D.C. United bounced back on Saturday evening, winning over Colorado 2-3 and reclaiming their position at the top of the eastern conference. Homegrown’s Jalen Robinson and Chris Durkin earned their first starts of the season and Donovan Pines made his MLS debut on the night.
In the first half, D.C. found themselves down a goal early after Benny Feilhaber finished a Jack Price cross for the games first goal in the 11th minute of the match. United settled in and Lucas Rodriguez and Luciano Acosta took over the middle of Dick’s Sporting Good Park with their offensive IQ, they would get Paul Arriola involved down the right wing to open up the Rapids defense.
Acosta would go on the break the goose egg in the 35th minute after Pines headed the ball down on a corner kick and it fell to the Argentines feet. Acosta calmly took the ball around a few defenders and smashed it home from in close for United’s first goal of the game.
Just a few minutes later, Rodriguez found room inside the Rapids box and feathered a ball into the pathway of a charging Durkin. The homegrown midfielder, rifled the ball past Tim Howard, low and to Howard’s right side, into the corner of the net for his first career MLS goal and a 1-2 lead for D.C. United.
The Black-and-Red scored their third and final goal the match in the 43rd minute of the contest. Rodriguez used his agility and footwork to weave his way through three Rapids’ defenders and eventually tapped the ball past Howard to complete an incredible end to the first half, giving The District a 1-3 lead into the half.
In the second half, United put in a 45-minute, gutsy defensive half of soccer. Robinson, Pines, Steven Birnbaum, and Bill Hamid were put to the test as the Rapids continued to pour it on. In the 66th minute, Kei Kamara scored his 116th MLS goal on an inclose header opportunity that gave Colorado life, as they were now just one goal back with time remaining.
Fortunately for United, Hamid and his defensive line were up to the task as they would defend corner after corner during the final 20-minutes of the match. Allowing D.C. United to reclaim their position atop the east with a 2-3 win in Denver.
D.C. United will next play at Audi Field against NYCFC on April 21st. If you would like to purchase tickets to the match, CLICK HERE!
