It had all the makings of a playoff classic.
Two MLS originals with lengthy post-season resumes meeting on a rainy October night: D.C., the underfunded champions of grit who’ve struggled all year to earn the respect of fans and pundits alike, and The New England Revolution, a team less than a year removed from watching an MLS Cup title slip through their fingertips.
Games like these don’t often live up to the hype, but Wednesday evening’s clash between United and the ‘Revs did.
D.C. shook off an early New England opener — a Juan Agudelo bicycle kick that, if I’m being honest, may have been the most sensational goal I’ve ever witnessed in person — and did what they’ve done best all year, charge from the rear. Riding a Chris Pontius equalizer late in the first half and a Chris Rolfe game-winner, D.C. emerged victorious in the Knockout Round encounter, advancing to the Eastern Conference semi-finals and sending the Revolution home for the year.
The game was wildly entertaining, and not without it’s share of controversy before ending in a 2-1 victory for D.C. United. First thing’s first, take a look at Agudelo’s absolutely stunning bicycle kick, a quarter of an hour in:
Now, onwards, to the highlights::
The Good: Chris Rolfe’s redemption: The attacker has been United’s best player all year, and on Wednesday, he was the best player on the field. He carved out a trio of early opportunities, but left all of them empty-handed; a breakaway in the fourth minute and a similar opportunity fifteen minutes later were both handled by New England ‘keeper Bobby Shuttleworth. A decent look 25 minutes in hit the crossbar. Rolfe’s toughest miss of the night, however, came from the PK spot, at the 75-minute mark. The former Fire midfielder stepped to the spot and struck his attempt with gusto, but pinged the inside of the post, costing United a potential game-winner.
Seven minutes later, Rolfe made amends. He put himself in the right time at the right place, getting on the end of a lovely combination with Nick Deleon and Fabian Espindola for the game-winner. Charging towards the far corner in celebration, Rolfe was clearly elated.
“I’m so happy for Chris,” said United head coach Ben Olsen after the match. “He’s been our best player this year and, to miss that and not redeem yourself – I know that would be painful for him. He put his head down and kept working and I’m happy he found the winner.”
The Bad: The Geiger Show Ben Olsen’s favorite spectacle rolled back into town on Wednesday as referee Mark Geiger took the reins for D.C.’s tilt with the Revs, and he did not leave anyone in attendance disappointed. Geiger has a habit of leaving his stamp on games, and he did so once again on Wednesday.
Geiger correctly whistled for a handball in the 75th minute, awarding D.C. United a penalty kick after Alvaro Saborio’s shot struck New England midfielder Scott Caldwell’s arm. In second half stoppage time, with New England trailing a goal and fighting for their playoff lives, U.S. international Jermaine Jones swung a cross towards goal that struck D.C. defender Sean Franklin in a similar manner, Geiger made no call. The Revs, naturally, were infuriated. Everybody has an opinion on this call, and so do I: D.C. got away with one here.
It wasn’t the only missed call on the night. Agudelo was taken out of the game mid-way through the second half after an off-the-ball incident where he appeared to have been kneed in the hamstring by D.C. defender Bobby Boswell; after the match, Boswell chalked it up to the two battling for position and suggested he’d never been trying to hurt the young forward. Agudelo certainly saw things differently, calling it a cheap shot. Geiger saw it fit to issue a yellow card; New England would’ve liked him to get a red.
The Ugly: Jermaine Jones loses his shit. Jermaine, no! Jermaine… please… no… don’t… Jermaine he’s just a math teacher.. please… JJ… think of the kids…
The Rest: On tap in the east tonight, the other Knockout round affair, one that’s sure to be equally entertaining — Sebastian Giovinco, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore lead Toronto FC into their first-ever post-season match, one against former Chelsea legend Didier Drogba’s Montreal Impact. The game has implications for D.C. — if TFC take it, D.C. face Columbus Crew SC in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. If Montreal emerge victorious, D.C. will face the arch-rival New York Red Bulls in the semis.
