(Sports Network) - D.C. United hosts the New York Red Bulls in the rubber match of the Major League Soccer rivalry on Saturday at RFK Stadium. Both teams earned 4-1 victories in their home stadiums in the first two meetings this season, with the third and final one Saturday to determine the 2008 winner of the Atlantic Cup, which is presented by the club's respective supporters to the winner of each regular season series.

But this game has more than just bragging rights on the line. The Eastern Conference rivals are currently tied with 31 points through 21 league fixtures, good for fourth in the Eastern table. The winner of Saturday's game will take over sole possession of fourth place, strengthening it's chances of making the playoffs this season.

"[We expect] the same things we always expect in games against D.C.," said New York striker Juan Pablo Angel, who has scored six goals in his last six league fixtures. "They are always tough, they are a good side going forward. We showed in the year that we can beat them as well. Now we got the momentum going and its going to be a different kind of game."

The Red Bulls' momentum comes courtesy of a five-game unbeaten streak and a three game winning streak, with the most recent victory being this past Sunday against the two-time defending MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo. With that victory, it's safe to say the team's confidence is at a season high.

"Obviously, it goes without saying when you beat the champions, then you think you can compete and that's what I told the guys," New York coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. "I believe with the effort that we showed [Sunday] and with the team spirit and the way we can play [soccer] now, we can compete against Houston and every other team in the league. Again, I hope that we don't get complacent, we keep working hard, we get everybody back and hopefully, we can field a very strong team against D.C. and hopefully continue adding points.

"We just prepare for every game as it comes. D.C. United will be a different threat. a different team. It's just right that we have more competition for places and I have more options and hopefully I can decide what is best for the club."

D.C. (10-10-1) is also a confident team, winning three of its last five, including a 3-0 victory vs. Colorado last weekend. In that game, star forward Luciano Emilio, known primarily as a pure goal scorer, assisted on two goals for the first time in his MLS career.

"You always want your goal scorer to be selfish," United coach Tom Soehn said. "But the game dictated him to do other things. [Colorado] was dropping everybody back in. It was hard to break them down so what ends up opening when teams drop are outside-the-box shots. He gave Joe [Vide] a great ball and Joe put himself in a good spot to get [a goal]. Credit Luci because he did what was needed."

"It doesn't matter who scores the goals," Emilio said. "I worked hard [against Colorado], and I worked for the team. It's important to win games. If I can assist, I'll assist, but I like it better when I score goals."

Emilio will be counted on to score some goals Saturday, especially with the expected absences of a number of key players, who have been out with various injuries. Attacking midfielder Marcel Gallardo, wingers Ben Olsen and Fred, and defender Gonzalo Peralta are all recovering from injuries and aren't expected to play significant minutes - if at all - vs. New York.

For the Red Bulls (8-6-7), they will be without defender Gabriel Cichero, who is serving the second game of a two-game suspension for elbowing Toronto FC's Danny Dichio in the head, while defender Jeff Parke, who is nursing a sore ankle, could sit to mend his injury.

On a positive note, midfielder Jorge Rojas rejoined the team Friday after missing last weekend's win over Houston because he was stuck in his native Venezuela with passport issues. Rojas will be available for Osorio on Saturday, although he may opt not to start him because of his hiatus from the club.



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