Pontius makes up for past mistakes, lifts D.C. United to victory

There is perhaps no greater sign of a team’s futility than a missed goal-scoring chance late. If a player makes it, then supporters still have something to believe in. However if the player misses all hope is lost. In last week’s game against the New York Red Bulls , D.C. United forward Chris Pontius failed to capitalize on a late opportunity dooming United to a 2-0 loss. But his fortunes changed on Saturday night at RFK Stadium where his late goal helped push United past the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0.

The goal itself in the second to last minute of injury time seemed to match what D.C. United coach Ben Olsen’s game plan was coming into the match. Midfielder Nick De Leon helped set up the play by forcing the Galaxy defense to move out of position and to open up space for United’s attackers. A simple flick over Galaxy left-back Robbie Rogers and a cross into Pontius and United had their golden goal.

” I thought he was serving it the first time, but then once I saw him dink it over I was trying to get across Gargan in case it came across. It did and I just tried to put if on frame after that,” said Pontius after the match.”

It was not the first opportunity that Pontius at breaking the game open. In the 63rd minute, he nearly connected on another ball by De Leon and found himself all alone against Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe. But Pontius was unable to get a serious shot on target and Rowe made the save.

“Not only this game but past games, you know you just have to have short term memory and leave that stuff and keep yourself alive,” said Pontius. “That penalty kick[against the New York Red Bulls]didn’t feel good, obviously. Like I said, short term memory. I was just focused on the team today.”

The key to the United attack was the play of the midfield. Without Fabian Espindola and Luis Silva once again, United coach Ben Olsen opted for 4-4-2 with Chris Pontius and Jairo Arrieta up front.

With De Leon and Chris Rolfe as outside backs and Taylor Kemp and Sean Franklin playing as wing backs United used their advantage in speed to push the attack forward and to use long crosses to break out players making a run. Kemp’s cross in the 47th was United’s best chance in the early part of the second half even though it was saved by Rowe.

“We asked him [Kemp] to be aggressive, both him and Sean, and to make sure they are getting in to the attack,” said Olsen “He gives us a different dimension with his left foot, and I thought he was good all night. He just opens up the field a little bigger for us and defensively he was pretty sharp.”

The gamble that United played all throughout the match was that by throwing both Kemp and Franklin on the attack that they would not be caught by the Galaxy. The strategy seems to be motivated by the Galaxy being without Robbie Keane and Gyassi Zardes, who were away on international.

Although the Galaxy have some good opportunities, most of them came from their midfield and not the forward position. Midfielder Stefan Ishiazaki helped their two best opportunities of the match: a cross into Alan Gordon in the 46th minute and a cracking shot from beyond the 18 yard box in the 66th minute.

However, neither opportunity was successful with Gordon’s header being saved by Hamid and Ishizaki’s shot hitting off of the post. In general, the United back four of Kemp, Franklin, Bobby Boswell, and Kofi Opare were able to limit the Galaxy’s opportunities in the box to mostly headers and shots from long distance.

Opare came in for Steve Birnbaum in just the 5th minute after it appeared that Birnbaum had rolled his ankle on the previous corner kick.

Although United may have been playing a short-handed Galaxy team (who were also without goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, who also on international duty) the victory helped erase last week’s disastrous performance and give them their first win over L.A. in six years.

“It was great to get the goal, but I’m just happy to see our team back with the right mentality,”said Olsen. “Hopefully, now we can put that type of mentality into every game going forward.”