The Red Bulls Come Out Flat and Lose First Derby Against DC United Since 2020
- Daniel Rebain
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Photo credit: New York Red Bulls
Harrison, NJ — For the first time this MLS season, spring weather showed up at Sports Illustrated Stadium, with temperatures at kickoff in the mid-70s.
The good weather did not coincide with a win for Red Bull in the 109th derby against DC United as the visitors from the capital left the metropolitan area with all three points for the first time in five years.
The focus point for the Red Bulls' defense coming into the match is star DP striker Christian Benteke, who's been a thorn in the Red Bulls' side since coming over from England in the summer of 2022.
New York's goalkeeper Carlos Coronel was called into action early, having to make a diving save on a dangerous Benteke header in the 16th minute to keep the score at 0-0.
Fortunately for New York, in the 29th minute, Troy Lesesne shockingly had to sub off Benteke, who had just minutes prior suffered an injury that required attention from the DC trainers.
Erik Choupo-Moting would get his chance at a dangerous header in the 26th minute on a corner kick. The Red Bulls DP striker made a near-post run and got a clean look at goal but saw his header pushed over the crossbar by former NYCFC goalkeeper Luis Barraza.
DC was not just sitting back and defending, coming inches away from taking the lead in the 32nd minute. Red Bull academy standout Jared Stroud has hurt Red Bull hearts before and almost did again, coming down the left wing, but his left-footed shot smashed off the left post.
In the first Derby of the season, Red Bull lacked energy, and it showed in the first half. "Yeah, I think we need more energy in this game," said midfielder Felipe Carballo. "We need a lot more energy, but that happens. Sometimes we are better, sometimes we are worse, so we have to learn from our mistakes. And that's all personal."
That pressure from the guest did not stop, and they would take the lead off the foot of Peglow, whose shot overpowered Carlos Coronel at his near post to give DC United the 1-0 lead.
Not only did DC score, but right back Dylan Nealis was forced to come off the field after sustaining a "lower body" injury trying to recover defensively. Winger Serge Ngoma would be the replacement for Sandro Schwarz, with Cameron Harper moving to right back.
Things got worse before they got better for Red Bull as Peglow would give the guests a 2-0 lead with his second goal of the half, a bicycle kick from inside the six-yard box past a helpless Colonel, stunning the ~18,500 spectators at Sports Illustrated Stadium as the teams head into the locker room.
"We killed ourselves in the moment when we had the ball," Sandro Schwarz said about the team's first half. "So many situations where we easily lose the ball, then not the energy in the highest level in our counter-press, our rest defense is not in a good organization, and then the goals that we concede. This is then big mistakes from our side, from the whole team. It's not only individual, from the whole team. And then we changed a little bit our structure and then to play with two strikers and then Emil as a ten, and then we tried everything in the second half. But to be honest, we have to learn immediately from our first half today."
Schwarz, looking for a spark coming back onto the field in the second half, made two more changes and went with an all-out attacking approach. Coming off the pitch was Peter Stroud, who was severely outplayed by his brother and Tim Parker. Replacing them were Julian Hall and Noah Eile, changing the formation to somewhat of a 4-1-4-1.
That attacking approach would pay off just 12 minutes into the second half with Emil Forsberg heading a ball to Erik Choupo-Moting at the back post, and the Cameroonian international would get New York on the board with his 4th goal this season to cut DC's lead to just one with 30+ minutes to play.
Pushing for that equalizer, Red Bull went even more attack-heavy by subbing off Omar Valencia for Wiktor Bogacz. Sandro Schwarz was throwing everything, including the kitchen sink, to get that second goal.
New York would come close to one off a corner, that went through a handful of bodies to Alexander Hack at the back post, but the center backs lunge for the loose ball was just a couple of inches away from poking the ball over the line, but Luis Barraza was able to corral the ball.
To the chagrin of Red Bull fans, only four additional minutes were added on by the 4th official despite a lengthy VAR check on Choupo's goal. Four minutes went by in a flash and referee Sergii Boiko's whistle to end the game signaled a 2-1 Derby defeat for Red Bull.
For the first time since a 1-0 home defeat on September 2nd, 2020, the New York Red Bulls would lose a derby match to DC United.
The Red Bulls, for the second time this season,n have dropped all three points to a bottom-dwelling team in the Eastern Conference. Scoring one goal, at home, and against a team that has struggled to defend this season is now a major concern for Sandro Schwarz and his staff.
Talking to media members post-game, goalkeeper Carlos Coronel talked about each individual needing to take responsibility for this loss and performance.
"I think everyone has to take responsibility and improve themselves," Coronel said. "We cannot say one player played well today. I think the whole group was not good enough. This is what we have to improve both individually and as a team. We have to keep more of the ball, show more in the press and we'll analyze tomorrow and find solutions."
Eric Choupo-Moting scored a goal, yes, but he struggled for the majority of this match. Something that continues to hamper this team is playmaking. Other than Emil Forsberg, who else in the attack can create scoring chances? Nobody at this point.
The primary transfer window in MLS closes on April 23rd and it seems like no help will be brought in until the summer window. For now, Sandro Schwarz and his team are going to have to ride out these next couple of months with who they have in the building on Melanie Lane.
Match Facts:
New York Red Bulls Starting XI (4-2-3-1)
Carlos Coronel (GK); Omar Valencia, Alexander Hack, Tim Parker, Dylan Nealis; Felipe Carballo, Peter Stroud; Cameron Harper, Emil Forsberg (c), Dennis Gjengaar; Eric Maxim Choup-Moting
Bench: Wiktor Bogacz, Julian Hall, Serge Ngoma, Wiki Carmona, Noah Eile, Sean Nealis, Raheem Edwards & A.J. Marcucci
DC United (5-2-3)
Luis Barraza (GK); David Schnegg, Kyle Rowles, Lukas MacNaughton, Lucas Bartlett, Aaron Herrera; Brandon Servania, Hosei Kijima; Muriel Peglow, Christian Benteke, Jared Stroud
Bench: Jacob Murrell, Dominique Badji, Rida Zouhir, Randall Leal, Matti Peltola, Gabriel Pirani, Boris Enow, Derek Dodson, Jun-Hong Kim
Scoring Summary
35': Peglow
44': Peglow
57': Eric Choupo-Moting
Stats (RBNY/DCU)
Possession: 68% - 32%
Shots: 10 (2) - 12 (4)
Big Chances: 3 - 1
Expected Goals (xG): 1.34 - 0.86
Passing: 496 (87%) - 184 (66%)
Fouls: 9 - 11
Corners: 9 - 1
Discipline
10': Troy Lessene (Yellow)
70': Aaron Herrera (Yellow)
81': Luis Barraza (Yellow)
88': Alexander Hack (Yellow)
88': Dominique Badji (Yellow)
