DC United’s five game unbeaten streak was broken in the 94th minute of play in their match Saturday night against the Portland Timbers. Maximiliano Urruti scored the game winner late to make the match 3-2 right before the final whistle. Urruti’s goal gave Portland their first win of the season a day after Damien Lillard gave the Portland Trailblazers their first NBA playoff series win in 14 years on a buzzer beater winning shot. Fans in Portland will be in delirium for a few days; meanwhile DC United will feel they should have earned a point from the match.
The match started in the worst way possible for DC. Christian Fernandez gave the ball away to Darlington Nagbe, who played the ball forward to Diego Valeri. Valeri played a perfect ball into the box that found Gaston Fernandez who chipped the ball into the air as Bill Hamid came out to try to make a tackle. Fernandez put the ball into the net with his back to goal to give Portland a 1-0 lead within the first minute.
DC United would soon equalize. Davy Arnaud decided to take a chance with a shot in the 33rd minute of play. He placed a lot of power into the shot, which deflected Portland defender Diego Chara that in turn sent the ball on a rainbow path and into the back of the net. 1-1. DC’s equalizer would not last long; however, the ball fell to Portland defender Danso on a corner. He would put the ball past a frozen Hamid to make it 2-1.
The match’s controversy came around the hour mark. DC United played a ball into the box and Danso was called for a handball. Referee Ricardo Salazar pointed to the spot, but the call was reversed soon after consulting with his assistant referees. DC would soon make the game level again at 2-2 after a Christian header deflected off Danso and into Portland’s net in the 77th minute of play. Portland would make the final strike in the 94th minute of play. Max Urruti was found in the box and hit a shot on a volley which Hamid would save. However, the ball came straight back to him and he put the ball in for the late winner.
DC United drop to 3-2-3 on the season and remain at 11 points for the season. The black and red will continue on the road next Saturday at Philadelphia where they will take on the Union in an Eastern Conference matchup.
(image courtesy of Jamie Francis/Associated Press)
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