Hamid helps D.C. United draw with Red Bulls

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:20 am

Goalkeeper Bill Hamid made two saves, and D.C. United managed a scoreless draw against the visiting New York Red Bulls on Sunday, maintaining position for home-field advantage in the playoffs.

With both teams locked into the postseason, only seeding was on the line. With the draw, D.C. (49 points) remained in fourth in the Eastern Conference -- the final spot for a first-round home game -- with a one-point lead over the Red Bulls (48 points).

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D.C. will host FC Cincinnati, with New York traveling to Montreal next Sunday on Decision Day 2019.

Other teams will also have a say in the final seeding. Toronto, which drew with Chicago, sits sixth with 47 points. New England, which beat New York City FC, is seventh with 45 points.

Both the Red Bulls and D.C. United have been strong defensively recently, with D.C. picking up its fourth consecutive shutout and New York its third-straight clean sheet.

After a lethargic attacking first half, the game picked up in the intensity in the first 15 minutes after the break, with the Red Bulls being the aggressors.

The best chance came in the 61st minute, when Cristian Casseres Jr. short-hopped a cross for New York and volleyed a shot that appeared headed for the goal. But Hamid went horizontal to stretch out and deflect the ball out of danger.

Omir Fernandez, who came on in the 81st minute, had another good chance for the Red Bulls when he made a run into the D.C. box and had a shot from 6 yards. But under pressure from the defense, he didn't get enough on the ball, and his shot went wide.

D.C. had one decent chance over the final 45 minutes, but it wasn't a serious threat. Lucas Rodriguez had a go from inside the New York penalty box but sent his shot well over the bar.