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For rugby league's Atlantic Cup see Atlantic Cup (rugby league)

The Atlantic Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of the regular-season series between Major League Soccer rivals D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls. Since the trophy was initiated for the 2002 season between DC and the then-named MetroStars, D.C. United has won four out of six Atlantic Cups with one tie. In 2007, D.C. United won the Atlantic Cup 6 points to 3 with a 2-1-0 record.

This is perhaps the most bitter rivalry in MLS. The rivalry developed partially due to the relative proximity of the cities (about 200 miles apart) which allows rival fans to attend games. The cities are rivals in that Washington is the political capital of the United States while New York is the center of commerce and media. 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.

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 games before the Atlantic Cup was organized) with 27 wins, 17 losses, and 6 ties.^[1]

Series Victories

Official

• DC United: 7
• New York Red Bulls: 1

Total (including retroactive)

• DC United: 10
• New York Red Bulls: 4

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

2009 series results

References

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