MLS Game Summary - D.C. United at New York
Harrison, NJ (SportsNetwork.com) - Bradley Wright-Phillips and Peguy Luyindula found the back of the net on Sunday as the New York Red Bulls eased to a comfortable 2-0 win over D.C. United in the first leg of their Eastern Conference semifinal tie at Red Bull Arena.
After scoring a pair of goals for New York in their 2-1 knockout-round win over Sporting Kansas City during the week, Wright-Phillips was at it again early against D.C.
The England native had a great chance to put his team in front in the 38th minute as he had space on the right side of the box for a strike on target, but smashed it well over the crossbar.
The home side opened the scoring in the 40th minute with an exceptional attacking move started by Lloyd Sam, who pinged a ball into the feet of Thierry Henry in the box.
Henry then fired a back-heel pass into the path of Wright-Phillips on the left side of the box and he fired it past United goalkeeper Bill Hamid for his third tally of the postseason.
The Red Bulls made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute when Henry provided an outstanding ball over the top to the feet of Luyindula, and the former Paris Saint-Germain man blasted it home with aplomb to double the advantage.
United was simply outplayed in midfield for the duration of the 90 minutes and failed to create many quality scoring chances.
Ben Olsen's men will try to overturn the deficit on Nov. 8 when the teams clash at RFK Stadium for the second leg of the tie.