On a night billed as the biggest in recent D.C. sports history—where the Wizards and Capitals did their very best to break the collective hearts of D.C. fans everywhere—D.C. United at least managed to provide us with a bit of a silver lining.
United rode second-half goals from Kofi Opare and Chris Rolfe to a come-from-behind victory on Wednesday evening, topping Brazilian legend Kaka and his Orlando City teammates 2-1 in front of a meager mid-week crowd of 12,532.
The win stretches United’s unbeaten run at RFK stadium to 18 games, and their overall unbeaten streak in league play to eight. After 10 matches, the club is tied for their best start in club history and sits alone atop the Eastern Conference—and atop the Supporters’ Shield standings as well.
Orlando City wasted little time getting the game’s opening goal—Darwin Ceren’s strike from the top of the penalty box was deflected, falling directly into the path of rookie forward Cyle Larin, who quickly collected the loose ball and smashed it home with his right foot from just inside the 18.
Both teams did their best throughout the first half but lacked the final ball, the two sides trading half-chances. Rafael Ramos’ 36th-minute effort from 22 yards out had pace, but missed the far post by several feet. United forward Luis Silva—making his first start of the season for D.C.—combined well with Pontius but had similar trouble with the final product.
United head coach Ben Olsen did his best to shake things up just after halftime, removing Silva—who is likely still building towards full fitness—and inserting Rolfe in his place. Rookie midfielder Miguel Aguilar soon followed, entering the match in the 66th minute.
The moves paid dividends. Aguilar got involved quickly, collecting the ball outside the box and slaloming around three defenders before playing a quick pass to fellow midfielder Nick DeLeon inside the area. DeLeon’s effort was parried away by Ricketts.
United found their equalizer in the 70th. Left back Taylor Kemp lined up a free kick from 40 yards out, bending his service perfectly to the far post, where Opare headed the ball downwards from six yards out. His effort deflected off OCSC defender Sean St. Ledger and eluded Ricketts, tying the match.
Olsen inserted forward Jairo Arrieta shortly thereafter, and United would nab the winning goal on a connection between the Costa Rican and Rolfe.
Arrieta collected the ball along the right channel and curled a dipping cross to the far post and Rolfe timed his run perfectly, floating away from Orlando substitute center back Tyler Turner and meeting the cross with lunging volley from the top of the six-yard box.
D.C. will have little time to enjoy the victory, as they’ll travel up I-95 to meet the Philadelphia Union on Sunday.
