D.C. United seems to be alternating between wins and losses with each week these days, having yet to go on a win streak in 2016. When they beat the New York Red Bulls last week, in retrospect, a draw or loss was in the cards (speaking as one who predicted a loss, cough cough). It doesn't make a loss in stoppage time any easier, I know, just that it shouldn't be a surprise, I guess.
Wish I had better 'wisdom' than that, but in the meantime, something something ratings, something!
Travis Worra - 6.5
Three saves, three pretty convincing punches, and a goal that, again, Bill Hamid might not have even gotten to. Bill was wishing supporters well on the buses to Philly last Friday, does Bill travel with the team this Friday?
Taylor Kemp - 4.5
Up against Sebastien Le Toux, Kemp had some substandard moments defensively. despite team-high totals in clearances (6) and interceptions (2) to go with 2 tackles and a blocked shot. Offensively, almost provided an assist...to Le Toux, off his face for a goal, but his pass success percentage of 48.3 can only be seen as disappointing.
Bobby Boswell - 5.5
Speaking of passing, the only field player for D.C. less accurate than Kemp was Boswell (45.5), and was a zombie offensively, which was kind of the point. Was quiet defensively but he and Birnbaum had to deal with an imposing target and did so admirably.
Steve Birnbaum - 6.5
C.J. Sapong was married to Steve Birnbaum most of the night, so much so that Sapong had the fewest touches of any Union player that went 90 minutes. Got a cheap-ish yellow for pulling Sapong back, but won 4 aerials (as did Boswell), but again was more active defensively, with 4 clearances to go with a blocked shot, tackle, interception and six recoveries. Even had a shot. Going to miss him when he gets that Feyenoord/Borussia Dortmund/Maccabi Haifa deal this summer.
Sean Franklin - 5.5
76.9% passing, but little else offensively to worry about. Defensively had two pair (tackles, interceptions), a clearance and three recoveries as he went up against his old semi-running buddy Chris Pontius. Picked the wrong guy on the goal, womp womp.
Lamar Neagle - 6
Three shots, none on goal (though a small caveat that two were blocked inside the area), won two aerials and had a key pass. Defensively, two clearances and three recoveries. Fairly nondescript night overall.
Nick DeLeon - 6
26 of 31 passing, and his 83.9% accuracy (altogether now) led all DCU starters. Was a perfect 11 of 11 in attacking third passing. Also had two key passes and a shot. Defensively, had a tackle, an interception and six recoveries. His most common passing targets were a tie between Nyarko and Kemp. Could have come back a little on the goal since I thought he moved to the right side late, but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Marcelo Sarvas - 6
At 83.3%, a shade behind NDL on PS% but on a bigger workload (45 of 54). Had a key pass and won an aerial, defensively had four tackles, three clearances and 11 recoveries. Another solid night for the Brazilian.
Patrick Nyarko - 5.5
Led the team in key passes (3), won three aerials. Had three clearances, a tackle and an interception to go with five recoveries. A letdown to a small degree from last week.
Luciano Acosta - 5.5
Three shots, one on target for the second week in a row. 65% pass accuracy and his 35 touches were the third fewest on the night. By comparison, Birnbaum had 33 touches and Boswell had 28. Buescher had 25 touches in a half hour, for what it's worth. Three dispossessions and two unsure touches, so his ball control when he did have it was a concern. Folks are going to shoehorn in 'suboffgate' into whatever little narrative they want, if they haven't already, but if the player even admits he had a bad night? He probably did.
Alvaro Saborio - 6
Four shots, one on target, two aerials won, a 74.1% accuracy number. Two clearances, a blocked shot, an interception and two recoveries on the night. Wasn't impressed at the time, but chalk my take up to confirmation bias I guess?
Julian Buescher (Sub) - 5.5
Came on for Acosta at the hour mark, won an aerial to go with 12 of 16 passing (2 of 3 in the attacking third). Picked up two tackles and a clearance two go with two recoveries. Another good outing.
Fabian Espindola (Sub) - 5
Came on for Saborio in the 76th, completed all four passes, won an aerial, had a tackle, a clearance and a recovery. Does he look off so far or is it me?
Jared Jeffrey (Sub) - 5
Came on for Neagle in the 81st, channeled Fabi with his 'shot' and completed all four of his passes. Eh.
Man of the Match
Birdboswellbaum?