10 man D.C. United hold Toronto FC to a 1-1 draw

D.C. United took a shock lead over league leaders Toronto FC in the first half, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw after playing the final 46 minutes with 10 men. Kofi Opare opened the scoring in the 6th minute for United, but Lloyd Sam’s sending off before halftime marred that lead. An unfortunate own goal credited to Steve Birnbaum handed TFC their equalizer early in the second half, but United held tough from there.

The draw gave United their first point in seven games, ending a six game winning streak that effectively ended their hopes of making the playoffs this year. The last time United had not lost was back on June 21st, when they beat Atlanta United 2-1 at RFK Stadium.

A week after the 4-0 dismantling at the hands of Minnesota United, head coach Ben Olsen started nine of the same 11. The only two changes were Jared Jeffrey coming in for the injured Ian Harkes, while Bobby Boswell dropped to the bench, in place of Opare.

The match-up between the best and worst teams in the league actually started out in United’s favor, defying all odds. Sam flicked a pass to Luciano Acosta, who picked out the surging run of Deshorn Brown. From the top of the box, Brown shot first time, but his effort skipped wide of the far post.

Nick DeLeon and Acosta threatened in the 5th minute, but a surprising start from the Black-and-Red was awarded in the 6th minute, when Opare scored his first goal of the season. Sam’s out-swinging corner went right to the middle of the box, and Opare rose highest, heading back to give United a 1-0 lead. It was their first headed goal from a set piece in 2017.

That goal gave United the early upper hand, and they continued to keep Toronto on their heels, even if the Black-and-Red weren’t creating a bevy of chances. It was only a matter of time though before Toronto started getting their chances. And from a promising position in the 19th minute, Sebastian Giovinco fizzed a free kick just over the goal, though Bill Hamid seemed to have it covered.

A turnover in midfield helped create Toronto’s next chance, in the 26th minute. Eriq Zavaleta collected the loose ball, and quickly found Giovinco in the attacking third. Giovinco worked himself into the box on the right hand side, but his angled shot was easily saved.

The Italian superstar was once again probing for an equalizer in the 28th minute. Victor Vazquez threaded a through ball beyond United’s backline, letting Giovinco run onto the ball in the box. Giovinco one-timed a left footed shot, but Hamid was quick to get down to make the save.

The game from that point died down, as neither team really threatened for the rest of the half. But United’s night got tougher in the 44th minute, when Sam received the second red card of his MLS career. Sam and Chris Mavinga were both chasing down a ball near the sideline, but Mavinga was first to the ball. Sam dove in from behind, taking Mavinga down, and earning his marching orders from referee Allen Chapman.

The Black-and-Red were going to have to spend most of the second half defending while down a man, but they gifted the Reds an equalizer early on, certainly dooming any chance United have of getting three points from the game. Jozy Altidore corralled a ball in the box for Toronto, trying to find a teammate to help in the box. That created a scrum in front of goal, and Jeffrey’s attempt to clear the ball out for a corner hit off of Steve Birnbaum, bouncing past Hamid for an own goal for Birnbaum in the 52nd minute.

But United didn’t allow themselves to be outworked from that point in the game. Giovinco had a shooting opportunity from the top of the box in the 56th minute, but his effort was blocked by Opare.

United had few forays forward, and when they did break, they weren’t able to muster anything to test keeper Alex Bono. But at the same time, they weren’t breaking defensively, stoutly defending all the numbers that Toronto were throwing into the box.

Giovinco had another look in the 75th minute, this time from a short corner. But the shot from Giovinco was continuously rising, and Hamid let the shot go over for a goal kick.

But that was it from Toronto in terms of creating danger. It was one of the better defensive performances from one of the league’s worst defense, as Toronto were continuously frustrated by United’s unwillingness to concede a winner.

United, with 19 points from 23 games, returns to action next Saturday, when they host Real Salt Lake at RFK Stadium.