It was getting to be late in the game, and D.C. United, still learning how to play without captain Dwayne De Rosario, hadn't yet unlocked the Philadelphia Union defense. A ton of United fans - including yours truly - had bussed up to Chester, Pa. to watch their team collect a measure of revenge for the previous month's disappointing home draw, which saw two United goals taken off the board through questionable decisions by referee Mark Geiger. These road fans were getting antsy when substitute Maicon Santos collected the ball at midfield and found Chris Pontius streaking up the field. Santos' long diagonal through ball found Partyboy, and he crossed for Lionard Pajoy, who took the ball down with his chest, let it bounce in the middle of the Philadelphia box and then, with multiple Union defenders bearing down on him, finally smashed home the game winner in the 67th minute.
It was essentially a recipe that would prove successful down the stretch of the 2012 season but hasn't seen nearly the same success in 2013. When the Union come to RFK tonight to renew the budding rivalry, hopefully we'll see more out of United's attack than we have at any point, really, since before this last regular season game in Philly.