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Red Bulls-United Preview

The New York Red Bulls are on the brink of becoming one of the last four teams standing in the MLS playoffs for the second time in 14 seasons.

Though last weekend's performance put them in good position to advance, they'll have to overcome one of the league's most difficult road environments Saturday against D.C. United.

New York can advance to the Eastern Conference finals with a win, draw or one-goal loss after a 2-0 home victory in the first leg of this series Sunday. D.C. needs a win by three or more goals to advance to its second conference final in three years, and a 2-0 victory by United would force extra time.

Bradley Wright-Phillips and Peguy Luyindula scored Sunday with Thierry Henry assisting on each goal. Wright-Phillips has three goals in the playoffs while Henry has three assists.

Henry cautioned against the Red Bulls being too confident despite their aggregate advantage.

"I have been in some times before in my career where everybody thought that maybe we were out, or maybe we were going through and then it didn't happen," said Henry, who has three assists over his last two meetings with D.C. after going without one in seven straight. "They have showed this whole season that they are a good team."

United, which finished first in the East with 59 points while New York was nine points back in fourth, is 11-1-3 in its last 15 home matches, outscoring opponents 26-7. The Red Bulls are 4-12-6 in their last 22 visits to D.C.

"They're top of the East, they're the favorites," coach Mike Petke told the Red Bulls' official website. "I don't care what the score was going into this game, they are the favorites."

New York has given up one goal in its last three games after surrendering 11 in its previous six and is aiming for its third straight shutout of D.C. The Red Bulls won 1-0 at home Sept. 10 after United took the season's first two meetings in D.C., 1-0 and 2-0.

"Our game plan perhaps could be tweaked during the game depending on what goes on, but we are going to stick with what has gotten us results over the last month, month and a half," Petke said. "The compact defense, limiting space in the middle, and looking to exploit when we win the ball, looking to go forward. That's who we are ... that's where the game's going to be won."

Luis Silva, who along with Fabian Espindola led United with 11 goals, hasn't scored in five matches - though he found the back of the net the last time these teams met at RFK Stadium. Espindola is scoreless in his last four meetings with New York after scoring five goals in his first six matchups.

D.C. is hoping to break out offensively at home, where it has scored 15 goals in its last seven contests.

"We've already beaten them at home, we know we can do it," midfielder Chris Pontius said. "... We have to come out and put pressure on them like they came and put it on us."

The winner will face New England or Columbus in the conference final.

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