Luciano Acosta dribbles upfield. Photos by Pablo Iglesias Maurer

On the surface, D.C. United’s 2-2 draw against the Philadelphia Union at RFK Stadium on Saturday seemed like some sort of a triumph. As United defender Steve Birnbaum nodded home the equalizer deep into stoppage time, D.C.’s supporters sent their beers skyward in celebration.

The mood in the locker room after the match, however, was a bit more sullen. For the second time in as many games, United had blown an early lead and had to settle for a draw. Two games into a crucial four game home stand, and United are still sitting a couple of points below the red line, still facing the prospect of missing the post-season for the first time since 2013.

The Highlights:


Steve Birnbaum celebrates his late-game equalizer. Photos by Pablo Iglesias Maurer

The Good: Steve Birnbaum, Ben Olsen getting himself ejected, also mascot soccer. Birnbaum—who for a couple of months now has been the target of ever-intensifying transfer rumors—showed us why he’s such a hot commodity on Saturday, putting in a typically solid defensive performance and also showing his nose for goals. His headed goal at the death was his first of the year, and Olsen and company certainly hope the young defender can continue to contribute offensively, as he did so prolifically during his college years.


Photos by Pablo Iglesias Maurer

Speaking of Ben Olsen, he spent the entire game raising his finger at referee Jair Maruffo (it was his index finger, at least) and eventually got the boot in the 85th minute, grabbing a ball and refusing to return it to play before kicking the ad boards behind him in frustration and storming down the tunnel. It’s a common move in baseball, but not so much soccer: get yourself ejected to fire up your troops.

His fiery nature must’ve rubbed off: a few minutes later, United sent a flurry of shots goalward and eventually tied the game.

Also, this:

The Bad: A rare gaffe by Bill Hamid. DCU ‘keeper Bill Hamid was beaten badly on Philadelphia’s opener, caught badly out of position on what should’ve been a routine free kick. In all fairness, it just isn’t the kind of thing you see Hamid do often, and you likely won’t see him beaten like that again any time soon. I can’t even remember ever having listed him in this category.

The Ugly: Feast your eyes on this hapless Union fan.

The rest: Longtime United midfielder Chris Pontius made his first return to RFK Stadium on Saturday, roaming the pitch in a Union uniform for the first time. After seven years with D.C., Pontius left for Philly in search of a change of pace after a few injury-plagued seasons. He’s found it: his goal against D.C. on Saturday was his ninth of the year, and he’s showing signs of the form that at one time made him a US National Team target.

He didn’t celebrate his goal against D.C., a common move for players looking to show respect to a former club. “[Whether I’d celebrate or not] was never a question,” Pontius told me after the match. “This organization was good to me, the fans were good to me. I didn’t leave on a bad note at all.”

Filed Under: ben olsen, Chris Pontius, DC United, DCU, Luciano Acosta, Philadelphia Union,