Yesterday afternoon’s contest between D.C. United and the New England Revolution carried several levels of significance. With six games remaining for United and most of MLS, teams are becoming increasingly desperate to capture the three point bounty of each remaining game in the scramble for playoff spots.
The Revolution came into RFK Stadium as the toughest foe remaining on United’s schedule. The game constituted the last time United would face a sure-fire playoff team. The match was also essential in establishing supremacy of the Eastern Conference of the MLS and securing home field advantage in the playoffs; a single point separated the two teams at the game’s start.
The three point prize would also help D.C. maintain its front-runner status in the race for the Supporter’s Shield. United took a big step in accomplishing these goals by beating the Revs 4-2.
The match started in familiar fashion for United: a composed and ambitious attack led to several scoring opportunities and the first goal of the game. In the 21st minute Christian Gomez found himself on the receiving end of a Bryan Namoff cross and headed the ball home, but the goal was disallowed; replays showed Gomez offsides by the slightest of margins.
Photos by Kyle Gustafson
