RED BULLS BATTLE TO EARN 1-1 TIE AT D.C. UNITED IN MLS CUP PLAYOFFS CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS FIRST LEG

The New York Red Bulls earned a 1-1 tie with D.C. United Saturday night in the first leg of the teams’ aggregate goal MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals Series at RFK Stadium. United went ahead in the 61^st minute off a Roy Miller own goal. However, the Red Bulls equalized the score after D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid also recorded an own goal four minutes later.

The teams will square off again in the second leg at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 8:00 PM (TV: NBC Sports Network; Radio: 93.1 FM) and the winner of that match will advance to the Eastern Conference Final against either Sporting Kansas City or the Houston Dynamo. For tickets, log onto www.newyorkredbulls.com. 

Goalkeeper Luis Robles came up big for the Red Bulls in the first half. Two minutes in, he fully extended to his left to block a Chris Korb blast. Thirty minutes later, United earned a penalty kick as Connor Lade was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty box. However, Robles came up trumps and guessed correctly to block Chris Pontius’ spot kick.

On the other end, Red Bulls midfielder Joel Lindpere nearly gave the visitors the lead in the 60^th minute, collecting a Thierry Henry through ball and forcing Hamid to come out and make a save.

United went ahead in the 61^st minute. Korb played a cross into the six yard box that Miller deflected into his own net. But New York tied the game four minutes later. Henry’s in-swinging corner to the back post was headed by Heath Pearce. Hamid jumped up, bobbled it and the ball crossed the end line.

D.C. went down a man when defender Andy Najar earned two yellow cards in the 71^st minute, first with a foul on Lindpere and then a subsequent one for dissent. He will be suspended for the series’ second leg.

New York Red Bulls 1, D.C. United 1
Nov. 3, 2012 – RFK Stadium – Washington D.C.
MLS Cup Eastern Conference Semifinals Series – First Leg