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?
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