Match Report: PHI 3-1 DC

As a fan, this is tough to write. I’ve watched the Post-Match Quotes, and you can see how much Paul Arriola & Steve Birnbaum are gutted and disappointed in the performances of late. Ben Olsen states that they are still figuring out the best group. When you’re 29 games into the season, and you’re still figuring that out, that’s inexcusable. As a head coach you should have that known before the season begins. You should have Plan A,B,C all the way through to Z. Paul openly admitted that the team lacked ideas going forward and that their wasn’t really any positives to take from the game. In the 2nd half, Union took their foot off the gas pedal which allowed DC to come back into the game, but that wasn’t of DC’s doing, which is why Paul is unhappy.

You’ve got to wonder how the team comes out so slowly in the game, again costing us early when Przybylko opens the scoring in the 5th minute. And it didn’t get any better as wave after wave of Union attacks came at the DC defence. And then another blow in the 15th minute came when a simple through ball, to Aaronson, who had no defenders around him, turned and then placed the ball passed keeper Hamid. And as if it couldn’t get much worse, it did when Ilsinho waltzed his way through a stand still defence and made it 3-0 in the 36th minute.

With the 2nd half, fans had been hoping that it couldn’t get much worse. Thankfully Union stood back and allowed DC to play a bit. Whether they were resting on their laurels, who knows but we started to find a way back in, we had much more of the ball, started getting a bit more energy and a way back into the game. We eventually had an effort through Kamara, who found it tough throughout the game. Further chances came but it was Acosta, who was making his first start since the last time we played Philly, managed to make it passed a few of the Union defenders, bit of luck with the ball being knocked back into his path, shot beneath Andre Blake and made it 3-1.

Despite some early subs, Quincy on for Kamara, Boateng for Arriola and Titi for Felipe, we couldn’t find another way through. Match finished 3-1.

Facts

• Luciano Acosta scored his sixth goal of the season in the 56th minute; his first since the 1-1 draw against San Jose on June 1.
• Bill Hamid recorded two saves in the match to equal his career-high of 110 saves in 2014.
• Emmanuel Boateng made his second appearance for the Black-and-Red as a 69th-minute substitute.
• Ola Kamara started his second consecutive match for the Black-and-Red.
• Luciano Acosta made his first start since August 4 against the Philadelphia Union.
• Ulises Segura made his first start since August 17 against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
• D.C. United are now 8-13-4 against Philadelphia in club history.
  The Black-and-Red are 3-9-0 on the road against the Union all-time.
• The Black-and-Red are 4-6-4 on the road in 2019.

Lineups

D.C. United lineup: Bill Hamid; Joseph Mora, Steven Birnbaum, Frédéric Brillant, Leonardo Jara; Júnior Moreno, Felipe Martins (Lucas Rodríguez 79′); Paul Arriola (Emmanuel Boateng 69′), Luciano Acosta, Ulises Segura; Ola Kamara (Quincy Amarikwa 62′) 

Unused Substitutes: Chris Seitz, Gordon Wild, Donovan Pines, Marquinhos Pedroso

Philadelphia Union Lineup: Andre Blake, Kai Wagner, Mark McKenzie, Raymon Gaddis, Jack Elliot, Brenden Aaronson (Fabrice-Jean Picault 73′), Jamiro Monteiro, Ilsinho (Marco Fabián 70′), Haris Medunjanin, Alejandro Bedoya, Kasper Przybylko  

Unused Substitutes: Warren Creavalle, Robert James Allen, Andrew Wooten, Joe Bendik, Aurélien Collin

Man of the Match

Officially it’s Lucho Acosta, but I don’t think really anyone deserved it. For me, if there was any award to be given to anyone by DC United, it should be the travelling supporters. They were loud for 90 minutes and it was great to be able to hear them throughout the game. My People of the Match are the fans!

Up Next

It’s an away match against Montreal Impact at the Stade Saputo on the 31st Aug/1st Sep. Kick off is slated to be 12:30am BST. Match is being shown live on Sky Sports Main Event, Football & Mix.