Sports Talk: D.C.-N.Y. Finally a Real Rivalry

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A TROPHY CREATED BY the opposing teams several years back and a few incidents between opposing fan groups, the once-promising D.C. United-New York Red Bulls rivalry has been mostly dormant.

"It's a good rivalry as far as distance, but it hasn't lived up to the expectations," said United midfielder Ben Olsen. "Now them being on top and having a good team, it increases the rivalry. Now it's a whole different ballgame."

New York indeed is on top, holding the league's best record at 6-2-2.The team also boasts the MLS's most electrifying new player, Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel. His six goals in five games, along with coach Bruce Arena's experienced guidance leave the Red Bulls looking like the favorite in Sunday afternoon's showdown at RFK Stadium. Including playoffs, New York has beaten D.C. in just one of the past 15 league matches between the clubs.

United (3-3-2) appeared to find its form with last month's three game win streak, but it was lucky to escape Los Angeles with a scoreless tie last weekend following an awful first half. Coach Tom Soehn has said he will continue to tinker with the lineup until he finds the right combination, and he'll have several different options this week, as Brian Carroll and Rod Dyachenko get healthy and Clyde Simms and Guy-Roland Kpene struggle with injuries.

Olsen, who played for Arena at the University of Virginia, in D.C. and with the U.S. national team, pointed to New York's quick turnaround as evidence that post World Cup criticism of the coach was "silly and ridiculous."

Said Olsen: "It's no surprise that he's turned that around. With Bruce leading their team, getting the players they want in there and having a full year to get what he wants, it's a totally different situation."

Written by Express contributor Brian Straus
Photo by Joel Richardson/The Washington Post