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RBNY, DCU set for crucial Atlantic Cup clash

Sep 9, 2014 - 9:12 PM Harrison, NJ (SportsNetwork.com) - Red Bull New York and D.C. United will be gearing up for another edition of the Atlantic Cup as the two sides will do battle at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday.

It is a pivotal fixture for the Red Bulls, who did not make up any ground in the Eastern Conference playoff picture following an impressive 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City as wins from the Columbus Crew, Philadelphia Union and New England Revolution at the weekend kept Mike Petke's men in sixth place in the Eastern Conference table.

New York also faced D.C. at RFK Stadium a fortnight ago and suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat, but the Red Bulls look poised to avenge that loss as they enter Wednesday's affair on a six-game home unbeaten streak.

"These guys really understand that. How do we keep it going? Because we have to, 100 percent," said Petke. " ... We have to rack points up and it comes down to the next game which is D.C. on Wednesday at home. I think these guys understand (the intensity) has to stay up. If it doesn't then we're going to give ourselves less of a chance to succeed."

Bradley Wright-Phillips added to his MLS Golden Boot-leading total against SKC on Saturday with his 21st goal of the campaign, a sum that puts the Englishman tied for ninth-most in a single season in league history.

"I've said it all along, Bradley's a guy that does whatever you tell him to. He's a guy that adapts to the way that we want him to play instead of fighting it and doing things that he's maybe more comfortable with," said Petke. "Bradley doesn't want to talk about the record or a record and that's a credit to him. He just wants to keep scoring goals and I'm glad that he had another one."

New York's defeat of Sporting allowed D.C. to extend its lead atop the Eastern Conference table on Saturday as United claimed a point from a scoreless draw at Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

"We're happy with the point, considering the conditions," said DCU head coach Ben Olsen. "Traveling from east to west is never easy, so overall, a zero on the road is always a good thing - you give yourselves a chance."

The draw was the first in a three-game road swing for D.C. United, which, after Wednesday's clash with RBNY, will culminate with a trip to face the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park on Sept. 20. The East leaders will also have to travel to Waterhouse FC in CONCACAF Champions League play on Sept. 16.

"I think we need to be a little more consistency and I think we can, but overall, we're pretty pleased with who we are," said Olsen. "We're weathering storms - we've got a little bit of an injury bug, as does most of the league right now, but we've just got to stay hungry and have the right edge to us. Maybe get a little better with some of the soccer stuff, but overall, we just need to keep the right mentality."