Photo by Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports
By SBI SOCCER
D.C. United’s late-season funk continued for the first 86 minutes of Saturday’s clash with the Colorado Rapids before Steve Birnbaum provided a much-needed lifeline.
Losers of three straight entering the weekend, D.C. United capitalized on a late Birnbaum equalizer to earn a crucial point, tying the Colorado Rapids, 1-1, Saturday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Birnbaum’s leveler came in the 87th minute, as the D.C. defender smashed home a header from a Fabian Espindola cross to earn D.C. a potentially vital point.
The tie pulled D.C. United even with the rival New York Red Bulls for first place in the Eastern Conference, though the Red Bulls have three games in hand.
Mired in a losing streak since mid-August, D.C. United fell behind early yet again as Rapids defender Bobby Burling gave the home team the lead halfway through the opening stanza.
Burling’s finish came in the aftermath of a free kick from Vicente Sanchez, a set piece that the D.C. United backline failed to deal with. Seeing the opposition unable to clear, Burling collected a loose ball and fired a left-footed volley through traffic and past goalkeeper Bill Hamid to give the Rapids the 28th-minute lead.
That goal looked like it might be enough to earn a victory, as D.C. struggled to test goalkeeper Clint Irwin throughout a majority of the game. Forced into no true save until an 86th minute stop of Taylor Kemp, Irwin was much less active than his counterpart Hamid, who made four stops on the night.
However, Irwin could do nothing in keeping Birnbaum’s late-game effort out of the net, as the D.C. United defender earned a late point with his 87th-minute finish.
Even from there, the game proved nervy for D.C., which saw Hamid make a crucial stop on Sanchez before Lucas Pittinari fired a follow up over the bar.
Following Saturday’s result, D.C. United returns to action Tuesday for a CONCACAF Champions League clash with Arabe Unido before hosting the Columbus Crew on Saturday in MLS play.
The Rapids travel north of the border, facing off with Toronto FC on Saturday at BMO Field.