We have another hat-trick! Charlie Davies scored three times to give the visiting DC United a big 3-0 win over Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center late Saturday night. The win gives United the important three points they were looking for and inches them closer to their first playoff berth since 2007.
It took only 10 minutes of action for Davies to register his first goal of the match. After a fantastic low cross by Chris Pontius, Davies one-timed it past Chivas keeper Dan Kennedy to give United the lead. Then just four minutes later, Pontius finds Davies wide open in the box and Davies puts another one-touch ball past Kennedy to give United the 2-0 lead. DC took the 2-0 lead into halftime and came out strong again in the second half, and in the 65th minute, Pontius and Davies went on a 2 vs. 1 with Chivas defender Ante Jazic. Jazic chose to pressure Pontius, who had the ball, but Pontius was able to pass it unselfishly off to an open Davies who finished to make it 3-0. The goal gave Davies his 11th of the season which puts him in the race for the Golden Boot award. It was also his first goal since June 25th.
Unfortunately it was not all well for DC on Saturday night. Right after Davies’ third goal, Chivas defender David Júnior Lopez tackled Pontius resulting in a fracture in the DC midfielder’s tibia. It is not known yet how severe the injury is, but all indications are that Pontius will be out for the remainder of the year. It was very unfortunate considering Pontius was having his best year as a DC United player. The third year player had seven goals on the year along with five assists making him one of the most dangerous players on the field for United.
DC’s schedule doesn’t get any easier at this point. Their next match sends them to Centurylink Field where the Seattle Sounders are licking their chops for a chance to avenge their 2-1 loss from May 4th, and they’ll have to do it without Pontius, whose absence will force the rest of the team to step it up a notch. One possibility to take over the outside midfield role is Santino Quaranta whose experience and skill could provide handy for DC to continue to push for the playoffs. Also, Austin Da Luz, one of the players picked up from New York earlier this season, could find himself with more playing time as well.
All in all, DC United showed the rest of the league that they can be a playoff team when they want to be, but they’ll have to be more consistent to nab the third place spot in the Eastern Conference. Charlie Davies’ hat-trick was nice to see as well. Hopefully for DC fans, the forward is heating up for the end of the season. And for all the Davies haters out there, all three of his goals were in the run of play and none were brought on by diving or any foul whatsoever. It’s about time he had a match like that.
(image courtesy of Jeff Golden/Getty Images)
