It’s been on their minds for four months. So what’s an extra week?
D.C. United has been looking forward to another shot at the New York Red Bulls from the moment the final whistle blew in the 2014 Eastern Conference quarterfinals in November. After the earliest of 2015 bye weeks for both teams, they’ll finally have their chance (Sunday, 5, ESPN2).
“We’ve had New York on our minds since we reported for practice last week,” said forward Chris Pontius. “Once the Montreal game was done, I think people were looking forward to it. You kind of wish it was the next week.”
Instead, the Black-and-Red have gone with the slow build toward the perfect blend of adrenaline and preparation when they take the field at Red Bull Arena. It mirrors the measured approach that the team has to take with the MLS season, balancing the need to improve over the course of the year while knowing that points are always precious – especially when they can come against an arch rival on the road.
“There’s a lot of bitterness toward the way we finished last year,” said midfielder Nick DeLeon. “It won’t rectify it, but it will help it feel better if we come out there and spoil their home opener.”
There’s no shying away from what transpired in the last visit to Harrison, N.J., a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of the conference quarterfinals that brought an abrupt halt to the momentum United had been riding since midway through the year. Bradley Wright-Phillips and Peguy Luyindula were both the beneficiaries as Thierry Henry worked his magic, building a two-goal deficit that proved to be too big to overcome in the return leg.
“I don’t even need to watch the video,” Pontius said. “I know exactly what happened, and I know how we gave it away in that first game.”
Henry has since departed, the first of many offseason changes from top to bottom throughout the Red Bulls organization. The turnover hasn’t gone unnoticed by United players, nor has it diminished the respect they still have for their opponents.
“We know the New York game means a lot to everybody involved,” United midfielder Chris Rolfe said. “It’s a game we don’t take lightly.”
In addition to revenge on Sunday, there’s also the chance to get United its first win at Red Bull Arena since 2012.
Players have had plenty of time to digest all that is at stake and all that is possible. They know the moment that it’ll be in their hands to act.
“For me, I’m pretty mellow until game time,” DeLeon said. “Then I can just flip a switch, and let’s go.”
