January 22, 2020

D.C. United Game 30 Recap: November soccer close to reality after win over Philadelphia

September 28, 2014 by

SILVA’S 11TH GOAL OF SEASON ENOUGH SATURDAY VS. UNION

Everything is right there now, so tantalizingly out of reach for D.C. United. A playoff spot is just 5 points away (or less if Toronto FC drops points), and a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference is just seven points away (at the most, depending on other results). All this is possible now after United defeated the Philadelphia Union, 1-0, Saturday before 19,478 at RFK Stadium. United improved to 15-9-6 (51 points) while Philly dropped to 9-10-11 (38).

Such thoughts a year ago at this time would have been laughed at heartily. But a remodeled roster has allowed head coach Ben Olsen (he of the newly-minted extended contract) to lead United from Major League Soccer doormats to a team to be reckoned with in the race for MLS Cup. But beyond the new players, Luis Silva perhaps embodies the improvement in this side over a year ago, and it was his career-high 11th goal of the season that was the difference Saturday. [Read more…]

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D.C. United Game 9 Recap: Early goal and Hamid’s saves lift United to rare road win

May 10, 2014 by

Yes, D.C. United fans, it is still legal and in fact encouraged for your local 11 to go on the road and win a match in Major League Soccer play. You could understand if some folks forgot what that felt like before Saturday’s 1-0 victory by United at the Philadelphia Union in front of 18,522 (including a healthy number of United supporters) at PPL Park. Chris Rolfe scored the only goal in the 6th minute. United hadn’t won a league away match since the 2012 season. With the win, D.C. improved to 4-3-2 (14 points), good enough for second place in the Eastern Conference pending other results Saturday.

It wasn’t exactly the most convincing of wins, but given the long barren stretch away from the rickety confines of RFK Stadium, no one should really be picky. Rolfe’s goal came from the center of the penalty area, past not only Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath, but also United players Eddie Johnson and Lewis Neal, who both had made smart runs toward the goal as Rolfe took his chance. Both were in offside position, but neither deflected the ball, and while they were between MacMath and where the ball entered the goal, MacMath never made a move to try and save the shot, so he wasn’t impeded and the goal stood despite Philadelphia’s protests.

Johnson, who has been notable for his lack of goals since coming to United from the Seattle Sounders in the offseason, may have had his first later in the half, but he was ruled to be offside upon receiving a nice lead pass from midfielder Davy Arnaud. If Johnson was offside, it was his right arm, which he wouldn’t have been able to use to score a goal. Johnson continued with the play and beat a charging MacMath, but the goal – which would have been Johnson’s much anticipated first for the club – was waived off. [Read more…]

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D.C. United ANALYSIS: Club trades Ethan White to Philadelphia in odd deal

January 14, 2014 by

D.C. United today announced it had traded defender Ethan White and the top spot in Major League Soccer’s allocation order to the Philadelphia Union for veteran defender Jeff Parke and Philly’s sixth position in the allocation order.

White appeared in 14 regular-season matches for United last season, and 38 overall in three years with the club. He turned 23 on New Year’s Day and joined United after being part of the club’s U-18 Academy team and playing two seasons at the University of Maryland. White was one of several homegrown players on the D.C. roster. [Read more…]

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D.C. United Game 32 Recap: United throw away win late, settle for draw vs. Philly

October 12, 2013 by

For almost 70 minutes, the starting 11 that D.C. United Head Coach Ben Olsen sent out vs. the Philadelphia Union was working hard, running well off the ball, making sharp passes into space trusting their teammates would get to them, and United had been rewarded with the lead through Nick DeLeon’s long-distance strike before halftime.

Then, the substitutes entered the game, United’s possession disappeared, Philadelphia piled on the pressure, and after surviving a couple United chances, Jack McInerney (a Union substitute) scored in the 90th minute to give Philadelphia a 1-1 draw and a vital point before 11,213 at rainy RFK Stadium Saturday night. [Read more…]

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D.C. United Analysis: Victorious Cup run should be new start, not an end

October 4, 2013 by

It will be a few days before the great feeling from D.C. United winning the 2013 U.S. Open Cup with a 1-0 victory at Real Salt Lake on Tuesday night wears off. Certainly, those in attendance at RFK Stadium Friday night when United returns to Major League Soccer play against the Chicago Fire will be in the mood to celebrate.

And rightfully so. For whatever struggles United has had in the league (and the world knows they have been many), putting together a five-match Cup run to win a trophy is never easy, no matter how good the team. Picked individually, maybe someone with a cynical mind would say a certain result along the way might have been a fluke. Such a person could even make that argument right at the very beginning, when United played at the Richmond Kickers – a club two levels below them and that helps develop young United players – and D.C. needed penalties to advance after 120 minutes of scoreless soccer. [Read more…]

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D.C. United Game 23 Recap: Youthful United can’t bust Union

August 10, 2013 by

Starting what Elias Sports termed its youngest lineup in club history, D.C. United fell to the Philadelphia Union, 2-0, at PPL Park Saturday night. United dropped to 3-16-4 with the loss, staying in the cellar of Major League Soccer with just 13 points. The Union improved to 10-7-7 (37 points).

Conor Casey scored both goals for Philadelphia, giving him nine in the league this season. Sebastien Le Toux assisted on both, while Fabino got the primary assist on the second goal, and Sheanon Williams earned a secondary assist on Casey’s first score.  [Read more…]

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D.C. United Open Cup Game Recap: De Rosario’s hat trick sends United to quarterfinals

June 12, 2013 by

Dwayne De Rosario scored all three goals in D.C. United’s 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Union tonight at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md., as United defeated its Major League Soccer rival to advance to the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals. United will host the New England Revolution at the SoccerPlex on June 26 (7 p.m.). New England beat the New York Red Bulls, 4-2, tonight.

Despite an awful start to the MLS season that has seen United post a 1-10-3 record in 14 matches, United now finds itself just three victories from a trophy in 2013, one that would be the club’s third Open Cup championship. United also won the Open Cup, now in its 100th edition, in 1996 and 2008. [Read more…]

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D.C. United GAME 7 RECAP: Two goals, but no points, for United vs. Philadelphia

April 21, 2013 by

Despite looking better at times in play and equaling its Major League Soccer season total with two goals, D.C. United lost at home to the Philadelphia Union, 3-2, in front of 12,349 at RFK Stadium Sunday afternoon. United fell to 1-5-1 (4 points) on the season, while the Union improved to 3-2-2 (11 points). The loss leaves United last in the Eastern Conference, 10 points behind leaders Sporting Kansas City.

Perry Kitchen (first of the season) and Lionard Pajoy (second) scored the two United goals, but they were too little, too late. The Union took a 2-0 lead early against a lethargic United side to start the game. Jack McInerney scored twice for Philadelphia, while Conor Casey added the other, as United lost its third straight home match following a 19-match unbeaten streak in the league stretching back to early last season. [Read more…]

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