Atlantic Cup

The Atlantic Cup is both the name of the rivalry, as well as the trophy awarded to the winner of the regular season season series between Major League Soccer rivals D.C. United, and the New York Red Bulls. Presently, the series occurs thrice a year, with either United hosting two matches and playing at the Red Bulls, or vice versa.

Inaugurated in 2002, the Atlantic Cup has translated into one of the most bitter rivalries in Major League Soccer and in American soccer.^[1][2] Some fans and media have dubbed the rivalry to be the "Cascadia Cup of the Eastern Seaboard".^[3] The origins of the rivalry are unknown, but some claim that it developed due to the cities relative proximity to each other, and the frequency of the two clubs playing one another in league, playoff and cup play. For United, the Red Bulls are the only opponent they have competed against in more than five occasions in both the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Traditionally, the rivalry has been in favor of D.C. United, in terms of silverware collected, and matches won.^[4] Over both club's histories, United has won a dozen domestic and international championships, while New York has yet to win its first major championship. However, while the Atlantic Cup was dominated by D.C. United during a majority of the 2000s, New York has won every series in the 2010s.^[5] The two sides have met 78 times across all competitions, 66 of them being in MLS regular season play, nine from MLS Cup playoff play and three from U.S. Open Cup play.

The rivalry

Origins

The two teams first met on May 12, 1996; when the New York Red Bulls were branded as the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. The game, played at the now destroyed Giants Stadium was played in front of a crowd of 14,722; and ended 1–1 in regulation time. In regulation time, United's John Harkes scored United's first ever goal against the MetroStars off of an assist from Tony Sanneh in the 11th minute. The MetroStars' Giovanni Savarese drew the match level in the 62st minute. At the time, if Major League Soccer ended drawn at the end of regulation time, the match culminated with sudden death extra time before a penalty shoot-out. Following suit, the match went into an overtime period, with no clear cut winner. In penalties, the MetroStars won the first match of the series 2–1 in penalties.

During the inaugural regular season, the two sides would meet each other three more times, with the two sides sharing spoils. The 1996 season ended gridlocked with each club winning two matches apiece, winning one match in their home stadium, and another on the road. However, on aggregate goals, United outscored the MetroStars 6–4. The two sides met again in the Conference Semifinals 1996 MLS Cup Playoffs, where United defeated the Red Bulls 2–1 in a best-of-three series. The first game of the post-season series, played on September 24, 1996, ended in the MetroStars' favor, as NY/NJ posted a victory in penalty kicks following a 2–2 tie after regulation. Three days later, United earned a 1–0 regulation victory at home, tying the series at 1–1, before culminating the series with a 2–1 victory, thanks to a 89th minute penalty kick from Raul Diaz Arce. In the 1996 MLS Cup Playoffs, United would eventually go on to win the inaugural MLS Cup, defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy, 3–2.

By next year, the two franchises took opposite routes in MLS' sophomore campaign, with D.C. United eventually going on to win their second MLS Cup championship, while the NY/NJ MetroStars failed to qualify for the 1997 MLS Cup Playoffs altogether. Despite the poorer form from the MetroStars, the club won the regular season series against United, through the virtue of more aggregate goals.^[6] The two sides faced off four times during the season, with United winning the first two outings, while the MetroStars won the final two meetings. In the final regular season matchup, held on September 27, 1997; United lost at home by a 3–1 scoreline against the MetroStars, ultimately failing to win the series.^[6]

Arrival of the formal cup

At the start of the 2002 Major League Soccer season, a formal trophy was incarnated by D.C. United and MetroStars supporters, which was titled the "Atlantic Cup". In the 2002 series, United earned the trophy, winning two of the three regular season outings against the MetroStars. Despite the success, neither team qualified for the 2002 MLS Cup Playoffs, being the only two teams in the league not to qualify that season.

During the 2003 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the MetroStars and United both enjoyed successful Open Cup campaigns, meeting each other in the semifinal round of the Open Cup, marking the first time the two rivals met in the domestic tournament. In the quarterfinals, the MetroStars enjoyed a golden goal victory from a Amado Guevara goal in the 116th minute, defeating fellow MLS side, the New England Revolution, in the process. United faced USISL Pro League side (third division), Wilmington Hammerheads. The match, played in Wilmington, North Carolina, saw United emerge victorious 1–0 off a Ronald Cerritos goal in the 30th minute.

The October 1, 2003 Open Cup semifinal affair was hosted by the MetroStars and played on at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, New Jersey, marking the first time in Atlantic Cup history the two sides met at Yurcak.^[7] In the outing, United got the go-ahead goal in the 18th minute of play off a strike from Galin Ivanov. Honduran international, Amado Guevara, netted two unanswered goals for the MetroStars in the 20th and 43rd minutes of play, giving the MetroStars a 2–1 lead going into the break. With less than 15 minutes remaining in regulation, United's Cerritos netted the equalizer, only before longtime MetroStars striker, John Wolyniec netted the match-winner, sending the MetroStars to their first ever championship of a major tournament.^[8]

Early club connections

In addition, early in the history of the league, there were personality clashes between members of the two teams. For example, MetroStars players Tony Meola and Tab Ramos were long time acquaintances of DC United's captain John Harkes. All three players were natives of New Jersey and had played together and against each other most of their lives. DC fans especially singled out Meola (who was briefly an actor and who had tried out to be the placekicker for the New York Jets) for scorn. In response, MetroStars supporters tended to reserve most of their scorn for Richie Williams. Ironically, former DC assistant coach Bob Bradley would coach the MetroStars, and the Red Bulls coaching staff was also headed by former DC coach Bruce Arena until the end of the 2007 season, assisted by Harkes and Williams.

