Riding a strong first half performance in which they netted twice in the first 27 minutes, D.C. United won their first game of the young MLS season 2-1 over the Philadelphia Union at RFK Stadium.
With both teams looking for their first three points of the season, United struck first 18 minutes into the match. Winger Lloyd Sam was quick to pick up on a loose ball off of a miscue from Union outside defender Fabinho and cut the ball back into the box to José Ortiz on the right-hand side, who scored his first goal for the Black-and-Red after his resulting shot was deflected by a Union defender and looped over a diving Andre Blake and into the back of the net.
Seven minutes after his first goal, the Costa Rican international was at the heart of United’s second. Attempting to sneak a lifted ball into the box toward a teammate, Ortiz’s pass struck the arm of Union defender Richie Marquez, who was rushing to close the striker down. Luciano Acosta then tucked the resulting spot kick away to the keeper’s bottom right to extend the lead and score his first of the season.
Ortiz, who was on international duty with Costa Rica last week for their FIFA World Cup qualifiers, had an active first half. In his first start after making three substitute appearances prior to tonight, the striker impressed in particular during a seven minute stretch in which he scored, struck the cross bar and created the team’s second.
“He’s a competitor and he’s courageous,” Ben Olsen said after the game about his striker, an offseason addition on loan from CS Herediano. “I thought he had a good day and his work rate was very good.”
It was a tale of two halves for United after their offensive display in the first half, as the defense fought valiantly to keep the Union from drawing level in the second half. Though not seeing as much action in the first half, goalkeeper Bill Hamid had his busiest game of the season, saving a season-high seven shots. More than once, the United goalkeeper was called on to make a difficult save, and each time he responded spectacularly.
“We didn’t do a good job of keeping the ball in the second half,” Steve Birnbaum said. “They obviously had the ball most of the time and were keeping us pretty pinned back, but we defended the box pretty well and I thought we communicated well and stayed with a lot of the runners. Bill came up with some big saves, so that’s always good.”
In the end, the defense held strong and United came away with a valuable home win over their Eastern Conference rivals. The win keeps D.C. United’s strong home record against the Union intact, who haven’t won in the District since 2013. United will host the Union again in May before traveling to Philadelphia for the teams’ final meeting in June.
