In a match delayed an hour and 14 minutes due to lightning, D.C. United came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against the New York Red Bulls. The waterlogged pitch made passing and finishing difficult when play resumed following the break, but United were able to overcome the conditions and extend their unbeaten streak at RFK Stadium to five games.
“A good old-fashioned Atlantic Cup… a dust-up, certainly in the first half,” said United head coach Ben Olsen after the game. “The conditions were pretty poor after the break and it became a game about second balls and going route one… I felt down the stretch we were unlucky not to get out of here with more than one point.”
The best opportunity in the early stages after the delay fell to United’s Patrick Nyarko, but he was unable to head home Lloyd Sam’s well-placed cross. Marcelo, Luciano Acosta and Nyarko combined to almost score the goal of the year for the hosts, but the header flashed wide. The visitors broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when Bradley Wright-Phillips scored his 15th goal of the season from Mike Grella’s low cross into the box to give the visitors the 1-0 lead going into halftime.
Felipe doubled the Red Bulls’ lead in the 64th minute, but it didn’t take United long to respond. Marcelo converted a penalty kick after Lloyd Sam was fouled in the 71st minute, and Patrick Mullins headed in his second goal for the club just two minutes later to complete the comeback and grab a valuable point for the Black-and-Red.
“At 2-0 for us to battle back, it’s gutsy, that’s for sure,” said Olsen of United’s gritty performance. “But again, we want more. We want to push for three points, in particular at home, so mixed feelings.”
The result concludes a four-game homestand in which the Black-and-Red went unbeaten, finishing with six points from a win and three draws. After the homestand, United pushed above the red line and into playoff position, showing the team’s mental toughness and improving chemistry. While Olsen and his players are slightly disappointed with the draws rather than wins, the flashes of potential have created cause for optimism.
“I think we’ve come a long way over four games, and I really like this team… I think we’re dangerous, and there’s a good chemistry and a good vibe with this team,” said Olsen of the team’s recent performances. “There’s no reason why we can’t be a playoff team in this league, but we have to pick up some points now on the road in a busy stretch. We’re going to need everyone over the next six days, but we’re looking forward to it.”
