From the get-go, RFK Stadium was rocking for the season home opener and the Red & Blacks certainly did not disappoint the home crowd. Courtesy of a Lionard Pajoy diving header off a Nick Rimando rebound, United took a 1-0 advantage and never looked back. The lone-goal was well deserved from the home side who looked fairly comfortable throughout the entirety of the match.
Through early pressure from the midfield, DC were able to quickly able to force Real Salt Lake back into their own half. Chris Pontius was instrumental in the early going as he forced goalkeeper Nick Rimando to make a few key saves in which Rimando was equal to the task. As Pontius continued to press, so did the rest of his midfield compatriots of Nick DeLeon, Perry Kitchen and Sanchez. Ben Olsen's squad were successful with excellent possession through the feet of Kitchen and DeLeon who were both able to whip crosses into the box forcing Rimando to make key saves for RSL.
For United, Pajoy's physical play asked plenty of questions from the visitors defense. At the conclusion of the first half, DC edged out RSL in possession with 53% of the ball. Although controlling much of the first half, the home side was unable to convert past an in-form Rimando. On the other side of the ball, the defense for DC was quite stingy as Brandon McDonald and Dejan Jakovic continued to press high in the center of the pitch to cause problems with the RSL forwards of Robbie Findley and Saborio. The defense was able to disrupt the link-up play between the RSL midfield and forwards contributing to the slight advantage. Furthermore, McDonald seemingly was always on Robbie Findley's shoulder not allowing him to turn and making his job difficult. For the second straight match, John Thorrington and Perry Kitchen were sound in their defensive duties. Both established midfielders were able to make it difficult for the RSL diamond midfield to truly test Bill Hamid on the night.
With all of the hard work that Pajoy had been putting into the match as he chased down nearly every second ball, he was rewarded in the 60th minute. After a broken up corner kick from Pontius, Thorrington collected the ball about twenty yards from goal, and attempted to chip the RSL goalkeeper. Rimando was equal to the initial shot as he made a fingertip save on Thorrington's shot, which then found its way to Pajoy – who was right at the doorstep and converted via a diving header. The go-ahead goal came as DC's first of the season.
Following the DC United advantage, the game continued to swing in the hosts favor. Ben Olsen's squad were quite ready to defend as a unit, as they contested every ball. Real Salt Lake then pressed for an equalizer but as the ball entered the final third, Chris Korb and James Riley did exceptionally well at preventing crosses. Kitchen also served as an additional support to the defensive line as Beckerman, Gil and Stephenson all looked to level the match. DC were successfully able to shut down Beckerman on the night as he went unnoticed for large portions of the match. One of the best chances for RSL came in the 73rd minute off a curling shot from just inside the eighteen from Stephenson, however Bill Hamid was able to parry the ball away from danger.
Overall, DC United played a very organized match. Although the game was slow going for much of the match, United should be happy to continue their winning ways at RFK Stadium. Another bright spot for the Red & Blacks was the injection of Carlos Ruiz into the lineup in the 84th minute. Even though Ruiz is certainly not 90 minutes match-fit, he was able to produce a few attempts on goal which were turned away by Rimando. As DC recorded their first clean sheet of the season, they must not rest on their laurels as next Saturday the side will face a very well organized defense and potent attack of the New York Red Bulls.
My DC United Man of the Match: Brandon McDonald
Next Game: March 16th vs New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena
(image courtesy of USA Today Sports Images)
