New York Red Bulls beat DC United in first leg of Eastern Conference semi-final

MLS Playoffs | Playoffs

Nov 2, 2014 at 9pm UK

FT(HT: 1-0)

Bradley Wright-Phillips and Peguy Luyindula score as the New York Red Bulls beat DC United 2-1 in the first leg of the Eastern Conference semi-final.

Published: November 2 2014 | 23:00

Last updated: November 3 2014 | 16:55

The New York Red Bulls have claimed the advantage in their Eastern Conference semi-final tie against DC United by recording a 2-0 victory in the first leg.

Despite looking comfortable in possession, United's inability to create clear chances would be a common theme as Luis Robles kept out a speculative effort from David Arnaud following a cagey start at Red Bull Arena.

Peguy Luyindula's cross should have put New York ahead just after the half-hour mark, but Bradley Wright-Phillips was unable to keep his effort drifting over from inside the box.

However, the former Manchester City striker would make up for the miss before the break as he handed his side the lead by tapping in from close range after latching onto Thierry Henry's clever back heel.

New York took the momentum into the second half, and were close to doubling their advantage when Henry fired just over from the edge of the box.

DC goalkeeper Bill Hamid was then forced into action to deny the Red Bulls with an excellent double save from Lloyd Sam and Wright-Phillips.

United were unable to produce a response to New York's dominance in defence and attack, and the hosts managed to wrap up the win in the 74th minute.

Henry was once again the provider as he chipped an inch-perfect pass into the path of Luyindula, who kept his composure to slot past Hamid and hand the control to the Red Bulls at the halfway stage of the tie.

Share this article now:

Eastern Conference

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Inter Miami Inter Miami	34	22	8	4	79	49	30	74
2	Columbus Crew	34	19	9	6	72	40	32	66
3	FC Cincinnati Cincinnati	34	18	5	11	58	48	10	59
4	Orlando City	34	15	7	12	59	50	9	52
5	Charlotte FC Charlotte FC	34	14	9	11	46	37	9	51
6	New York City FC NY City	34	14	8	12	54	49	5	50
7	New York Red Bulls NY Red Bulls	34	11	14	9	55	50	5	47
8	CF Montreal Montreal	34	11	10	13	48	64	-16	43
9	Atlanta United Atlanta	34	10	10	14	46	49	-3	40
10	DC United	34	10	10	14	52	70	-18	40
11	Philadelphia Union Philadelphia	34	9	10	15	62	55	7	37
12	Toronto	34	11	4	19	40	61	-21	37
13	Nashville SC Nashville	34	9	9	16	38	54	-16	36
14	New England Revolution New England	34	9	4	21	37	74	-37	31
15	Chicago Fire	34	7	9	18	40	62	-22	30

Western Conference

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Los Angeles FC Los Angeles	34	19	7	8	63	43	20	64
2	Los Angeles Galaxy LA Galaxy	34	19	7	8	69	50	19	64
3	Real Salt Lake Salt Lake	34	16	11	7	65	48	17	59
4	Seattle Sounders Seattle	34	16	9	9	51	35	16	57
5	Houston Dynamo Houston	34	15	9	10	47	39	8	54
6	Minnesota United Minnesota Utd	34	15	7	12	58	49	9	52
7	Colorado Rapids Colorado	34	15	5	14	61	60	1	50
8	Portland Timbers Portland	34	12	11	11	65	56	9	47
9	Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver	34	13	8	13	52	49	3	47
10	Austin FC Austin	34	11	9	14	39	48	-9	42
11	Dallas	34	11	8	15	54	56	-2	41
12	St Louis City	34	8	13	13	50	63	-13	37
13	Sporting Kansas City Kansas	34	8	7	19	51	66	-15	31
14	San Jose Earthquakes Earthquakes	34	6	3	25	41	78	-37	21