D.C. United held Los Angeles FC to a 0-0 draw Saturday, Aug. 29, at Audi Field in front of a sold-out crowd. The result improved D.C. United’s record to 5-7-10 and kept the club in 11th place in the Eastern Conference.
D.C. United Creates Early Chances
D.C. United pushed forward inside the opening 25 seconds when Louis Munteanu delivered a cross for João Peglow. Peglow’s header forced Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris into a save. Keisuke Kurokawa later had a goal ruled out for offside in the 16th minute.
Nathan Ordaz, making his first start for D.C. United, created another opportunity with a cross from the right wing in the 49th minute. Jackson Hopkins got on the end of the play, but Lloris made the save. Lloris recorded his third and final stop in the 63rd minute, diving to turn aside Louis Munteanu’s driven shot toward the bottom-left corner.
Defense Preserves D.C. United Shutout
Los Angeles FC generated much of its attacking threat through Heung-Min Son, Denis Bouanga and Jeremy Ebobisse, but D.C. United’s defense stayed organized. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson made a crucial save on Bouanga in the 36th minute, while Andre Dozzell and Matti Peltola combined to block Son’s shot on an open goal during a sequence of Los Angeles FC corner kicks.
D.C. United finished with 18 tackles and seven clearances. Though Los Angeles FC outshot D.C. United 17-15, D.C. United registered three shots on target and limited Los Angeles FC to one. This result marked D.C. United’s fifth shutout of the season. Kimito Nono was named the Heineken Man of the Match for his defensive performance on the wing.
Late Free Kick Misses for Los Angeles FC
D.C. United Head Coach René Weiler made his first substitution in the 77th minute, with Hosei Kijima replacing Jackson Hopkins. Jared Stroud replaced Brandon Servania in the 86th minute, and Nikola Markovic entered for Nathan Ordaz in the second minute of stoppage time.
Los Angeles FC won a free kick on the left wing in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Ryan Hollingshead took the attempt, but it sailed wide as the match finished scoreless.
Eastern Conference Position and Next Match
D.C. United remained in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, level on 25 points with Orlando City SC and Toronto FC. D.C. United was scheduled to travel to face FC Cincinnati on Saturday, Sept. 5, with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
D.C. United’s defensive work defined the scoreless draw. The club recorded 18 tackles and seven clearances while limiting Los Angeles FC to one shot on target. The fifth shutout of the season helped preserve a point at Audi Field.
D.C. United also created several chances, including João Peglow’s early header and the opportunities that forced Hugo Lloris into three saves. Kimito Nono’s Heineken Man of the Match honor recognized the defensive performance that helped D.C. United keep Los Angeles FC off the scoreboard.
Source: Original report
