DC United went into Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Union, not only looking for their first win of the season, but their first goal of the season, having started out with 2 losses and a draw. Philadelphia came in with a slightly better record, with 2 draws and a loss, and started the game much brighter than United, with former United player Chris Pontius initially bossing their left wing.
For a portion of the first 10 minutes, it was as though Philadelphia were playing “keep away” with the ball, as United’s touches were few and far between...
...but eventually, United found their rhythm and began their own attacks through Lloyd Sam...
...Patrick Nyarko...
...Ian Harkes...
...Nick DeLeon, and others.
Luciano Acosta was his usual tricky form, jinxing left and right
In the 18th minute, Sam passed the ball into the box...
...to José Guillermo Ortiz who turned and fired towards goal, with the ball taking a deflection off Philadelphia’s Oguchi Onyewu taking it over Andre Blake in goal, to give United their first goal of the season.
After the restart, it was mostly United back on the attack, although a great save from Bill Hamid in the United goal did stop a potential equalizer in the 23rd minute.
In the 27th minute Acosta stole the ball from a Union player on the sideline, broke towards goal, and passed it to Ortiz...
...whose shot on goal was blocked by the hand of Richie Marquez, resulting in a penalty being awarded to United. Acosta, himself, stepped up and assuredly smacked it to the keeper’s right, just outside the outstretched arm of a diving Blake...
...resulting in a 2 goal lead for United.
United continued to attack down both flanks...
...but the half ended with the score 2-0. The second half was more of a mixed bag, with both teams attacking...
...but nothing making it to the back of the net to change the scoreline.
...until the 71st minute, when one minute after Ortiz was replaced by Lamar Neagle, and a shot from Alejandro Bedoya was tipped away by Hamid, straight into the path of substitute C.J. Sapong, who made no mistake in nestling the ball in the back of the net.
The rest of the game was an edgy affair, with both teams pressing forward, with perhaps Philadelphia having more of the ball.
...and nothing that United tried getting through.
...and Hamid doing the same to the Philadelphia strikers, denying Sapong with a brilliant save in the 78th minute.
United continued to attack...
...but the Philadelphia defense held firm...
...as did the United defense at the other end.
So the game ended 2-1 for United, giving them their first win of the season, and leaving Philadelphia still seeking theirs.