Complex sentence: On August 11, the Red Bulls defeated rival D.C. United in a 4--1 win, keeping the Red Bulls in the tight Eastern Conference playoff race, though United did maintain the Atlantic Cup for another year.
Split into simpler sentences: On August 11, the Red Bulls defeated rival D.C. United in a 4--1 win. This crucial win kept the Red Bulls in the tight Eastern Conference playoff race, though United did maintain the Atlantic Cup for another year.