D.C. United vs. Montreal community/site player ratings

Nobody (well, almost nobody?) expected D.C. United to come out of Georgia last Sunday with a win, and they got one. They then came home to RFK to kick off the first of 3 home games against the lowly Montreal Impact. Simple task, right? Well that’s why the play the games, fam. And a 1-0 loss was a bitter pill to swallow.

How’d it shake out for you guys?

***

Travis Worra: 5.5 | Community: 5.8

Filled in last minute for Bill Hamid (wait, what?) and his nagging...groin and had 3 saves, but it was the fourth that was the problem. You know, the goal. Otherwise save for a moment where he needed to make a point-blank save, was fine.

Sean Franklin: 5 | Community: 5.4

At 78.1% Franklin was the third most accurate passer on the day (the 4 defenders were the 4 most accurate, for whatever that tells you), with a key pass. Combined it with 7 clearances, 5 recoveries, 3 tackles and an interception almost exclusively in his own end. At this writing remains iffy for Saturday’s game, so the choice at right back may be...Chris Korb?

Bobby Boswell (Captain): 5.5 | Community: 5.1

At 86.3%, was your most accurate passer in Black-and-Red, including 7 of 11 long balls. Had 7 clearances and 3 recoveries defensively and wasn’t really at fault for the goal, but on Dominic Oduro’s shot later in the half, was a turnstile. Also got heated after Anthony Jackson-Hamel gave him an elbow, to the point of leaving his studs in Hamel’s achilles, so we’ll see if he gets DisCo’d.

Kofi Opare: 5.5 | Community: 5.4

Won 7 aerials and led the group on it, had 3 shots and 2 key passes and was an offensive dynamo with his 83.7% PassAcc! On the flip side, was a little lax to step up on the shot that became a goal, despite his 3 clearances and 3 recoveries. He’ll need to switch things on earlier if he’s going to be counted on going forward.

Taylor Kemp: 5.5 | Community: 5.2

76% passing and also had 2 key passes and 5 won aerials to go with 7 clearances, 5 recoveries and an interception defensively. Nothing special but nothing catastrophic, which disconcertingly is a little more of the mean these days.

Jared Jeffrey: 5 | Community: 4.6

74% passing, a won aerial and a key pass offensively. 6 clearances, 4 recoveries, 4 interceptions, 3 tackles, but more importantly what the heck was he thinking letting Tabla go on the goal like that?

Lloyd Sam (off 84’): 5.5 | Community: 5.2

Had 3 key passes and a won aerial to go with his 71% accuracy, 4 recoveries and interception. Was a little bit wonting in the final third and needs to stop being a magnet for opponent’s elbows but otherwise not hugely disappointing.

Ian Harkes (off 78’): 5.5 | Community: 5.4

3 shots (1 on target) to go with a key pass and a 73% accuracy night. 3 recoveries and 2 tackles while covering more of an 8 this time, but probably not the choice I would have made to sub off?

Luciano Acosta (off 65’): 6 (MOTM) | Community: 6.6 (MOTM)

69% passing, second worst amongst starters on the night to go with 3 shots (none on target) and a key pass. 3 tackles, an interception and 5 recoveries on a nondescript night for Lucho.

Lamar Neagle: 5.5 | Community: 4.4

3 shots (none on target), a key pass and 4 won aerials to go with a 73% accuracy number. 5 recoveries and an interception on the back side and despite the shots, didn’t seem to be a serious threat.

Sebastien Le Toux (off HT’): 5 | Community: 4.5

12 touches, including 5 of 8 passing. That’s it, that’s the list. Woof.

Patrick Mullins (on HT’): 5.5 | Community: 5.48

Led the team in shots (4) with one on goal, and had 3 clearances, connected on 5 of 8 passes. Walk before we run and all that, but the half he played brought the total number of minutes shared the field with Lucho up to a robust 89, and it’s May 10.

Marcelo Sarvas (on 78’): 4.5 | Community: 4.5

Had a shot and connected on 2 of 4 passing. Meh.

Jose Ortiz: (on 83’): Inc | Community: 4.3

No touches? No rating I guess.

Montreal MOTM:

Ballou Tabla was the runaway winner:

Robert Sibiga - Referee:

Sibiga clocked in with a 4.8 average on your votes.

***

Following up on something I talked about last week, D.C. came into the Impact game with 10.8 shots per game, with 3.3 shots blocked per game. Against Montreal? 17 and 4. By all means this doesn’t excuse anything, and game states drove the high shot total for sure. I mean, with 3 shots (1 blocked) in the first half against this Impact team, it’s simply not good enough, and Ben Olsen needs the players in the room to understand that, even if he does after seeing it play out so often over the last few years.

So now D.C. rolls on in their RFK stretch and hosts the Philadelphia Union, who have showed the signs of righting their ship, despite injuries and issues of their own. The Black-and-Red stand to get 1 or 2 first choice XI players back from injury and may lose 1 or 2 this week for various reasons. Additionally having Acosta and Mullins start on the field together again, hopefully for longer than 45 minutes should be enticing as well.

Let’s get cracking, they only get harder from here.