D.C. United 2 - 0 Portland Timbers

Both DC United and the Portland Timbers came into the game fighting for the final playoff spots in their respective conferences. A 2-0 win for United meant that both teams ended the day in 6th position.
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.

Both DC United and the Portland Timbers came into this heat delayed game fighting for the final playoff spots in their respective conferences. United sat 2 points out of 6th in the East with a record of 4 ties and 2 losses in their last 6 games.

United started this game without their first team coach, as Ben Olsen was suspended following his ejection from the game against Philadelphia the week before. But United and their stand in head coach Chad Ashton came roaring out of the blocks, and didn't give up.

2016-08-16-1471315895-6583166-SHR_91432.jpg

In the 7th minute a Lloyd Sam corner skimmed the head of Bobby Boswell, falling perfectly for Steve Birnbaum to sidefoot the ball into the back of the net.

2016-08-16-1471315933-8623565-SHR_91712.jpg

2016-08-16-1471315949-1271324-SHR_91792.jpg

Every time Portland attempted to attack, the United defenders stood firm...

2016-08-16-1471315971-3018789-SHR_92062.jpg

...even flying through the air acrobatically.

2016-08-16-1471316046-4959899-SHR_92882.jpg

United relentlessly attacked...

2016-08-16-1471315989-6926178-SHR_92352.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316003-6141006-SHR_92542.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316023-3241217-SHR_92552.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316074-689226-SHR_92992.jpg

In the 29th minute, 3 minutes after Bill Hamid had deflected a Portland shot onto the crossbar, Luciano Acosta found himself, in the Portland penalty area, on the end of a pass from Patrick Mullins...

2016-08-16-1471316089-3812366-SHR_93272.jpg

...which he duly converted to double United's lead.

2016-08-16-1471316105-1162730-SHR_93292.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316131-6151006-SHR_93332.jpg

United continued their dominance throughout the rest of the game...

2016-08-16-1471316146-6806558-SHR_93722.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316163-7148309-SHR_93732.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316178-3349462-SHR_93872.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316194-1712129-SHR_94022.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316208-6684620-SHR_94262.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316227-3598064-SHR_94652.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316242-8826787-SHR_95082.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316255-2093801-SHR_95232.jpg

...but were unable to put the ball in the net again, although Mullins came very close.

2016-08-16-1471316272-3024164-SHR_95262.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316289-9772465-SHR_95272.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316303-8304533-SHR_95282.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316318-7947612-SHR_95582.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316335-1063843-SHR_95812.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316365-4693275-SHR_95882.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316382-7772049-SHR_95922.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316403-7286991-SHR_95932.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316419-7006087-SHR_96182.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316442-1412115-SHR_96842.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316477-9338304-SHR_96992.jpg

...as did Nick DeLeon

2016-08-16-1471316494-1554903-SHR_97042.jpg

2016-08-16-1471316517-7915417-SHR_97192.jpg

So the game ended 2-0 leaving Portland dejected, United in 6th position in the East...

2016-08-16-1471316458-3793337-SHR_96862.jpg

...and United coach Davy Arnaud smiling on the day that the team celebrated his playing career.

2016-08-16-1471316562-5876519-SHR_91362.jpg

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot