“I just thought if it could just get past Peguy, I’ve got a tap in here. It was a great team goal.” – Bradley Wright-Phillips
The Red Bulls hosted arch-rivals D.C. United in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on November 2 at Red Bull Arena.
The matchup posed another historical challenge for the Red Bulls, having lost all four prior playoff meetings with United. But again, the Red Bulls would prove that records could always be broken.
In the 40th minute, Thierry Henry passed to Lloyd Sam and sped toward the penalty area. The Frenchman called for Sam to pass it back and received the ball just inside the box. He took one touch and, with his back facing the middle of the field, he confidently back heeled a ball towards the direction of Peguy Luyindula. Meanwhile, Bradley Wright-Phillips was making a run in behind Luyindula all alone.
“I was screaming for [Peguy] to leave it, but he actually saw me before Thierry back heeled it,” Wright-Phillips said. “He’d done well to block off the back and I just thought if it could just get past Peguy, and it did, I’ve got a tap in here.”
Luyindula, having spotted the wide-open Wright-Phillips, dummied the pass and blocked off his defender. The result was an out of position Bill Hamid and a wide-open net for the Red Bulls’ leading goal scorer. He buried his chance into the back of the net, his 30th combined goal of 2014.
“Great vision by Thierry and clever play by Peguy,” Wright-Phillips said. “I like that goal, it was a good team goal.”
NY: 40’ Bradley Wright-Phillips (3). Assisted By: Thierry Henry (2), Lloyd Sam (1).
