As DC United welcomed the New York Red Bulls into RFK Stadium on Saturday night, Chris Pontius instilled a leadership mentality. From the prematch warmups to the opening kickoff Pontius was seen working tirelessly for his unit. The regular season series between DC and NY was split evenly at 1-1-1. New York are very capable of scoring at a moments notice, while DC United have also proved to be lethal in front of net sporting a 5-0-2 record to close out the regular season. Ben Olsen strengthened his squad over the past month of De Rosario’s absence with the entire back line proving a force to be reckoned with, while the offense has proved to be in the right place at the right time to secure wins.
The good times are back in the nations capital as DC made their first playoff appearance in what seems to be a very long, five years. Olsen’s Army was out in full effect, and DC United most definitely had their crowd becoming their twelfth man. What a unique match: a missed penalty kick, two own goals, a terrible decision by Andy Najar and a few non-calls for both squads.
The Red Bulls are most certainly littered with star power, with the likes of Thierry Henry who need not be intimated by any opposition as he has played throughout Spain, England and now here in the United States. A surprise to many, was Kenny Cooper’s absence from the starting eleven with his eighteen regular season goals. Despite many of the individual greats that New York, DC were not at all star-struck. Pontius lead by example working not only on offense but defending against Lindpere. Ben Olsen stressed his importance of the team over the individual, and in the 2nd minute his defender, Chris Korb almost put DC on the advantage. Korb took a left footed shot that forced a diving save out of Robles resulting in a corner. DC started out on the upper hand with Pontius creating chances and DC also maintaining the majority of the possession. Not only were Pontius, Boskovic and Pajoy combining with one another, Andy Najar was his norm self with his movement from end-line to end-line and doing so with what looked to be, complete ease. What a pick up Andy Najar has been, and should be well commended for his transition from midfield to the defensive line. Lionard Pajoy also did fairly well with holding possession with a few key moments where he impressively took on, and beat, Dax McCarty and the veteran Rafa Marquez.
Despite the offensive pressure, DC’s defense remained tight, were patient and did not dive in courtesy of the organizational skill of the leader, Brandon McDonald. About twenty minutes into the match, Heath Pearce continued to play very dangerous breaking out balls to involve both Henry and Lindpere. Pearce was able to get forward so much in the first half because of Pajoy at times getting too cute by taking on three defenders and loosing the ball fairly cheaply. In the 24th minute, a cross from Pontius found Nick DeLeon on the back post who made contact but not enough to deflect the ball into the back of the net and instead flew out for a corner. DC’s constant pressure did not change New York’s game-plan what so ever. New York continued to be very slow with their buildup play and it seemed as if Branko Boskovic was wasting his energy running around trying to get the ball. In the 30th minute, Boskovic could be seen simply letting attackers walk by him as Ben Olsen could probably tell he is not even close to being ninety minutes fit. DC’s offensive pressure almost paid off in the 32nd minute as the referee pointed to the spot as Connor Lade committed a hand ball foul inside of the box as Boskovic alluded the young defender with his terrific control. However, in the 33rd minute, the captain Chris Pontius stepped up to the mark and telegraphed his PK not even hitting the ball to a corner. All credit goes to Robles with his remarkable PK save to hold the score level at 0-0. Upon Robles’ save, Bill Hamid had to also assert himself in his box, but there was nothing too dangerous from the Red Bulls as Thierry Henry was kept fairly quiet and Le Toux was almost nonexistent at times.
At any age, any level and any league across the world, soccer is unique with that goals tend to follow goals. Or in DC’s and NY’s case, own goals follow own goals. The Red Bulls came out in the second half with much determination with Le Toux chasing down second balls, and winning early corners for New York. However, Saragosa who is a very quiet performer, has been given the freedom as of late to win balls farther up the pitch and to help Pajoy which then offset Le Toux’s pressure. Brandon McDonald was not having the best of nights as he was giving many balls away to New York and rushing his clearances but remained stead-fast with his tenacity on corners. Hamid was called upon a few times in the second half, and made the saves minus his one key mistake. The deadlock broke in the 61st minute when the ball sailed over Heath Pearce’s head and the dangerous near post run by Nick DeLeon caused Roy Miller (second half sub for Marquez) see the ball skim off his leg and into the back of his own net from six yards out to give DC the 1-0 advantage.
DC’s lead did not last long as the 65th minute showed another own goal but this time by DC’s Bill Hamid. Hamid took a small, very small, bump from Holgersson and it seemed as if he made a meal of the challenge which caused him to fall into his net with the ball when in reality Hamid should have done his best to punch the ball out or held onto the ball which proved to be a terrible mistake and leveled the match up at 1-1. Both Najar and Korb still proved key in the early stages of the second half getting into the attack, yet that would all change with one rash decision in the moments to come. Najar was yellow carded for what was a professional tackle by taking down a New York midfielder and that seemed to be that; until the 19 year old youngster decided to take matters into his own hands and throw the ball at the ref, then resulting in a red card. This unacceptable behavior not only caused DC to play down a man for the majority of the match, but Najar will miss the second leg of the match. With this one decision by Najar, he put his team in a real hole as DC travel to Red Bull Arena on Wednesday. Luckily for DC Robbie Russell is healthy as is Lewis Neal, both fully capable of covering in for Najar however both will not be able to make up for his attacking presence. Najar was prolific in the counter attack and ultimately he has let his teammates down with a split decision. Yet, despite being a man down for about fifteen minutes United kept pressing with Pajoy doing ever so well against the tall defender of Holgersson. The final real “controversy” of the game was that of Holgersson’s alleged back pass to Robles who then resulted to pick up the pass. Upon viewing the replays, my personal opinion was that the ball looked to be passed back to Holgersson which then should have resulted in a direct free kick. Regardless of the call, the game ended level 1-1 with the teams returning to New York on Wednesday.
When asked about DC’s second leg tie, Ben Olsen exclaimed the match will be a real “gut-check in New York.” The second leg tie will take place on Wednesday, November 7th at 8pm in Red Bull Arena. If there is no winner after ninety minutes of play, silver goal extra time will take place, of two 15 minute halves and if DC and New York are still level then penalty kicks will decide a winner. For those who are dying to know when Dwayne De Rosario will return, this Wednesday’s game will possibly list him as questionable which would have him on the bench. Finally, my DC United Man of the Match was without a doubt Lionard Pajoy. Pajoy held up the ball and had one of his best games of the season. Pajoy was seen chasing down on everything thrown his way and held off Holgersson particularly well resulting in a few chances on net in which Robles expertly saved. The advantage goes to New York for the second leg on Wednesday with the loss of Andy Najar and the home field advantage of Red Bull Arena. Although United are down Najar, look for Pontius to take an ever more focal role in DC’s attack. Plain and simple: win, and advance.
(image courtesy of au.eurosport.com)
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