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Bill Hamid heroics earn D.C. United tie with Impact

Photo by Jean-Yves Ahern/USA TODAY Sports
Photo by Jean-Yves Ahern/USA TODAY Sports

It isn’t often that a team comes from behind to salvage a point and leaves a match disappointed, but that’s surely how the Montreal Impact will be feeling after drawing D.C. United, 1-1.

The Impact statistically dominated the match, but found themselves trailing early when Patrick Nyarko earned D.C. United a penalty in the 37th minute. The shot was coolly and calmly slotted away by Lamar Neagle to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.

The early scoreline hardly told the tale of the first half, however, as the Impact applied constant pressure to D.C. United’s back line. Luckily for DCU, Bill Hamid was stellar between the posts, making several goal-stopping saves through all 90 minutes to keep his side in the match.

But he couldn’t stop everything. The Impact redoubled their attacking efforts and eventually found an equalizer when a D.C. United turnover led to a rapid cross from Marco Donadel. The ball in was headed firmly beyond the grasp of Hamid by Hassoun Camara to even the score.

Not content with a draw at home, the Impact continued to press aggressively, eventually ending up with 19 shots total and dominating with possession and accurate passing. Hamid stood tall, however, and preserved the draw under heavy fire and while D.C. United was down a man in the last few minutes after Kofi Opare was sent off for a bad challenge.

The point sees D.C. United secure sole possession of the 6th and final playoff spot in the Eastern conference, moving one point ahead of Orlando City who fell to Toronto FC, 2-1, thanks to a late Jozy Altidore goal. The Impact remain in 5th place in the East, still five points ahead of D.C. United.

MAN OF THE MATCH

It couldn’t be anyone but Bill Hamid. Had the keeper not been on top form, the Impact would surely have had three or four goals on the night. This point rests largely on his shoulders.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Hamid made several key saves, but none bigger than his 54th minute effort to deflect a Johan Venegas header away from the bottom left corner of goal. The ball almost seemed past Hamid as he reached out to barely tip it aside and preserve D.C. United’s lead.

MATCH TO FORGET

Kofi Opare. The defense as a whole was under assault all night, but his reckless tackle caused his team to desperately hang on in the closing minutes of the match and sees him suspended for D.C. United’s next match.

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