Red Bull controversy

The rivalry became even greater when the two met at Giants Stadium on April 22, 2006 as Alecko Eskandarian scored the first goal of a 4-1 D.C. United victory. After the goal he took a sip of Red Bull energy drink and then spit it on the ground as an intentional slight on the recently renamed New York Red Bulls. MLS fined Eskandarian $250 for his actions.

D.C. United leads all-time head-to-head match up between the two teams (including the before the Atlantic Cup was organized) with 36 wins, 20 losses, and 8 ties.^[9]

Recent years

Thierry Henry was one of several high profile acquisitions by New York in 2010.

Throughout the 2010 season, D.C. United hit an all-time nadir record wise, whereas the New York Red Bulls were making several high profile acquisitions, causing some to believe that New York was becoming the more dominant Atlantic Cup team. On May 1, 2010; while United had lost their first four regular season matches, New York had won their first four matches. Attaining opposite records of 4-0-0 and 0-0-4, respectively, New York earned a 2–0 road win at RFK Stadium. The win was New York's first road win against D.C. since October 8, 2005 and their first win against United since 2008, as well as their first shutout against United since 2006. Subsequently, United drew 0–0 against New York in their first meeting in Red Bull Arena allowing the Red Bulls to win the Atlantic Cup derby for the first time since 2003, ending a six-year stretch of titles won by D.C.

The rivalry intensified, mainly between United and Red Bulls supporters in April 2011, when New York visited D.C. At the time, New York had been on a two-game winning streak, and held by far the best Eastern Conference record. United, rebuilding from the prior year were much lower in the standings. Goals from Thierry Henry, Joel Lindpere and Juan Agudelo lead the Red Bulls to a commanding 4–0 victory over United, making it the worst loss United suffered at home since the 2005 MLS Cup Playoffs, and their worst loss ever to New York. However, in the return match, United earned a 1–0 away victory at Red Bull Arena, giving them some consolation over New York, but ultimately failing to win the Atlantic Cup for the second straight year. In spite of winning the Atlantic Cup for two-straight years, making it New York's first time since 2003, players expressed disinterest in the honor.^{[citation needed]}

Supporters

La Barra Brava and Screaming Eagles supporters groups at RFK Stadium.

The majority of the rivalry is seen between the supporters groups of D.C. United and Red Bull New York. United is supported by La Barra Brava, the Screaming Eagles and La Norte, while the Red Bulls are supported by Empire Supporters Club, Raging Bull Nation and the Viking Army.

Due to the proximity of the Washington and New York metropolises, away supporters travel in the hundreds to near thousands to each club's respective venue. During the 2011 season, away totals nearly doubled the given allocation of away fan tickets for MLS matches, which is 500 seats.

Players and transfers

D.C., then New York

Name	Pos	D.C.			New York
		Career	Apps	Goals	Career	Apps	Goals
Jaime Moreno	FW	1998–2002, 2004-2010	150	69	2003	11	2
Dax McCarty	MF	2011	13	0	2011-	2	0

New York, then D.C.

Name	Pos	New York			D.C.
		Career	Apps	Goals	Career	Apps	Goals
A. J. Wood	FW	1996–1997	36	7	1998–2001	74	1
Santino Quaranta	MF	2007	3	0	2008–	85	10
Dwayne De Rosario	MF	2011	13	2	2011-	6	6

Honors

With 12 international and domestic honors, D.C. United has won more major competitions than any other Major League Soccer club,^[10] and the second most of any American or Canadian soccer franchise ever.^[11] D.C. United won their first major title in 1996, winning the 1996 MLS Cup championship. Since then, they have claimed three additional MLS Cups (league championship), four Supporters' Shields (league premiership), two U.S. Open Cups (national cup competition) and one CONCACAF Champions League title (continental championship). Of the original MLS franchises, New York is the only original franchise to have yet won its first major honor. While the Red Bulls have won two Conference regular season and one Conference postseason honor, the closest the club has achieved to a major title was making it to the U.S. Open Cup and MLS Cup finals in 2003 and 2008, respectively.

Table correct as of 7 August 2011

All-time game results

      Red Bulls Win       United Win       Draw

Series victories

Official

• DC United: 7
• New York Red Bulls: 3

Total (including retroactive)

• DC United: 10
• New York Red Bulls: 6

Summary of all matches

• Regulation scores from league matches only. Shootout wins, US Open Cup games, and playoff games are not taken into account in this table.

Winners by year

× Retroactive & unofficial
+ Points based on regulation wins (3), ties (1), shoot-out wins (1), shoot-out losses (0) & regulation losses (0)

Tiebreakers: 1) Goal differential, 2) Away Goals For, 3) Previous year winner

See also

• D.C. United
• New York Red Bulls
• MLS rivalry cups

References