to do battle. Grounds crews hurried to get the field cleared and Ben Olsen was lobbying MLS to let them play but the game was moved to the next night.
The game the next night made sure that we wouldn't only remember the snowstorm. It turned into one of the wildest games in MLS history as United were able to beat the Red Bulls behind an 88th minute goal from Nick DeLeon. But the madness that preceded was just as much the story.
It started when United goalkeeper Bill Hamid was given a red card for taking down Kenny Cooper in the box in the 69th minute. The forward then stepped up to the spot and converted his penalty to put his team up 1-0, but there was a problem. Roy Miller had encroached into the box and Cooper was forced to re-take his PK. This time newly-inserted goalkeeper Joe Willis saved Cooper's shot. Rafael Marquez picked up a second yellow card a few minutes later to put both teams at 10 men, which helped United grab a spot in the Eastern Conference Championship.
3. October 30, 2014: BWP gives Red Bulls first home playoff win at RBA
Entering last year's playoffs the Red Bulls had failed to win a home playoff game despite having four opportunities to do so. In a rematch of a regular-season game just four days prior, the Red Bulls met Sporting Kansas City in the Knockout Round of the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Red Bulls dominated most of the game behind the play of impending retiree Henry but failed to find the back of the net. Then in what some would say was just 'so Metro', they were beaten on a counter by Benny Feilhaber and Dom Dwyer that put the vistiors up 1-0 in the 53rd minute.
But, unlike previous games, the Red Bulls fought back. Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips tied the game up in the 77th, finishing off a great build-up from the Henry and a revitalized Peguy Luyindula. Then, in the 90th minute, Ambroise Oyongo mishit a cross from the right side. Luckily for the New York the Sporting backline, including USMNT defender Matt Besler misjudged the flight of the ball. This allowed BWP to finish off the wayward cross and put his team into the Conference Semifinals.
4. October 30, 2011: Rafa being Rafa
BWP's goal came three years to the day after one of the uglier events in Red Bulls history.
Rafael Marquez came to the Red Bulls in 2010 after captaining the Mexican national team in yet another World Cup. He had also won two La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League over his last two seasons with Spanish giants Barcelona.
Rafa's time with the Red Bulls would not be as fruitful as his tenure would be marred with injuries, turmoil, and chaos. He argued with teammates and the fans, accrued multiple red cards, and seemed to be injured every other game. This all came to a head in the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs when the Red Bulls met the LA Galaxy. The Galaxy beat the Red Bulls 1-0 in the Western Conference Semifinals behind a Magee goal in the 15th minute. But the fireworks really came after the final whistle.
Marquez, clearly frustrated with the Red Bulls' performance, threw the ball at the back of his longtime national team nemesis Landon Donovan. The Galaxy were not too pleased with this action. In the ensuing "fight" Marquez feigned being hit in the face and flopped to the ground. The El Tri legend was shown a red card after the dust settled, meaning he would miss the second leg in Carson, and the Red Bulls would go on to lose 2-1 at the StubHub Center.
5. July 27, 2013: Dax takes Red Bull Arena to max volume
During their Supporters' Shield run in 2013 the Red Bulls scored many late, dramatic goals. The most dramatic might have been Dax McCarty's goal against Real Salt Lake in late July.
After taking a 2-0 lead 23 minutes in, Mike Petke's team began to unravel. New York coughed up three consecutive goals, all to star striker Alvaro Saborio, on their way to being down 3-2 in the 82nd minute.
But the team did not lie down. Former RSL striker Fabian Espindola scored in the 89th minute to tie the game up, and that was just the beginning.
Brandon Barklage served in a cross from the right flank and the diminutive defensive midfielder dove to get his head on the end of the cross, making contact and looping it in for an improbable winner. As one is wont to do in such circumstances, the "Ginger Ninja" ripped off his shirt in celebration and was piled on by his teammates in one of the most raucous moments in RBA history.
