Photo Credit: Isadora Vasconcelos
Washington DC-Coming into Saturday’s match against the Chicago Fire D.C. United had scored just 27 goals on the season. At the end of the night they would increase their season total by an astonishing 22 percent. Thanks in large part to a hat trick by forward Patrick Mullins United knocked off the Fire by the score of 6-2 in front 15, 720 at RFK Stadium.
United would earn their first win in three matches thanks to goals by Mullins (40′, 45+1′, and 75′ minute), Luciano Acosta (25′), Patrick Nyarko (51′), and Nick De Leon (89′). The received goals from Michael de Leeuw (32′) and Razvan Cocis (45+2′). With the victory United earned their fourth consecutive victory at home against the Fire.
From the start of the first half United were able to find gaps in between the Fire’s center-backs and outside backs. Both Nyarko and Acosta slipped through Chicago’s defense delivering quality opportunities into the box for Mullins. Nyarko pass into Acosta in the 15th minute gave United their best chance early on. Although Acosta broke through the Fire defense he was unable to get past Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who made the kick save to keep the match at 0-0.
Chicago would not be so lucky in the 25th minute. United’s midfield corps of Nyarko, Marcelo Sarvas, and Lloyd Sam would string together a series of one-touch passes and open up space for Acosta to capitalize. Acosta’s goal was his second of the season.
The Fire would strike back just seven minutes later when de Leeuw would scoop up a rebound off of a save by goalkeeper Bill Hamid. De Leeuw, who came to the Fire back in May, would get behind United center-back Bobby Boswell to level the match at one. The goal was his second of the season.
Although it appeared that momentum had swung in the favor of Chicago the match would completely turn on its head late in the first half. After being called for a foul on Nyarko in the 33rd minute, Fire midfielder Khaly Thiam would toss the ball at the Ghanaian international while he was on the ground. With Thiam sent off the Fire were forced to play a man down in humid conditions after having played a midweek match.
Chicago were able to respond after Mullins’ first goal in the 40th minute with an equalizer but could not keep up late in the match. Acosta’s speed and clever balls into the box would lead to a all three of Mullins’ goals and the Nyarko chance in the 51st minute.
“It’s simple with him. He’s got so much talent that if you move, he’ll find you,” said Mullins. “I think you saw that in the second goal. It was just a little over-the-shoulder run. He’s going to find you whether it’s a flick or just a ball like the one tonight.”
With the victory United (7-8-11, 32 points) would maintain their one point advantage over Orlando City SC (6-7-13, 31 points). United will look to expand their lead on Thursday night when they travel to the Big Apple to take on New York City Football Club. The Fire (5-12-8, 23 points) meanwhile will look to reignite their playoff chances on Saturday at home when they host the Philadelphia Union.
D.C. United-Bill Hamid, Taylor Kemp, Bobby Boswell, Steve Birnbaum, Sean Franklin, Marcelo, Patrick Nyarko, Luciano Acosta, Jared Jeffrey (Rob Vincent 37′), Lloyd Sam, and Patrick Mullins (Kennedy Igboannanike 80′)
Goals- Acosta (25′) , Mullins (40′, 45+1′, 75′) Nyarko (51′), and De Leon (89′)
Yellow Card- Jeffrey (19′)
Chicago Fire- Sean Johnson, Johan Kappelhof, Joao Meira, Jonathan Campbell, Brandon Vincent, John Goossens (David Accam 45′), Matt Polster (Michael Stephens 70′), Khaly Thiam, Razvan Cocis, Luis Solignac, and Michael De Leeuw
Goals- de Leeuw (32′), Cocis (45+2′)
Yellow Cards- Kappelhoff (36′) and de Leeuw (45′)
Red Card- Thiam (33′)
ATTENDANCE: 15,720
Chicago Fire
DC United
