Resilience has been D.C. United’s calling card in 2015. Time and time again, Ben Olsen’s team fell behind. Time and time again, it fought back — to the tune of a league-leading six comeback wins.
It seemed only fitting, then, that United kept its season alive with comeback No. 7 on Wednesday.
Three days after capping the regular season with the worst loss in franchise history, United saw goals from Chris Pontius and Chris Rolfe negate Juan Agudelo’s early opener as D.C. notched a 2-1 win over the New England Revolution in an Eastern Conference knockout round match at a rain-soaked RFK Stadium.
“There was a lot going on in that game,” Olsen said. “I don’t know if I’ve processed all of it, but it’s certainly a gutsy performance from us.”
With the win, United will host the top-seeded New York Red Bulls or second-seeded Columbus Crew in the first leg of a two-game, total-goals Eastern Conference semifinal beginning next week.
United entered the postseason on a 2-6-1 skid, dropping to the Eastern Conference’s No. 4 seed with that demoralizing 5-0 loss to the Columbus Crew. Three days after that setback, Olsen made just one change to his lineup, replacing Kofi Opare with Steve Birnbaum at center back.
The fifth-seeded Revolution didn’t enter the match in particularly fine form either, going 1-3-1 since mid-September. New England coach Jay Heaps made three changes, most notably giving Agudelo the nod over leading scorer Charlie Davies.
That decision promptly paid dividends. As Kevin Alston whipped in a cross from the right flank, Agudelo drifted between United defenders Bobby Boswell and Sean Franklin and acrobatically volleyed home a bicycle kick for a 15th-minute lead — and one of the most stunning strikes at RFK Stadium in its 20-year history.
The Revolution had chances to double the advantage. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid charged out to deny Kelyn Rowe’s point-blank blast two minutes after the opener, and Jermaine Jones’ left-footed effort struck the post in the 28th minute.
But United looked equally capable of drawing level in a wide-open first half. Fabian Espindola misfired with the net gaping after a Bobby Shuttleworth rebound in the 21st minute, and Rolfe rang the crossbar moments later after using a clever move to evade Revolution defender Andrew Farrell.
United’s pressure and Farrell’s struggles amounted to an equalizer seconds before halftime.
The bulky center back picked up a yellow card for hauling down Espindola on the edge of the box, setting up United with a dangerous set piece. United capitalized, with Pontius losing Farrell on Espindola’s free kick and nodding a header inside the far post to make it 1-1.
As the second half unfolded, both teams had to get by without their goal-scorers. Right hamstring tightness forced Pontius to give way to Alvaro Saborio in the 54th minute, while Davies came on in the 70th minute after Agudelo limped off the field following an off-the-ball incident with Boswell.
United had the period’s best chance with 15 minutes remaining. Saborio played a cross off the arm of New England midfielder Scott Caldwell, and referee Mark Geiger pointed to the penalty spot without hesitation.
But after going 4-for-4 on penalty kicks during the regular season, United forward Rolfe fired his effort past Shuttleworth — and off the goalkeeper’s right-hand post.
Eight minutes later, Rolfe found his redemption. Espindola connected with a back-heel feed from Nick DeLeon, darted to the end line and hit a low, inviting cross to the goalmouth. Lurking behind Revolution left back Chris Tierney, Rolfe lost his mark and slotted home from close range to send RFK Stadium into a frenzy.
“I’m so happy for Chris because he’s been our best player this year,” Olsen said. “He didn’t put his head down. He just kept working, and I’m happy that he found the winner. It was a great play.”
Controversy reigned over the game’s dying moments. Collecting possession in the box, Jones played the ball off the arm of Franklin — a sequence strikingly similar to the one that resulted in United’s penalty kick. Yet, Geiger kept his whistle quiet.
“The defender’s arm was in a natural position,” Geiger wrote in a note to reporters. “Because of the short distance, there also was no time to react. Case of ball to hand.”
Added Olsen: “It can go either way, right? I don’t even know what a handball in the box is anymore.”
Incensed by the non-call, Jones subsequently was ejected for a moment of madness that saw him slap the yellow card out of the referee’s hand.
Amid the chaos, Geiger eventually blew the final whistle. In a season filled with hectic victories, United survived to pursue one or two more.
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