MLS D.C. United

Atlantic Cup Battle to Continue

Published on September 23, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
D.C. United News Release


CHANTILLY, VA (September 23, 2003) – The Atlantic Cup is once again on the line as D.C. United faces the MetroStars this Thursday, September 25th at Giants Stadium and Sunday, September 28th at RFK Stadium. The first game, slated to begin at 7:30 p.m., will be broadcast nationally on espn2 (tape delay at 1:00 a.m. September 26th) and will mark the third match of the four game season series. The Atlantic Cup showdown concludes Sunday at RFK Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

The MetroStars defeated United 1-0 in the first meeting this year, played at Giants Stadium, courtesy of a goal from Clint Mathis just before halftime. The second battle, played at RFK Stadium, was decided in overtime as MetroStars rookie substitute Eddie Gaven scored with one minute remaining to lead his team to a dramatic 3-2 victory. D.C. United needs to win both of this week's meetings to draw level on points with their rivals, at which point an Atlantic Cup winner would be decided on aggregate goals. Should aggregate goals be even at series end, away goals would determine the 2004 cup winner. Should that tie-breaker not determine a victor, D.C. United would retain the hardware earned during last year's series.

Though the rivalry between the opposing sides has been intense since the initiation of Major League Soccer in 1996, the series took on greater meaning with last season's creation of the Atlantic Cup. Teams from Washington, D.C. and New York City have engaged in battle through organized sports for over a century, and while the rivalry between the MetroStars and D.C. United is the youngest of that span, it is earning its stripes as one of the most highly contested. It is no secret that Washington and New York have two of the most soccer-dedicated fan bases in the country, which makes the Atlantic Cup a very special and proudly earned trophy for the winning side.

D.C. United topped the MetroStars to earn last year's inaugural Atlantic Cup. During the 2002 season, the MetroStars and United played the final two games of the series in a 48-hour span in mid-September. D.C. won both matches in route to a 9-3 aggregate standing point total in the head-to-head season series.

While the series did not have a name for the first six seasons, there is still much worth mentioning from its past history. The series got off to a bang in 1996, as both teams won at home and on the road in the regular season to split the games 2-2. United prevailed, however, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, which ended in the late stages of a decisive Game Three. United's Raul Diaz Arce scored the game-winner in the 89th minute to give D.C. a 2-1 victory in the game and the series. United got past Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference Finals and went on to defeat the L.A. Galaxy 3-2 on October 20th to win the inaugural MLS Cup.

While the squads have not met in the playoffs since 1996, their regular season battles remain fiercely competitive. The series has remained close over the years, with United holding a 16-13-1 advantage. Of the 30 contests, 22 have been decided by one goal, with two wins coming via shootout and three games won in overtime.

With both teams fighting to earn a spot in this year's Eastern Conference playoffs, fans of both sides should expect nothing less than the same exciting action they have seen the past seven seasons. For the second time, the series winner will earn more than just pride, they will get to take home the Atlantic Cup.

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 23, 2003


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