The chilly air last night couldn’t have made Jamaican side Harbour View FC comfortable in their boots. After D.C. United’s second half scoring outburst, the conditions at RFK Stadium must have seemed downright unforgiving.

In light of last Thursday’s draw in Kingston, each side entered the match needing a win to reach the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal. Despite the need to score, Harbour View held their 3-4-3 formation in a defensive posture the entire first half and rarely threatened United’s goal. Though United had few scoring occasions of their own, they were able to dictate the tempo of the match and grew more confident offensively as the match progressed.

One of the key components to United’s attack was Franco Niell. The Argentinean forward displayed tremendous speed, fitness, toughness, and skill on the ball. Though he stands at all of 5’4″, United’s midfield had ample success targeting him with long balls. While maneuvering in traffic, his drawn foul set the stage for another of United’s offseason acquisitions to claim the spotlight.

Standing 35 yards out, midfielder Marcelo Gallardo swung in a free kick. While United’s movement inside the box distracted the HVFC defense, Devon McTavish met the looping ball at the back post and directed his shot past on-rushing GK Dwyane Miller. Gallardo followed his 26th minute assist with another dangerous set piece in the 39th. When his initial direct take was blocked by the Harbour View wall, he volleyed the rebound straight into the cross bar.

All photos by Kyle Gustafson. Full photo gallery after the jump.