Red Bulls Edge D.C. United

The New York Red Bulls moved back into a tie for first place in the Eastern Conference after downing D.C. United by a score of 1-0 on Sunday afternoon.

In the 19th minute of play, Josmer Altidore headed the ball back into the middle from inside the box, finding forward John Wolyniec, whose header beat D.C. keeper troy Perkins at the far post, giving the Red Bulls all they would need.

Eight minutes before halftime, D.C. defender Bobby Boswell nearly evened things up. Devon McTavish sent the ball in from the right side and Boswell got his head on it, with his shot clanging off the crossbar before being cleared away.

In the 57th minute, substitute Nicholas Addlery had a one-on-one breakaway, but NY keeper Jon Conway smothered the shot, keeping the Red Bulls in front.

Two minutes later, Christian Gomez had a perfect opportunity to tie the game when he received the ball just feet from the keeper. As Conway came out to cut off the angle, the reigning MLS MVP successfully chipped the ball over him, but also over the crossbar and out of play.

Any hope of a United comeback was dashed in extra time when Brazilian midfielder Fred received a straight red card from referee Abbey Okulaja for tackling the Red Bulls’ Dane Richards from behind.

With the win, the Red Bulls move back into a tie for first place in the Eastern Conference with the New England Revolution.

D.C. United’s loss leaves them in fifth-place in the crowded East, with only three points separating the top five clubs.

Scoring
NY – John Wolyniec (Jozy Altidore, Claudio Reyna) 19’

Line-Ups
NY – Jon Conway, Kevin Goldthwaite, Hunter Freeman, Carlos Mendes, Seth Stammler, Claudio Reyna (Dema Kovalenko 73’), Clint Mathis (Dave van den Bergh 85’), John Wolyniec, Jozy Altidore, Dane Richards, Jeff Parke (Joe Vide 46’)

DC – Troy Perkins, Marc Burch (Stephen deRoux 73’), Greg Vanney, Fred, Christian Gomez, Luciano Emilio, Brian Carroll, Joshua Gros, Devon McTavish, Clyde Simms (Nicholas Addlery 55’), Bobby Boswell