A win is a win. It doesn’t have to be pretty, dominant or even fair. D.C. United’s 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park on Saturday evening wasn’t any of those things, but it doesn’t really matter. In the end, the team emerged with three crucial road points in a congested Eastern Conference.
With the win, which also avenged their recent Open Cup loss to the Union, United moves to 9-4-3 and remains at the top of the table. Just halfway through its season, the nine wins equals the team’s total from the entire 2011 campaign.
The Union, for its part, did almost everything to win this game. In its first match under interim head coach John Hackworth, the team came out full of energy and was dominant on the ball for the first hour of play. Its finishing, however, left much to be desired, and United took advantage of its only real chance of the encounter.
“Their energy was good, but [their] soccer was even better,” United Head Coach Ben Olsen after the match. “They caused a lot of problems with people who had freedom to roam. I give them a lot of credit, but our team defended the box well to get the win. They are at home and are buzzing, we have to get these results. They are key to the season.”
United’s lone goal came as the result of some questionable officiating. Union defender Carlos Valdés was issued a yellow card just outside the penalty area for taking down United forward Chris Pontius—though he appeared to have clearly gotten the ball on the tackle. United midfielder Branko Bošković played a picture-perfect ball directly to Pontius’ feet on the restart, which he tapped in at the far post.
“They scored off the one chance they got,” Union forward Freddy Adu said. “If that call doesn’t go against us, maybe we’re looking at a different game. The referee blew the whistle too early. Carlos [Valdes] did get the ball. Looking at the replay he might have barely touched him, but he gets the ball first.”
Pontius was asked after the game whether he was worried he’d be fined or suspended by the league’s Disciplinary Committee, which has made “simulation” (diving) one of their pet projects this year. “No, he got a piece of me on it, but I think he got the ball first. But he did get a piece of me on it,” Pontius said.
If there’s a United player who should be worried about hearing from the Disciplinary Committee, it isn’t Pontius. Dejan Jacovic’s reckless, two-footed/studs-up challenge in the 57th minute earned him a yellow, but looked more like a straight red card. (It surely would have been if he was just a bit more on target with the challenge.)
United nearly gave up the equalizer on three separate occasions—two of them created by Antoine Hoppenot, the unheralded Union player who put home the winner in the Union’s Open Cup victory against the Black and Red. But it simply wasn’t enough. United had the better of the ball through the final 30 minutes of the match, and disappeared into the foul-smelling Chester night with the victory.
Some 700 fans in the sellout crowd of 18,876 at PPL park were wearing black and red, having made the trip up from D.C. for the match. United supporters groups La Barra Brava, Screaming Eagles, La Norte and District Ultras were all represented strongly, and were often louder than the “Sons of Ben,” who were seated only two sections away.
“I can’t speak highly enough about our fans. They always come out and show their support,” United captain Dwayne De Rosario told DCist after the match. “They’re dedicated to this team, and we’re dedicated to them as well. To come out there and see that support in that corner was a great feeling—they’re our 12th man and we’re very fortunate, very blessed to have fans like those.”
One final takeaway: From the second Branko Bošković came into the match in the second half, United had control. Aside from the obvious advantage that he gave the black and red on set pieces, United possessed the ball better with Bosko in the match. Their best moments of attacking football (though there were few) came with him in the match, and they were better defensively with the Montenegran on the pitch.
And yes, we’ve already sung the praises of Bošković’s play as of late, but let’s just mention this—after not recording a single point in MLS play since his signing in 2010, he’s had three assists in as many games games, and they’ve all been United victories. That speaks for itself, folks.
United next gets the Red Bulls on the road, and DCist will be traveling up to Red Bull Arena for that match as well. Why stop at lovely Chester when I can soak in all that Harrison, N.J. has to offer? (Mostly carcinogens?) Gothamist’s soccer writer Dan Dickinson—remember him?—tweeted at me on Saturday evening. He had the following advice: “Pro Tip: Don’t get Shot [in Chester, PA].” When I replied by telling him that “Chester, Pa. is like the Harrison, N.J. of Pa.,” he consoled himself by tweeting “At least Harrison has grocery stores.” Whatever you’ve got to tell yourself to sleep in those Red Bulls pajamas, Dan.
As always, follow my updates on twitter at DCist_Pablo for United news/commentary throughout the week.
