Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com
WASHINGTON — After a late flurry of action both ways, two things are clear: The Portland Timbers' postseason chances are still alive, and D.C. United's season is over.
Despite late heroics from MVP candidate Dwayne De Rosario and a number of chances in the waning minutes, D.C. couldn't find a late winner and played Portland to a 1-1 draw in front of 14,317 at RFK Stadium.
As a result, United's quest for the playoffs is over, while Portland still maintains a glimmer of hope for the 10th and final MLS playoff berth while it awaits the outcome of Thursday night's match between New York and Philadelphia.
Kenny Cooper opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a header off Rodney Wallace's cross, and D.C. hardly looked threatening until De Rosario turned and fired a left-footed shot from a tight angle to beat Troy Perkins and level the score in the 73rd minute. The goal set a single-season career-high for De Rosario (16) and puts him a goal ahead of San Jose's Chris Wondolowski in the race for the league's Golden Boot.
United's sense of urgency picked up after De Rosario's goal, leading to a wide-open final 20 minutes during which both sides had numerous golden chances that were either wasted or saved at a rapid pace.
"Two teams were just gambling trying to get that win, because we both felt that we needed it," Timbers coach John Spencer said. "They came at us, which is to be expected. They're the home team fighting for their lives."
At one point, Portland substitute Brian Umony was denied by both the crossbar and by D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid on successive chances.
On the other end, United's Joseph Ngwenya and Blake Brettschneider were both denied on the doorstep by Troy Perkins on back-to-back shots.
"The first one as soon, as he hits it you've got to get across and keep your feet about you," Perkins said. "The second one you've got to make yourself as big as you can, and luckily I closed the angle enough and made the save."
United also had a go-ahead goal waved off prior to that sequence, after Perkins came off his line but didn't completely clear the ball. De Rosario capitalized and crossed to Brettschneider, who was offside prior to heading the ball into the empty net while standing at the goal mouth.
"I thought, 'We got it, let's finish up this game and move on,' but it didn't work out like that," Brettschneider said. "It was so loud I couldn't hear a whistle. (Santino Quaranta) was right there with me, and we both thought it was a goal, and I didn't think there was any reason to question it. I thought there was a defender right behind me. Being that close to the endline you don't see a lot of offside calls like that. You have to trust the referee's judgment there."
De Rosario, who had his right lower leg taped at halftime and played 90 minutes through a shin injury, also had a clear look at goal from the right with Perkins out of position, but Eric Brunner provided cover to cut off the shooting lane and came up with a sliding, game-saving block.
"It was a great defensive play," De Rosario said. "Hats off to him. He sprinted back and got himself in a position where he cleared the ball from going in the back of the net.
"At the end we did what we could. … It's frustrating."
With the point in tow, Portland needs Philadelphia to beat New York Thursday night and then to win at Real Salt Lake on Saturday to reach the playoffs. United, meanwhile, has nothing left to play for during Saturday's season finale except potentially preventing Sporting Kansas City from getting the Eastern Conference's top seed.
"I can't say we were unlucky not to win the game, because we were lucky not to lose the game at times, and I think (D.C. coach Ben Olsen) will probably say the same thing," Spencer said. "For us, we need Philadelphia to do us a ton."
Both Nagbe and Zizzo were out with injuries – you don’t think Spencer would have played them if he could have? Seriously?
Not sure why Spencer didn’t put in Nagbe or Zizzo. Seems like he wasn’t worried about winning this one.
We finished with 2 wingers and a forward who can’t finish.
It might? But I still think RSL ends up clinching 3rd in the west and gets Seattle.
The higher seed in the East, but does it really matter.
As a Seattle fan who doesnt’ like Portland, it was a correct no call.
That was an amazing 15 minutes of soccer, and some nice saves, but some really brutal finishing as well
Stats aren’t everything.
Question for you Ives, or anyone who knows??? If FC Dallas, or RSL were to enter the East after wildcard games, who has home field? Are they the lower seed because they are wildcard going into the east, or due to their regular season points, would either team be higher seed???? Anyone know?
Wow! I’ve got to say, as an RSL supporter- probably the most exciting last ten minutes of ANY MLS game this year. I thought DC looked so much the better team at the end there. DC didnt go down without a fight.
I would have watched it…had it been on anywhere except via MLS.com
MVPs don’t get traded away, especially not twice.
Just watched the highlights, super pissed I didn’t go to the match last night. For those saying either DeRo was the whole team OR that DCU doesn’t have enough talented players, you’re wrong. DeRo, Pontius, Najar, Davies, McDonald, Kitchen and Hamid are all big time players. If they can hold on to everybody they will be serious contenders next season with Pontius back. Get rid of Ngwengya though
+2
Now if Philly will just do everyone a big favor and put RBNY out of their misery, the Fire will still have a shot at the post-season at kickoff on Saturday!
