DC United hosted the Philadelphia Union on a rainy/misty night last Saturday (May 4). Even most of the covered seats were a little wet.
This seemed like a good time to play Philly, as they were recovering from a midweek pounding by Seattle and star goalkeeper Andre Blake was out with a knee injury and/or internal conflicts.
DC started Bono at keeper; Peltola, Bartlett and McVey in defense; Dajome, Hopkins, Klich, Herrera and Stroud in midfield; and Murrell (getting his second consecutive start) and Benteke as forwards.
DC dominated the first 30 minutes. Dajome scored a beautiful volley from the top of the box on a great pass from Stroud for a 1-0 lead. Philly then started getting back into the game, hitting the crossbar.
Three minutes later, Bono sent a long pass to Benteke, who headed it to Stroud, who headed it to Murrell, who settled and banged it home with his left foot from just outside the box for a 2-0 lead. Murrell had another good chance in the 40th but Philadelphia goalie Oliver Semmle made a nice save.
Philadelphia struck back in the 42nd minute; on a free kick from near midfield, Alejandro Bedoya raced past the DC line and took the ball heading to the left side of the net, with Murrell a step or two behind. Bedoya nicely chipped Bono and cut DC’s lead to 2-1, which was the halftime score.
Philly had a little more initiative in the second half, but DC was holding well until the 79th minute. Philly’s Jack McGlynn got the ball on the right side about 30 yards out, and Dajome (as others have said) left him some room. McGlynn launched a beautiful shot into the upper left corner that left Bono no chance, tying the game at 2-2. That’s where it finished.
Ted KDP came in for Murrell in the 64th minute. Steve Birnbaum saw his first action of the season when replacing Hopkins in the 74th minute; he settled into central defence and Peltola moved up. Fletcher and Pirani came in for Stroud and Dajome respectively in the 85th minute.
DC ended up with 8 shots (5 on goal) and 4 corners.
While a 2-2 draw might have seemed like a good result against a good Philly team (who has been waxing us 6-0 and 7-0 in recent years), losing a 2-0 lead made it feel not so good, especially since we have lost so many leads this year.
DC travels to Atlanta this Saturday (May 11) to take on Atlanta United.
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