Acquisitions both new and old key in Impact-United draw

Every team starts the transfer window with the same goal: to improve their squad. Some moves pan out, others not so much. But what is consistent is that it often takes time for these moves to have any effect. On a humid night at RFK Stadium, Patrick Mullins and Hernan Bernadello proved that theory wrong. D.C. United and the Montreal Impact’s big additions both proved their value early with their new club. Their goals kept a hotly contested match between two Eastern Conference foes level at 1-1.

Mullins notched his goal in the 20th minute off of a cross by fellow former University of Maryland aluni Taylor Kemp. Bernadello, in his second run with Montreal after spells in Argentina and Mexico, found the equalizer in the 86th minute with a low shot past United goalkeeper Bill Hamid.

After a very brief break from the MLS All-Star game both sides appeared to be trying new things with the aim of consistency on both ends of the pitch. While United seemed to be trying to ignite their attack early on, the Impact were mostly interested in finding a defensive shape. United nearly had a goal early thanks to a dangerous cross into the box from midfielder Nick De Leon in the 14th minute. But before midfielder Luciano Acosta could connect on the pass, Impact center-back Victor Cabrera cleared the ball out of danger.

Despite Montreal’s conservative style the Impact did look dangerous thanks to the play of Ignacio Piatti and Didier Drogba. With Drogba commanding two defenders, Piatti could operate down the left flank. In the 14th minute he found a little crease of space inside of the United penalty box. Before he could capitalize on the chance, United center-back Steve Birnbaum clamped down on him and cleared the ball out of danger.

“I thought Bobby [Boswell] and Steve [Birnbaum] were ready for Drogba tonight…and the whole group was up for the task,” said D.C. United coach Ben Olsen. “Now the challenge to staff and players is to bring that [energy]every weekend and we’ll be okay.”

United survived the Impact’s attacking scare and capitalized. Facing outside midfielders that could not match their speed, Luciano Acosta and Kemp could deliver crosses into the Impact box with relative ease. After a series of successive attempts at breaking the deadlock, Kemp’s cross would finally its target. Mullins broke past Ciman and knocked his header low and past Evan Bush. The goal was his first with D.C. United since coming to the club in trade earlier in the week from New York City F.C. and his first of the 2016 season.

“I felt pretty good; when you get traded to a new team, even if it’s somewhere you want to go, it takes a little while to work out some kinks and sometimes it’s hard and awkward in training but I think we saw some good results out there tonight between Patty [Nyarko] and I, Nicky and I and Lucho as well,” said Mullins after the match.

In the second half, things went from bad to worse for the Impact. After being pestered by United midfielder Marcelo Sarvas for the duration of the match and actually receiving a bit of a knock by the Brazilian, Didier Drogba snapped in the 83rd minute. After another tough challenge the Ivorian appeared to kick Sarvas after being called for the foul. An Impact side already hot and bothered by a pesky D.C. attack reached a boiling point with Drogba being sent off.

“I didn’t see it. I have to re-watch it. Obviously, he said he just leaned up against him. He didn’t stick up, or lift up, his leg or anything like that,” said Impact coach Mauro Biello. “He just leaned into him as he walked towards him.”

Despite the loss of their star striker, Biello and the Impact continued to press a weary United defense. He brought in Bernardello in the 71st minute with the aim of providing some life to the attack. The move paid off close to injury time with the Argentine smashing home his chance from beyond the 18 yard box to spoil D.C.’s return home.

“I don’t think anyone would say we played well, you know?  But we found a way to get a point at the end, which is important,” said Impact midfielder Harry Shipp. “A sign of a good team is not playing well and still finding a way to get a result on the road against a team that’s desperate to get points at this point in the season.”

D.C. United will continue their four game home stand next Saturday against the Philadelphia Union while the Montreal Impact will head back home to host the Houston Dynamo.

 

SUMMARY

D.C. United- Bill Hamid, Sean Franklin, Steve Birnbaum, Bobby Boswell, Taylor Kemp, Marcelo Sarvas, Patrick Nyarko (Kennedy Igboannanike 63′), Luciano Acosta, Jared Jeffrey (Rob Vincent 56′), Nick De Leon, and Patrick Mullins (Alvaro Saborio 80′)

Goal- Mullins(20′) 

Yellow Cards- Sarvas (25′) and Mullins (77′)

 

Montreal Impact- Evan Bush, Ambroise Oyongo, Laurent Ciman, Victor Cabrera, Hassoun Camara, Kyle Bekker (Hernan Bernardello 71′), Marco Donadel (Matteo Mancosu 75′), Harry Shipp, Ignacio Piatti, Michael Salzaar (Dominic Oduro 66′), and Didier Drogba 

Goal- Bernardello (87′)

Yellow Cards- Bekker (56′) and Bernardello (90+2′)

Red Card- Drogba (83′)

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