Go Philly (first time I’ve ever typed that)
On CD9…
According to one of the local DC rags, DC9 was out the door as soon as he hit the locker room. 1st to leave the dressing room and didn’t wait for the media or team meeting. ZERO chance he’s back with DC. Total “me first” player. I lost a ton of respect for CD9 as the season progressed…and now with this ridiculous lawsuit…forget him.
No, but he is going to sue Olsen for damage to his career soon
Come On Philly!!!!!
What’s the word on Davies getting benched?
Exciting finish? You missed the Fire-DC match on Saturday then, which had 3 goals in 5 mins.
+1!
I’m just saying it wasn’t at his side. It looked like the ball was headed for his face or may have just missed it, but his arm blocked it. Again, in real time, it looked like it hit his face. If you raise your hands up to block a shot like that, it should be a PK though.
If you were at the match, you definitely were drunk!
: )
See you soon RBNY.
I have to disagree. United put everything out on the field last night. Effort was not the problem.
The reality is that the quality of United players with a very few exception is below average for the league.
Learn the rules my friend. Two defenders, not just one. It’s just that usually one of those is the keeper.
hendrix….ya what “b” said.
DC would’ve won if DeRo was the selfish player that you claim him to be.
He would’ve scored two goals by not passing to an offsides player, nor to Ngwenya…a player who couldn’t score in a U-11 girls match.
DeRo has been with two clownish organizations (Toronto and Red Wankers) and now a rebuilding one so not his fault that he hasn’t been to the playoffs.
Wow.
Ever heard the old saying: It’s far better to say nothing and leave people thinking you might be a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt?
yea Bryan,you CLEARLY don’t understand the offsides rule completely…if the keeper is out like that there has to be 2 defenders goalside of blakey b. Funny how many fans of the game are often completely oblivious to this, even guys i’ve played with for 10 yrs somehow never managed to learn this rule.
I was disappointed with DCU effort for the first hour of the match but i’m proud of how they finished, just couldn’t catch a break down the stretch and in the end were their own worst enemy. oh well, the future is bright for this young squad if they stay together
The rule is two players. It just doesn’t come up very often because you seldom pass to someone behind the goalie.
Also, no way Blake was offside for that called back goal. CLEARLY, there is a Timber’s defender on the line.
Vamos.
His arm isn’t out away from his body. If his arm didn’t exist it wouldn’t go through it would just hit Brunners body. Good no call, I’m sick of people thinking that everytime the ball hits an arm it’s a free kick. That is not the intent of the Law.
Wow! Thanks for telling me what to do.
DeRo
For
MVP
(I also like Rosales)
I was at the match, and DeRo did almost nothing.
Yes. Yes indeed.
ditto!
dumb.
Yeah DeRO sure has made DC worse… and what a selfish player that’s why he has no assists and didn’t almost have the game winning assist like three times tonight. I totally agree with your rational and clearly unbiased opinion.
At least DC went out with a bang and not a whimper.
De Ro sucks. All the DC fans are getting blinded by his “Me Ro” act. He doesn’t play a team game, which hurts DC overall. Then when he facilitates failure by not passing or playing a team game, that gives him an excuse to just be the “one man show.” People lap it up. But the fact is, if he involved his teammates more, maybe they’d be a better team. But that’s not his style. Ever since he became “Me Ro” after his time in Houston, he’s never made the playoffs. I’m sure he’ll get his big paycheck soon though.
If his arm WAS at his side, I’d agree with you. It was definitely up enough that if the ref had seen it he should have called it. Given the angle, I can see why he didn’t see it. It looked like it hit his head in real time.
Totally disagree. The effort level was very good. The skill level and luck and ref just weren’t.
+100, it was amazing. haven’t seen back-and-forth football like that in a long time.
Not beautiful soccer, but damn, soooo exciting.
Dear playoff haters, WATCH THIS GAME!! As a neutral fan, i have never seen such a exciting finish to a MLS game in years!
DeRo could have gone down a couple of times I thought…
DeRo for MVP. I don’t care if they faltered near the end and got eliminated from the playoffs, I don’t care if he played for three teams.
DeRo
For
MVP
Everyone should go watch the final 30 minutes of that game, seriously go watch it. Go.
FIRE still Alive!
perkins fouled de ro before the handball…if de ro goes down its a pk
BYE BYE DC
No way that Brunner gets called for a handball there. He’s sliding with his arm at his side and the shot hits him – no intent and no advantage gained (had the arm not been there his torso would have stopped it).
Craziest 15 minutes of soccer I’ve ever seen. Portland should have finIshed 4-5 chances and were again unlucky on the east coast with the crossbar.
But still alive!!
Pretty sure Brunner got away with a handball in the box in the last few minutes. Should have been a pk.
DeRo did everything for DC tonight. The rest of DC didn’t really even look like they wanted to win. He’s now my choice for MVP.