Despite outshooting the Montreal Impact in the second half by 12 shots to two, D.C. United fell to their Eastern Conference foe 0-1 on a rainy Saturday night at RFK.
United, playing at home for the first time in almost a month, entered the match stretched a bit thin due to injury and without goalkeeper Bill Hamid, who was a late scratch just before game time. The Black-and-Red went down a goal in the 12th minute on the back of a strong solo effort by the Impact’s 18-year-old Homegrown Player Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla.
United fought valiantly throughout the second half and found numerous chances at an equalizer after the Impact’s early goal. Luciano Acosta nearly drew United even after beating the keeper but not the crossbar with a wicked shot outside the 18-yard-box. Defender Kofi Opare sent fans into a frenzy by putting the ball in the net from six yards out, but Opare was ruled offside by the assistant referee.
“Montreal came to this game with a real fight, which meant they were going to do all the things that a team that’s hungry does,” United head coach Ben Olsen said following the match. “They had a little more to them in the first half, and it seemed that the game meant more to them than us. That’s unacceptable.”
Despite the final scoreline, Travis Worra looked strong in net in replacement of the injured Hamid for his first start of the season, finishing the match with three saves, including a few sure-handed parries to keep United within arm’s length of the Impact. Mullins, who is gradually reentering the lineup after recovering from a hamstring injury, also showed signs of his attacking spark in the final 45.
The loss brings United to 3-4-2 on the season. Now, Ben Olsen's side will be determined to rebound and accumulate points at home as they continue their three-game homestand. United return to action at RFK against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday at 7PM.
"At home, we expect three points," defender Bobby Boswell said. "We had a chance here to put nine points on the board [over the three-game home stretch] and we just missed an opportunity to put up three. I don't feel good about it now, but we've got to improve and move forward."
