Both DC United and the Chicago Fire knew coming into Saturday afternoon’s game in front of a sold out crowd in Toyota Park, that a win would most secure a spot in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. DC United came into the game knowing a win or a tie would secure the second spot in the Eastern Conference behind Sporting Kansas City. Although losing Dwayne De Rosario was definitely a blow to DC’s leadership and their creativity, DC United have really turned up their level of intensity by earning key points on the road, and capitalizing on chances that at the beginning of the season, went array. DC entered the game with an impressive six game unbeaten run (5-0-1) and looked sternly forward to finish the regular season on an emotional high.
DC United entered the first half of Saturday’s game knowing a win or a tie woulds secure them second place, which seemed to be a negative aspect as DC started the game off on a more defensive standpoint. DC tried to continuously absorb the pressure from Pavel Pardo and Patrick Nyarko but Perry Kitchen remained steadfast in his efforts to thwart any threats. Immediately from the get-go, the Chicago Fire started out with a much more dangerous approach, with DC committing needless fouls at the back. DC looked a bit too tentative and cautious at times, allowing Patrick Nyarko to weave through the DC midfield and defense with absolute ease winning free kicks and corners. The first few shots of the game, Bill Hamid was up to the task as he sported his 1.04 GAA (goals against average) this season.
DC were left flat-footed at times with Pardo playing dangerous balls into Hamid’s box, but were easily collected. Hamid has really been making a name for himself not only in the MLS, but showing he can be the future of USA’s goalkeeping elite. Despite Hamid’s recent excellence in net, he had almost no chance against Patrick Nyarko’s 16th minute splendid strike far post past Hamid for his fourth goal of the season. Nyarko was given space and time to create his own shot, drew the ball back to his right foot and powered the ball into the back of the net beyond the outstretched Hamid. After conceding the first goal of the match, the players knew a goal needed to be scored to avoid the one game elimination game that comes with sitting in both 4th and 5th place in both the Eastern and Western Conferences.
The defining moment of the first half was that of Hamid: a 20th minute brilliant save that surely denied the Fire from its second goal of the match off a counterattack shot by Sherjill MacDonald. This counterattack developed through a cheaply give-a-way by DC that was then fed to Chris Rolfe who calmly passed it over to MacDonald. DC then started to gain some momentum with a 27th minute free kick from Branko Boskovic that went just wide of Johnson’s goal. Although DC were able to get some sort of offensive pressure going, the Fire were too dominant in their counterattacking style. The final real chances of the first half were created by United as Pajoy’s shot in the 41st minute was parried away by Johnson, and in the 42nd minute Johnson collected a skipping shot off the grass by Boskovic.
DC upper the tempo in the second half, and it immediately paid off. Only five minutes after halftime, DC were level at 1-1. In the 50th minute, a driven ball into the box was connected into the back of the net courtesy of Lionard Pajoy with his glancing header which gave almost no chance for Johnson in net. Pajoy’s goal was his 8th goal of the season. The past two weeks Ben Olsen has been stressing the importance of the near post run, and Pajoy did just that. Following Pajoy’s goal, DC began to mount attack after attack. In the 63rd minute, Hamid saved the day once again, with a point blank save on MacDonald who anticipated the shot well and always keeping on his toes. A fortunate miss for Fernandez in the 66th minute kept the score level at 1-1. Shortly following in the 71st minute, the Chicago Fire injected both Alex and Oduro into the lineup to pressure for the game winning goal. Tensions began to flare in the 79th minute, Sherjill MacDonald and Hamid got into it with what looked to be harmless, but turned out to be a strong exchange of words. Pajoy had a golden opportunity in the 81st minute as he tried to chip Johnson that went well wide. Extra added time, proved to create havoc when Hamid made two diving saves, with a frenzy in front of the net. Hamid made a beautiful save after the ball hit the post, and then DeLeon made a diving effort right on the goal line to keep the score at 1-1. A final save was made by Hamid as his outstretched hand tipped a shot over the bar in the 95th minute, to secure second place in the Eastern Conference and the draw.
DC United improve to 17-10-7 (58 points) while the Chicago Fire stand at 17-11-6 in 4th place in the Eastern Conference. DC United continue on with their unbeaten run stretching seven games (5-0-2). My Man of the Match for DC United was without a doubt, Bill Hamid. Hamid made save after save, which secured DC the point. As previously stated, Hamid has really made a name for himself in the United States as being one of the premier goalkeepers in the league and that the United States has to offer. DC United will take on the New York Red Bulls in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. DC United will play a home and away series and the team that advances will be the one who scores more goals. The away goals rule is off, therefore the team with the most goals in both games combined, advance to the Conference Finals.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
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