DC United returned to MLS action this past Saturday evening (August 24) with a home game against FC Dallas. The game was entertaining, but ANOTHER DC red card, and several defensive lapses, resulted in a 4-3 loss to Dallas.
DC started Bono in goal (he seems to have won the starting job over Tyler Miller, as the team is pursuing options for loaning out Miller to another team). On defense were Schnegg, Bartlett, Akinmboni (McVey is out for a few more weeks with a hip injury), and Dajome (Herrera was ill and played the second half). The midfield was Ted KDP, Klich, Stroud and our new Cameroonian, Boris Enow. Benteke and Badji were at forward.
The game got off to a great start. Klich forced a save out of Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes. On the ensuing corner kick, Benteke celebrated his new contract (through next year, with an option for 2026) with a header off a lovely assist from Ted KDP. 1-0 DC in the second minute.
Dallas responded with a barrage of first half goals. They equalized in the 9th minute, also off a corner. Marco Farfan got away with holding Akinmboni, and Nikosi Tafari was left unmarked for a 10-yard volley. Dallas scored their second goal in the 21st minute when Sebastian Lletget headed in a cross; Dajome was unable to keep up. In the 40th minute, Asier Illarramendi put a nice header to the far post, and Paul Arriola volleyed in unmarked from a tight angle. Bartlett tried to come over and cover for Akinmboni, but too late.
DC pulled a goal back in the 42nd minute, as Schnegg hit a lovely volley in on the left side. 3-2 Dallas. However, 2 minutes later, Stroud sent an errant back pass straight to Dallas, and Tsiki Ntsabeleng scored an easy goal (Dallas' 4th of the half) to make it 4-2.
To make things worse, Enow picked up his second yellow card of the half and was sent off in stoppage time. Bono made a nice save to keep it 4-2 at halftime.
DC brought in fresh legs to start the second half; Herrera for Dajome, Rodriguez for Badji, and Peltola for Klich. Stroud had a nice goal in the 48th minute to bring DC back to within one goal. Pirani replaced Ted KDP in the 62nd minute, and Santos came in for Akinmboni in the 75th minute. Despite being a man down, DC played a good half and had several good chances, but was unable to get an equalizer. This game was Dallas' first road win of the season.
DC ended with 17 shots (7 on goal) and 5 corner kicks. Dallas had 13 shots, but 8 of them were on goal.
The officiating seemed quite uneven. The referee called 11 fouls on DC in the first half, compared to ONE for Dallas. Benteke was held just about every time he went up for a header, and Akinmboni was blatantly held on Dallas' first goal. The second half was more evenly officiated, but DC had 17 fouls for the game compared to 5 for Dallas, and 6 yellow cards compared to 3 for Dallas.
The next game is in Toronto next Saturday (August 31).
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