MLS Red Bull New York

Red Bulls Top D.C. United, 3-2, in Front of Record Crowd

Published on June 24, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Red Bull New York News Release


HARRISON, NJ (June 24, 2012) - A record crowd of 25,187 at Red Bull Arena saw the New York Red Bulls earn a thrilling 3-2 victory over rival D.C. United on Sunday night. Red Bulls defender Brandon Barklage scored twice, while Jan Gunnar Solli got the eventual winner as New York improved to 9-4-3 on the season and tied D.C. at the top of the Eastern Conference with 30 points with one game in hand. Chris Pontius had both goals for United.

The attendance Sunday night broke the previous Red Bull Arena record set on Oct. 4, 2011 - a day when the Red Bulls won 2-0 over the LA Galaxy.

It didn't take long for the United (9-5-3, 30 pts.) to open the scoring, as the visitors broke through with the game's first goal in the first minute. Dwayne De Rosario picked out Danny Cruz down the right flank. Cruz lofted a ball into the box where Pontius was first to it, nodding home his seventh goal of the season.

In the 11th minute, New York forced D.C. keeper Bill Hamid into action. Joel Lindpere swung a ball in from the left side and Mehdi Ballouchy headed it on frame, but the American keeper dove to his right and parried the ball away. Earlier, Red Bull Dax McCarty nearly answered Pontius' opening goal with a long-range strike that hit off the crossbar.

But New York's incessant pressure led to the equalizer in the 20th minute. Roy Miller did well to earn a corner kick, which Lindpere took from the left side. The Estonian fired in an out-swinger and Barklage connected with the ball in mid-air, firing it into the net with the outside of his right boot to register his first career MLS goal.

It appeared as though the teams would head to the break even, but Barklage broke the deadlock two minutes into second half stoppage time. Rafa Marquez took a free kick from the left side of midfield that deflected off D.C. United's wall. The ball fell in the direction of Barklage, who hit it on a full volley from outside the right corner of the box and into the far corner of the net.

New York extended its lead in the 55th minute as Solli notched his first goal in MLS. The Red Bulls had come down on a counter attack, as Marquez played Ballouchy on the left wing. Ballouchy found Lindpere behind the D.C. defense in the box, and Lindpere crossed to Solli, whose redirect was stopped by Hamid. Solli was the first to the rebound and fired a left footed shot that found the net.

D.C. pulled one back on Pontius' second tally of the night. Substitute forward Maicon Santos took a pass from De Rosario, and found Pontius behind New York's back line. Pontius rounded goalkeeper Ryan Meara and easily finished with his left foot. However, it wasn't enough as New York's defense held firm the rest of the night to secure the victory.

New York returns to the pitch on Saturday, June 30, when they take on Toronto FC at BMO Field. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 PM ET and the match can be seen live on MSG and heard in Spanish on WLIB 1190 AM. The Red Bulls kick off a three-game homestand on July 15, when they battle Seattle Sounders FC at 4:00 PM at Red Bull Arena. For tickets to Red Bulls matches, call 1.877.RBSOCCER or log onto www.newyorkredbulls.com.

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Major League Soccer Stories from June 24, 2012


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