It certainly wasn't the prettiest win in the world, but man, what a free kick. This game, back in June 2012, was a part of the very short window when Branko Boskovic was the best free kick specialist in MLS. His service was dangerous from anywhere inside the attacking half, and he was actually fit enough to start and play out at least the best part of each game. Until then he wasn't. His deadball assist on Chris Pontius' backpost tally was all it took to see off the Philadelphia Union, 1-0.
Like that 2012 team, this year's version of D.C. United is pretty good on the set piece, but for entirely different reasons. When Boskovic wasn't on, United were not dangerous on restarts - they were entirely dependent on his service to find anybody wearing the right-colored shirt. This year, though, it seems almost any ball has a chance to find the head of Bobby Boswell or Jeff Parke or Cristian Fernandez. Maybe this week we can finally add Eddie Johnson's name to that list - after all, he was supposed to be the most dangerous of the lot.
In 2012, United went into Chester, Pa. and twice, winning 1-0 both times. That was a team that won a lot of 1-0 games, while this year's team has kept a clean sheet just twice in 8 games, neither of them will Bill Hamid in goal. However many goals United puts on the board this weekend, here's hoping DC's homegrown 'keeper gets his first zero of the season.
Anyway, I'm digressing from what really matters in the above video: JP Dellacamera's goal call. Which is to say, his lack thereof. There was a bit of confusion after an unmarked Pontius turned in Boskovic's free kick, but it wasn't until the ball was back in the center circle that he finally realized United were ahead. Happily, we'll be able to hear Dave Johnson and Santino Quaranta on the call this week for CSN Mid-Atlantic.