Photo by Brad Mills/USA TODAY Sports
By DAN KARELL
After completing a worst-to-first turnaround this season, D.C. United return to the MLS playoffs this weekend against their Atlantic Cup rivals.
First-place D.C. United visit the New York Red Bulls in the second Eastern Conference semifinal match of the weekend, following the third-place Columbus Crew hosting the second-place New England Revolution.
It’s a rematch of the 2012 Eastern Conference semifinals for the Red Bulls and D.C. United, one that ended in ignominy for the Red Bulls with Rafa Marquez being sent off before Kenny Cooper missed an extra-time penalty kick. The Red Bulls won their first playoff game at Red Bull Arena on Thursday, and will hope to win their second on Sunday.
A day earlier in what’s set to be rainy Columbus, the Crew face the Revolution for the fourth time this season. The Crew won the season-series, 2-1.
Here’s a closer look at the Eastern Conference semifinal matchups:
NEW YORK RED BULLS vs. D.C. UNITED (Sunday, 4 p.m., Univision Deportes/MLS Live)
Ben Olsen’s side enters the playoffs on a six-game unbeaten run, but will likely be without midfielder Luis Silva for Sunday’s encounter. That will likely mean a bigger role for Eddie Johnson alongside former Red Bull Fabian Espindola.
The Red Bulls meanwhile are coming off an emotional and physically taxing 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City on Thursday evening in the Eastern Conference knockout round, and have only two days of recovery before starting the semifinals. With Thierry Henry, Jamison Olave, and Tim Cahill all logging major minutes, Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke will have to decide how to manage his veteran squad’s minutes.
One thing is sure though. D.C. United’s stout defensive duo of Bobby Boswell and rookie Steve Birnbaum will have their hands full with Bradley Wright-Phillips, who has scored 29 goals in 2014, including four in his last two games.
COLUMBUS CREW vs. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (Saturday, 4 p.m., MLS Live)
Since Aug. 15, the New England Revolution have lost just once in 12 games. That one loss came on the road to the Columbus Crew.
The Revolution travel again to the Buckeye state to face the Crew, who are in the playoffs for the first time since 2011. The Revolution have overcome a midseason losing streak and the inconsistency that followed, and U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Jermaine Jones quickly proved to be one of the team’s missing pieces, slotting in perfectly with MVP-candidate Lee Nguyen.
Crew head coach Gregg Berhalter has led a revolution with the club this season, and the Crew are entering the series with only one defeat in the last two months. Goalkeeper Steve Clark has been a rock in the back along with Tyson Wahl and Michael Parkhurst, and Ethan Finlay has proved to be a breakout star. Wil Trapp and Tony Tchani will be busy keeping an eye on Jones and Nguyen.
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What do you think of these matchups? Do you see the Red Bulls getting revenge for 2012? Do you see the Revolution scoring on the road in Columbus?
Share your thoughts below.
Ever wonder why they are call the New Jersey Red Balls??
Watch!! They gonna loose on the first round!!
Like every year!!!
Lets Go Red Balls!!! Lets Go Home!!!
Hahahaha!!!
Your trolling game needs some serious work.
The leagues in Europe are ok, but they could really use a playoff system like we have here in MLS.
Spain and England really need to follow our lead.
Omg! Europe league is OK?!?!
Dude see you don’t know anything about soccer!!!
Maybe it’s time for MLS to change!!
Hahaha who wants to be like the Corporate MLS?!?!
Only a dumbas* like you make those comments!!
Hey Don!! Buy a team on MLS!! Call it Coca Cola United!!
I bet you can’t even kick the ball!!!
Go play FIFA 15 on PS3!!!
Hahaha!!!
Don!! You are making fun of your self!!!
Hahaha
Yes. Most people outside of DC fans are looking to see DC United’s bubble burst because of what happened last season. It will be interesting to see how good they actually are now that the playoffs have started. The third best record during the regular season is certainly better than a lot of people wanted to give them credit for. Also, even though they had an easy group, they are the only American team to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League quarter finals – and are the number 1 seed to boot. It is always interesting to see if people’s perception of the team matches reality. So far we would have to say that they have been better than most expected. Now we find out how good they are in the games that really matter at the end of the season. I don’t see them winning MLS Cup, but a lot of people underestimate Ben Olsen in the playoffs. Their form lately hasn’t been stellar, but he has been positioning the team for the playoff games. I could see DC United making the final if enough goes their way.
How can the MLS get by without televising all their playoff games? Can we not manage to cut a TV deal that will actually show all the playoff games? Seriously… sigh…
I “voted with my feet” and signed up for MLS Direct on DirecTV, and saved money by dropping Fox Soccer Channel. Now all the games are televised!
me too. MLS live is more than worth it.
Falling concrete, raccoons, and a whiny Ben are in the forecast this weekend.
Have a feeling that Red Bulls are going to burst DCUs bubble. New England over Columbus. In the conference final,…New England gets the nod in New England on the field turf.
Looking forward to watching Will Trapp go up against Nguyen and JJ. Henry game e him props after the Crew beat NYRB in Harrison.
Enjoy!
I kind of want New England to lose just so we don’t have to see a cavernous turf football field in the playoffs more than once. Same sort of deal with DCU. I don’t want to see that horrible stadium more than once.
It’s nice to see we are evolving as a soccer nation and priority is on who has the nicer field and stadium, and not who is the better team.
These game are going to be incredible. Can hardly wait.