Kansas City’s Matt Besler heads the ball toward the goal as United forward Chris Pontius chases. (Ed Zurga/Getty Images via Sporting Kansas City)
Faced with multiple injuries, a hostile environment and an opponent ready to pressure them from the opening whistle, D.C. United continued their road woes Saturday, falling 2-1 to Sporting Kansas City. With the loss—United’s fourth road defeat in a row—the team falls to fifth place in the Eastern Conference, just three points ahead of Columbus for the final playoff spot in the conference.
D.C. was without the services of Dwayne De Rosario, Hamdi Salihi, Maicon Santos, Robbie Russell and Daniel Woolard, and Sporting ran roughshod over United’s thinned out lineup. Had it not been for a phenomenal performance by goalkeeper Bill Hamid – and the some lucky bounces off the goalposts—the game could have turned into a 4-1 blowout.
“We all needed to play better,” a frustrated Ben Olsen said after the match. “Bill Hamid played well, but everyone else—there was more they could have done. There was more I could have done. But we are in this together and we will chalk it up.”
Kansas City took the lead just 10 minutes into the game, when forward Teal Bunbury would find himself on the end of a Graham Zusi corner kick after shaking away from Chris Pontius. Bunbury nodded the service home, giving his side an early advantage. It was a defensive matchup that didn’t make much sense, honestly, as United probably didn’t really want a forward marking one of Sporting’s most dangerous offensive players.
Hamid pulled a ton of weight, but he didn’t pull all of it. Andy Najar looked fresh and imaginative in his first game back since returning from London where he played for the Honduran Olympic team. Nick DeLeon continued his return to form after a mid season slump. The two combined for United’s only goal of the evening. After a dizzying run through midfield, Najar floated a ball across the box for Deleon, who brought the ball down and slotted it past Kansas City goalkeeper Jimmy Neilsen to even the match.
“Andy took one two or three guys and I saw him making his run,” DeLeon said after the game. “He played in a beautiful ball to me. The chance was created by him and it was well done. It is what it is. Andy brings adifferent dynamic to the outside. He’s a good player going one-on-one. ”
United’s poor marking came back to haunt them again early in the second half, as Sporting midfielder Graham Zusi found himself on the end of a Kei Kamara cross. Completely unmarked, Zusi collected the ball and calmly smashed it home from 8 yards out. It was all the “Sporks” would need, as they easily thwarted any of the black and red’s anemic attempts at an equalizer.
The game marked the debut of United’s newest acquisition, former Portland Timbers defender Mike Chabala. Forced into service after only one practice session with his new team, Chabala performed surprisingly well.
“I just flew across the United States and then back halfway again to Kansas City in 24 hours,” he told United media aide Sebastian Salazar after the match. Sometimes that’s just the way it goes. I’ve been playing well all year, I just wasn’t getting the opportunities in Portland.”
The loss was a disappointment, and United needs to bounce back quickly. They’ll host Philadelphia at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium on Sunday and Chicago on Wednesday, two crucial Eastern Conference matches that will give them an opportunity to put some distance between themeselves and the rest of the teams chasing the playoff spot they so precariously hold on to. While United have played two fewer games than several of the teams they’re chasing, they can’t fall back on that. Last year, they entered the last quarter of the season with multiple games in hand, and lost almost all of them.
“We have important games coming up,” Olsen said. “They all mean a lot down the stretch. We need to work on every area. Not one area today was very good. We need to get ahold of the ball a little bit better. They were better than us in every aspect. We will look at it and figure out the reasons why and look to fix our problems.”
Based on the form of their Eastern Conference competitors, United had better fix their problems sooner than later.
Team Notes The acquisition of Chabala—who United locked down in return for a first round draft pick in the 2014 supplemental draft—wasn’t the only roster change this week, as midfielder Kurt Morsink announced his retirement. Racked by injuries, he was still known as a leader in the locker room and is widely liked by his teammates. He’ll move on to a new position as a scouting coordinator. “After three seasons here at D.C. United, he understands the club, and our vision, and we’re pleased to keep him on as a part of the team,” United general manager Dave Kasper said. …… Jürgen Klinsmann’s 22-man roster for the U.S. national team’s friendly match against Mexico on Wednesday was announced late last night, and among the notable omissions was United forward Chris Pontius. After scoring in six of his last nine games, he was widely considered to be a relative lock for selection. While his omission is far from the only question mark I have in regard to Klinsmann’s roster, I have to take real exception to the coach giving a call-up to someone like F.C. Dallas forward Brek Shea, who’s had a terrible season. Klinsmann said last night that Shea “needs our support.” What happened to putting your best 11 on the field for every game? With no Donovan, Dempsey, Altidore or Bradley and a weak back line, things could get ugly at Estadio Azteca.
