New York Red Bulls defeat D.C. United, 3-0, at Red Bull Arena

HARRISON, N.J. (Via New York Red Bulls) – The New York Red Bulls earned a 3-0 win over D.C. United on Sunday evening at Red Bull Arena behind two goals from Bradley Wright-Phillips and one from Lloyd Sam. With the win the Red Bulls also take the season series with a 2-0-1 record against D.C. United.

The Red Bulls are now 12-7-6 on the season, and finish the weekend back in second place in the Eastern Conference. New York now sits just two points behind D.C. United with three games in hand. The Red Bulls have won five straight at home, and are 8-2-1 since snapping a four-game losing streak with a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake on June 24.

Sam struck in the 33rd minute to open the scoring. The play started with a long pass in transition from left back Kemar Lawrence. Lawrence’s stretch pass was on the money for Bradley Wright-Phillips, who controlled at the top of the box, turned and found a cutting Sam. Sam stepped into open space down the right side of the penalty area and fired a shot by D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid towards the opposite post.

It was the seventh goal of the season for Sam, second on the team behind only Bradley Wright-Phillips. Sam scored in each of the three games against D.C. United this season. He scored on March 28 in the Red Bull Arena home opener, and got the tying goal in stoppage time to earn the Red Bulls a point at RFK in April.

Wright-Phillips teamed up with Mike Grella to double the lead in the 42nd minute. Grella ran down the right wing and drove a cross into the path of Wright-Phillips, who volleyed a laser into the top right corner.

Bradley Wright-Phillips got his second of the night in the 64th minute. Sacha Kljestan was able to free Bradly Wright-Phillips with a long pass, and Wright-Phillips blasted a shot by Hamid to put the home side up 3-0.

Wright-Phillips now has 13 goals on the season, while Grella has seven assists, including four in the last five games.

New York got off to a hot start, generating all of the chances in the opening 20 minutes, launching six shots and forcing Bill Hamid into three saves, including denying Mike Grella in a 1-on-1 situation in the sixth minute. Grella found himself in on Hamid after Klestan slotted a ball through the legs of Steve Birnbaum, but Hamid charged out to meet Grella’s shot.

Luis Robles was sharp when called upon, making two saves to earn his eighth shutout of the season, and the 27th of his New York career. He recently moved past Tony Meola to become the club’s all-time leader.

Hamid’s best work came in the 30th minute, when he denied Kljestan with a point-blank save on a header. Hamid then got some help from the defense as a rebound was cleared just as Bradley Wright-Phillips stepped to put it into the open net.

The Red Bulls have next weekend off before hosting the Chicago Fire on Friday, September 11. Kickoff for that match is scheduled for 7 p.m., with coverage in English and Spanish on Univision.