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D.C. United win another close one to pull into tie with RBNY for third place in East

BrankoBoskovic (ISIPhotos.com)

Photo by Tony Quinn/ISIPhotos.com

Life without Dwayne DeRosario doesn't figure to be easy for D.C. United, but for the second straight match they benefited from tough defending and some opportunistic finishing to pull out a close victory without the reigning league MVP.

Branko Boskovic came off the bench and delivered a game-winning goal in the 64th minute, heading home a Lionard Pajoy cross to give D.C. United a 1-0 victory over Chivas USA at RFK Stadium on Sunday night.

The victory, D.C. United's third in eight days and third win without DeRosario, moves the club to 50 points, even with the Red Bulls, who currently hold the tiebreaker with more goals scored. The win also pushed D.C. four points clear of fifth-place Houston, which lost to Philadelphia on Sunday.

D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen started Maicon Santos over Boskovic after Santos' performance against Philadelphia last Thursday, but it was Boskovic who came off the bench against Chivas USA to deliver some magic. He headed home his first career MLS goal, which the D.C. United defense made stand up by posting their second straight shutout.

For Chivas USA, the loss was the latest in a string of disappointments for a club that has hit the Western Conference basement after having playoff aspirations just a month ago. The Goats have gone nine straight matches without a victory, an 0-7-2 stretch that turned a once promising season into another nightmare campaign for the Los Angeles-based club.

Here is Boskovic's game-winning goal:

 

What did you think of the match? Impressed with D.C. United defensively? Think they have enough offensive firepower to be a threat in the playoffs? See Robin Fraser keeping his job amid Chivas USA's current miserable funk?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. good win! while i wish the attendance was better last night, there was no marketing done at all. also, the Skins played at FedEx a few hours before hand which was the home opener and RG3s debut at home. The Ravens had the Sunday night game at home. The Nationals also played at home and people are in baseball mode right now. i’m hoping now that DCU is looking good for the playoffs again, it’ll get some more press.

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  2. Also a few fans up Baltimore way stayed away with Ravens in town. Plus Chivas is a terrible team. Excuses, excuses. Its been a two or three year gradual dip in attendance, but the hardcore fans are still coming out. RFK’s year’s long decline in reputation and the nationally televised games of all the shiny new soccer specific stadiums around the league, isn’t helping either.

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  3. Redskins home opener. Hot Nationals team at home. Madonna concert. Yes, I know people who would have been at RFK who were are each of those instead.

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  4. There were over 16k there last weekend, I’m not sure what the deal was this weekend. Unfortunately our attendance has historically been a delayed indicator of team performance (that and RFK isn’t exactly a temple to the casual fan). All that said, as a NE fan it’s hard for you to brag about attendance relative to DCU ;-).

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  5. Love the excitement of the eastern conference this season. I can’t imagine how much more interesting things would be if ESPN treated MLS like they do the NBA or NHL.

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  6. Somebody inform the people in DC they have a good team. It’s not like RFK is a long commute. Per wikipedia:

    RFK Stadium is within a half-mile and easily accessible from the Stadium-Armory station of the Washington Metro. The station is served by the Blue and Orange Lines, and will add the Silver Line in the future. It is also served directly by Metrobus lines B2, D6, E32 (at Eastern High School), 96 and 97.

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