Just when it looked like the Red Bulls-D.C. United rivalry couldn’t get any weirder, it did.
After Hurricane Sandy forced MLS to switch the Eastern Conference semifinal’s first leg to RFK Stadium, Wednesday night’s nor’easter forced a long delay and eventual cancelation that left the home fans at Red Bull Arena irritated and the road team irate.
Despite Red Bulls coach Hans Backe’s prediction earlier in the day the storm would force a postponement, MLS insisted on trying to play despite the gusting winds, falling snow and lack of mass transit. After a 39-minute delay, the fans booed when Backe was proven prophetic and the game was moved to 7:30 Thursday night. As a result, the first leg of the conference finals has been moved from Saturday to Sunday.
“They said [the storm] was going to peak at 8 or so, so it wasn’t a surprise. In my opinion, it was a very easy decision to postpone the game,’’ Backe said. “[If you played] then it’s just a joke. Then it’s all about luck. It is a semifinal. In these conditions, you can’t play football.’’
This coming from a Swede accustomed to cold-weather soccer. But with the PATH not running to Harrison, New Jersey Transit service scaled back, and many Red Bulls fans still without power, the game already was set to be a hardship for some. The nor’easter dumped enough snow on the field that it appeared more suited for a playoff game in the NHL than MLS. Winter Classic anyone?
“Looking at the forecast over time, at no point was it clear there would be so much snow and have it come so quickly,’’ said MLS executive vice president Nelson Rodriguez, who was ultimately responsible for calling the game.
Of course, many would say it was a decision that should’ve been made Tuesday, rather than after 700 United fans bused up from Washington, D.C., only to be sent back without seeing a game.
“The forecast changed over time, as nature changes over time,’’ Rodriguez said. “We did our best to deal with it, but I think we took the most prudent decision.’’
Though several Red Bulls intimated they would have rather tried to play, Dax McCarty tweeting “Thank you to all the #RBNY fans that braved the weather. Your loyalty is truly amazing. The players wanted to play, I will leave it at that” the United contingent was far more blunt.
“I’m baffled,” said DC coach Ben Olsen. “Have you seen the field? It looks fine to me. … I’m from Pennsylvania. We played in this all the time. It wasn’t that bad.”
Asked if he wanted to play, Olsen said, “Absolutely. Yeah.’’
DC president Kevin Payne added United will pay to bus their fans back up again tonight.
“They’re lying at work. They’re making excuses. They’re begging for days off. And now we’re asking them to do it again. It’s pretty tough. There were a lot of pretty unhappy people up there,’’ Payne said. “I guess it’s just New York and DC. We always seem to have wild stuff happen. This is just another chapter.’’