If it wasn’t for his pregnant wife insisting on him calling Major League Soccer in 2012, New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles would be selling health insurance instead of manning the net against D.C. United in the second leg of the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals this Sunday at Red Bull Arena at 3 p.m. ET (ESPN). It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that D.C. United would be his favorite opponent to go up against. In nine career regular season games against I-95 rivals D.C., Robles has helped the Red Bulls to a 5-2-2 record with five shutouts. And in five career playoff matches against United, Robles is 2-2-1 with two shutouts. Robles will be helped out by club captain Dax McCarty, who scored the lone goal in the Red Bulls’ 1-0 win over D.C. at RFK Stadium in leg 1. McCarty was a standout presence in the Red Bulls’ midfield during the regular season breaking up opposition attacks while also chipping in on the offensive end with a career-high of eight assists.
If D.C. United are going to have any hope of coming away with a win on the road against the Red Bulls, homegrown goalkeeper Bill Hamid will have to replicate his outstanding performance against the New England Revolution in the Knockout Round. D.C. will have to figure out a way to get past a stingy New York defense and will rely on continued good form from forward Chris Rolfe, who scored the game-winning goal in the Knockout Round over the Revs. Rolfe scored a career-high 10 goals this season and also has five goals in 19 career postseason matches.
Although the Red Bulls won this season’s Atlantic Cup against D.C. (2-0-1), D.C. United have enjoyed the lion’s share of success between the two clubs in the postseason going 7-2-2 in 11 postseason matches before this year. The last time the two clubs met in the postseason was in last year’s Eastern Conference Semifinals, in which New York won 3-2 on aggregate and advanced on away goals.
Although the Red Bulls won this season’s Atlantic Cup against D.C. (2-0-1), D.C. United have enjoyed the lion’s share of success between the two clubs in the postseason going 7-2-2 in 11 postseason matches before this year. The last time the two clubs met in the postseason was in last year’s Eastern Conference Semifinals, in which New York won 3-2 on aggregate and advanced on away goals.
By: Editor
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