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New York (4-1-0) at D.C. United (0-4-0), 4 p.m.

Washington, D.C. (Sports Network) - D.C. United GM Dave Kasper admitted after signing Luciano Emilio this week "we never really thought it was an option."

Emilio was named MLS MVP after his debut season in 2007, when he had 20 goals, and scored 11 and 10 goals, respectively, the last two seasons for United.

But D.C. paid him Designated Player money, a salary reported to be $750,000, and Kasper said the reason United didn't think it could sign him for 2010 was "because of the money."

Following four straight losses and a couple injuries early this season, Emilio became a player D.C. needed. United re-signed him Wednesday and, although he didn't play that night in a U.S. Open Cup game, D.C. won for the first time on the season that night.

United hopes Emilio, who signed a three-month deal, can play Saturday against Red Bull New York at RFK Stadium, as the team looks to build on its midweek result.

"It was very important to get that first win for the morale of the team, first off," United midfielder Santino Quaranta said. "Second of all, the guys that were in there worked very hard and it was certainly a team effort.

"Any win is a good win right now, and it is a great feeling."

"Just getting the monkey off of our back builds our confidence and lets us know that we can find ways to win and we just have to put it all to work," United forward Adam Cristman said. "If we play as a team and fight for each other good things are going to happen; we saw that tonight."

D.C. goalie Troy Perkins, who allowed 11 goals in his first four MLS starts, wished Wednesday's 4-2 win over FC Dallas was in the league, but that it was still a good place to start.

"At this point we will take a win any way that we can get it," Perkins said.

Quaranta and Jaime Moreno have the only two goals for D.C. in MLS games - both scored in a 3-2 loss to the expansion Philadelphia Union. Otherwise, D.C. has failed to score in its other three games.

With Emilio now on board, D.C. hopes to end that early-season trend, and hand new coach Curt Onalfo his first win.

New York, which sits atop the Eastern Conference, is off to a great start and could match last season's win total with victory against D.C.

The Red Bulls won just five games last season but have won four of their first this year. New York topped Philadelphia in the league last weekend, then edged the Union in the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday by the same 2-1 score.

Juan Pablo Angel scored the game-winner in the MLS fixture when he converted a penalty kick in the second half. Angel, who leads the team with three goals, also converted a penalty in the previous match to hand New York a win.

Despite the strong start, new Red Bulls coach Hans Backe is not satisfied with the team yet, and wants to see improvement as the season continues.

"Every game is very, very even and I'm not pleased yet. I think we have to improve a lot for the future to be a team that can dictate the game, control the game," Backe said. "I've been having a few nervous breakdowns."