DC United Let One Slip Away
A late gift for the Houston Dynamo stole a point away from DC United, who are now three points back from first place in the Eastern Conference. DC United were heading toward a tie game and coming away with one point against a tough Houston team that had not won in six games. That all changed in the 90th minute.
Despite having the greater percentage of time of possession in the first half, DC United did not control the game. Dc United controlled the ball 51% of the time while the Dynamo only controlled 49%, even though the Dynamo out shot DC 13-2.
Bill Hamid did not seem to have any problems handling the shots on goal in the first half either. The three shots on goal were almost all shot directly at him. Hamid finished the game five saves while facing 20 shots total, six which were on target.
The problem for DC most of the game was the lack of offensive possession and their defense being under constant pressure. In the first half, United only had two shots and they finished the game with seven shots total, only two of which were on goal.
The best scoring chance in the game for DC came very late in the game. In the 87th minute, Eddie Johnson got into the box with only one defender to beat but his shot was blocked and went right into the hands of the goalkeeper. The ball looked like it might have been deflected with the defenders hands but was not called.
In the 91st minute, Taylor Kemp headed a ball back towards goal to Steve Birnbaum. Birnbaum was unable to handle it which ultimately brought Hamid out of the penalty box to try to help him control it. Will Bruin took advantage of this critical error and kicked the ball in a wide-open goal. The goal was assisted by Omar Cummings due to DC United not controlling the ball fully.
Letting a point slip away late was costly for United’s Supporters’ Shield run, awarded to the team with the best regular season record in the MLS. DC, now at 37 points, is two points back from first place Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference. United will have a chance to possibly retake first place for at least a day next Saturday.
United will travel out west to play Real Salt Lake on Saturday while Sporting Kansas City will play Whitecaps FC on Sunday. DC will have the tougher challenge with Real Salt Lake being in second place in the Western Conference and Whitecaps FC being in sixth.
