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The New York Red Bulls entered Week 6 as one of only two undefeated teams in MLS. Despite already coming off of their 2nd bye week of the season, the team looked poised for a break out early in the season, that is until they ran into a waiting D.C. United team. Despite coming out looking good in the first few minutes, the Red Bulls were soon taken out of the game by a physical D.C. midfield.
D.C. opened up the scoring in the 26th minute after Perry Kitchen headed in a corner kick from the near post, and would take a 1-0 lead into the locker room as New York couldn't get many chances in. The second half was more wide open as D.C. pressed to extend the lead and New York looked to get on the board.
D.C. struck first in the second half with a 67th minute strike from Perry Kitchen, who shot from outside the box, putting it into the lower corner past the outstretched Luis Robles. New York would get one back a minute later as Damien Perrinelle got a head in on a Felipe Martins corner kick to make it 2-1.
D.C. threatened to extend the league a few times, most notably off of a free kick outside the box that Dax McCarty headed away before being subbed off for Dane Richards. It looked like D.C. was going to take the game by a 2-1 scoreline but then a stoppage time free kick secured a point for the Red Bulls, and kept the undefeated streak going.
A Sacha Kljestan freekick was stopped by Hamid, but the rebound fell right into the path of a onrushing Lloyd Sam who tapped it past Hamid for his third goal of the year. The Red Bulls then held off a late free kick attempt and walked out with a 2-2 draw.
3 Thoughts:
1. CSN-Washington
How terrible is RFK? CSN-Washington's feed from the stadium crapped out for 3 minutes early on in the match. No word on if concrete or raccoons were to blame.
2. Lackluster Effort
I mentioned it earlier but the Red Bulls came out really flat in this match. I don't know if it was the bye week or D.C.'s strategy in midfield, but the Red Bulls looked pensive at times and forced their own errors, something that we haven't really seen in the first three matches. The team was lucky to get two in on set pieces to draw the match, but this type of effort isn't good enough if they wish to contend this year. Hopefully this is just a small hiccup.
3. Four Goals
Bill Hamid has given up 4 goals in 5 games this season. All 4 of those came from the Red Bulls.