D.C. United vs. New York Red Bulls – Playoff Game Preview

Sunday, November 1^st, 3:00 p.m. ET, RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.

Major League Soccer’s Playoff Eastern Semifinals round begins with one of the oldest, fiercest rivalries in the MLS.

D.C. United host New York Red Bulls for yet another postseason battle between the two, as these two sides have been battling each other since 1996.

In 82 games between the two teams in all competitions in the past 20 years, D.C. won 42 times vs. Red Bulls’ 27 wins, and the sides drew 13 times.

This past MLS season however, New York appears to have had the upper hand, finishing the regular 2015 season in the top spot of Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference with 60 points (18-10-6) compared to D.C. that finished in fourth place with 51 points (15-13-6).

In the three regular MLS season meetings between the teams, New York won 2-0 at home in March, the sides drew 2-2 in Washington in April, and the Red Bulls won again 3-0 at home in August.

D.C. United’s captain Bobby Boswell will not play due to a suspension by the MLS disciplinary committee following a harsh foul on New England Revolution’s Juan Agudelo in the last match.

This will be the first of two meetings on aggregate goal between the teams, where the Red Bulls will host the second leg of the series on the following Sunday, November 8^th.