United-Red Bulls Preview

Though D.C. United has a perfect playoff history against the New York Red Bulls, they're trying hard to ignore it.

United looks to carry over its worst-to-first success from the regular season Sunday when it visits the Red Bulls in the first of a two-leg Eastern Conference semifinal.

A season removed from winning an MLS record-low three games and earning 16 points, D.C. United won 17 and finished atop the East with 59 points to complete the biggest turnaround in league history.

United doesn't expect its mindset to change during the postseason.

"This is what we have been looking forward to and working for all year," midfielder Davy Arnaud told D.C.'s official website.

"Even though we are in the playoffs now, and the intensity or whatever else changes a little bit, we're going to have to make sure we continue to do all the things we've been doing all year and not get away from that."

United draws a familiar foe in New York, which has dropped all four previous playoff meetings between the Atlantic Cup rivals. D.C. won 2-1 on aggregate in a 2012 conference semifinal that featured a snowstorm during the New York leg.

D.C. coach Ben Olsen, though, would rather stay in the moment.

"Every season is different," said Olsen, whose team enters the playoffs amid a 3-0-3 stretch. "All of these records and things that are being thrown out all the time - every year they're broken.

"I think the edge we have isn't about history, it's from an energy standpoint. I think we're healthy and rested, and we have to use that to our advantage."

United took two of three from the fourth-place Red Bulls during the regular season, but that loss came on the road, 1-0 on Sept. 10. D.C., which tied for the fewest goals allowed in MLS with 37, was the only team from the East to shut out New York star Bradley Wright-Phillips during a season series.

The English striker tied the MLS single-season record with 27 goals and scored both - highlighted by a tiebreaking header in the 90th minute - in the 2-1 victory over reigning MLS Cup champion Sporting Kansas City in Thursday's knockout round.

"We believe, we believe," Wright-Phillips said. "When we come in here, we're on fire."

Though New York is riding a huge wave of momentum after ending an 0-5-2 home playoff slide, star Thierry Henry knows it won't matter if they can't build on Thursday's victory.

"We haven't done anything. Still a long way to go," said the 37-year-old Frenchman, who assisted on Wright-Phillips' first goal Thursday.

"It's not because you beat Kansas City that you've done anything," he added. "That doesn't give you (anything). We didn't get anything at the end of the game - just the right to advance and make sure we can play D.C. That's all."

This could be the final home match for Henry, whose contract expires after the season. He's reportedly considering retirement.

"It will be up to him at the end of the day," Wright-Phillips said.

D.C's Luis Silva shared the team lead with 11 goals in league play, but he could miss a third straight match with a hamstring injury.

Teammates Chris Rolfe (arm) and Sean Franklin (lower body) are expected to be available.

The second leg is next Saturday at D.C.