One game, 100 words (or less): The teams may be next to each other in the Eastern Conference standings, but Wednesday at RFK Stadium, D.C. United and Toronto were worlds apart. Though United generated fewer chances on the night, their play in the final third proved more efficient, with an early score and a strong night from Bill Hamid allowing them to complete a July double over Toronto.
With goals from Eddie Johnson, Chris Rolfe, and Nick Hagglund (own goal), the Black and Red took a convincing 3-0 win from Toronto, closing their gap with Sporting Kansas City atop the Eastern Conference.
Goals:
D.C. United: Johnson 8', Rolfe 59', Hagglund (o.g.) 67'
Toronto FC: None.
Three moments that mattered:
8' - E.J. with No. 4 - This is the type of goal D.C. may have imagined when they committed Designated Player money to Eddie Johnson. On a ball in from the right, Johnson gets in front of newly acquired Warren Creavalle, meeting Perry Kitchen’s cross to finish into the left of goal. Moments after Dominic Oduro missed a chance to open the scoring, D.C. had its opener, the “E.J.” providing more reason to believe he’s heating up.
46' - Hamid comes up big on Moore - Strong saves on Luke Moore and Oduro make Bill Hamid a big part of United’s first half success, but early in Wednesday’s second half, the D.C. goalkeeper was called on to make his biggest save of the night. Put behind the United defense by Jermain Defoe, Moore had a chance to equalize from six yards Too casual, perhaps not anticipating Hamid would read the play so well, Moore ended up playing the ball into the oncoming keeper, failing to convert what would have been a game-tying goal.
67' - Own goal ends hope - Nick DeLeon was involved in D.C.'s last two scores, but it was his part in the third that ended Toronto’s hopes. Coming in from the right flank, DeLeon moved through Toronto’s defense before putting a shot on Bendik. Though the Reds’ keeper got a hand on it, rookie Nick Hagglund’s attempted clearance ended up in his own goal, giving D.C. its insurmountable lead.
Lineups:
D.C. United: Bill Hamid; Sean Franklin, Bobby Boswell, Steve Birnbaum, Chris Korb; Nick DeLeon, Perry Kitchen, Davy Arnaud (Jared Jeffrey 82'), Chris Rolfe (Conor Doyle 74'); Luis Silva (Lewis Neal 69'), Eddie Johnson
Toronto FC: Joe Bendik; Warren Creavalle, Bradley Orr (Daniel Lovitz 65'), Nick Hagglund, Justin Morrow; Dominic Oduro (Jonathan Osorio 65'), Collen Warner, Michael Bradley, Jackson; Luke Moore, Jermain Defoe (Gilberto 73')
Three lessons going forward:
1. Toronto may not have another gear - We remember their start, we look at their talent, and we think the Reds can another level, but after the last two performances against United, Toronto doesn’t look like a team ready to compete with the East’s top two.
2. The potential of Eddie Johnson - The numbers still aren’t great, but Johnson’s playing better, and with his early goal against Toronto, he gave D.C. fans reason to think their team can still get better. While you can chalk his opener up to a poor night from Warren Creavalle, Johnson’s value is in a versatility that allows him to take advantage of mismatches across the defense. If he starts converting more of the chances those match ups allow, D.C. won’t have to play out as many close games.
3. All-Star Bill Hamid - When Caleb Porter’s selections were announced, we (read: I) intimated a few goalkeepers were having similar seasons, but Hamid’s selection was a decent reward for a strong D.C. defense. On Wednesday, Hamid flashed a true All-Star’s form, making eight saves while leading United to their 11th win of the season.
Where this leaves them:
- With 37 points, D.C. is only one point back of Sporting Kansas City in the East. They’re also one point back in the race for the Supporters’ Shield.
- And with the loss, Toronto stays in third place, albeit 11 points back of second place United.