D.C. United dispatched the New York Red Bulls yesterday, 4-2.

In previous years, this would not be any more than standard procedure for the boys in black, who had compiled a 24-15-5 record against their Atlantic Cup rivals. This year, however, the result was something more than a routine win: it was a statement.

The New York team that came into RFK yesterday was not the same Red Bull/MetroStar squad they had faced in the past. This year's incarnation, with its completely overhauled roster and celebrity coach, was a team that had proved themselves as MLS's best through the first third of the season.

Despite the magnitude of the challenge before them, United blew past the Red Bulls behind Ben Olsen's hat trick.

Photos by Kyle Gustafson

Not only was the win United's biggest so far, it was the most exhilarating to watch. The teams played end-to-end soccer for long stretches, and either side had a multitude of chances, though D.C. enjoyed the great majority of them.

United became the first team to convert one of their chances in the 15th minute. Fred received the ball in midfield and passed off to Josh Gros (finally officially listed as a defender), who sent in an in-swinging cross from the wing. Olsen got behind the defense and put a diving header on the bounding ball for his first goal. Undeterred, the Red Bulls answered just three minutes later when former United player Dema Kovalenko ricocheted his shot off of Bryan Namoff past a helpless Troy Perkins.

With the score tied at one, D.C. coach Tom Soehn declined to make a halftime substitution, and his faith in the starting 11 paid off. United's Brazilian imports combined for a goal four minutes into the half when Fred made an incisive run through the middle of the field and played a perfect square ball to Luciano Emilio, who ended his 585 minute goalless drought with a simple finish.

Soon after, considerable adversity was thrust upon the home team. Imposing phenom Jozy Altidore entered the game in the 57th and had an immediate impact. As he ran towards net with only Perkins in front of him, he forced Bobby Boswell to make a professional foul that earned him his second yellow card and an ejection from the game.

Down a man with 30 minutes of play remaining, United adapted admirably. As coach Soehn commented after the game, they used the adversity as a motivating tool and redoubled their efforts. Olsen exemplified his team's second half efforts, as he was forced into service on the back line yet still managed to complete his hat trick.

Christian Gomez was able to find space on the counter attack much of the game and used it to his advantage. When Brian Carroll made a rare run into the middle of the attacking third, Gomez slotted him the ball through several defenders. Olsen, operating on a seemingly endless supply of energy, streaked toward the right side of the box, and Carroll did well to lay off to him. Olsen made a classy cutback that beat a sliding defender and lifted a ball past GK Ronald Waterreus with his left foot to tally his second goal.

Olsen completed his hat trick in the 84th minute when United exposed New York's defense again with a lethal counter attack. Gomez and Jaime Moreno combined in the midfield to bring the ball into striking range. Moreno found Olsen with a floating service 10 yards from the top of the box, and Olsen struck home on a blistering volley from 25 yards out.

Though Aston Villa import Juan Pablo Angel found net only a minute later, United's defense contained the reigning MLS Player of the Month effectively. Facundo Erpen marked Angel capably, while teamwide pressure forced him to play farther back than he is most comfortable. On several set pieces, Troy Perkins was a stalwart presence in net, and patrolled the box confidently for the majority of the afternoon.

Due to New York's newfound status, the game represented a turning point in the season for United. After losing the first three games of the season, D.C. removed themselves from their presumed place among MLS's elite teams. Unbeaten in their next five, they were suddenly presented with the opportunity to assert themselves back in the league's upper echelon. Yesterday's victory may not have cemented their status as a feared team, but, at the very least, it should remove them from The Freezer and assure them greater respect from their foes.

They'll seek to recapture Sunday's swagger this Saturday at home against the Chicago Fire.