This was a wild night in the Rose City. I didn't include this in the MLS preview, but coming into the match, it would be easy to favor Portland. After all, they've been the most hyped team in MLS over recent weeks, and DC has been struggling a bit, maybe even more now with Dax McCarty and Charlie Davies out for this one.
After RSL's loss last night the Portland announcers started throwing around the phrase "Best home team in MLS." First off, call me when you go unbeaten in 29 straight at home. Second off, they've been really fortunate at home and haven't really dominated anybody. Looks like somebody also failed to send DC the memo that nobody wins in Portland except Portland.
DC United outplayed Portland pretty much the whole game. Their defense was better, their possession was better, and their finishing was certainly better. As impressive as Portland has been at times over recent weeks, they've still had a tendency to let other teams bring the game to them, and that's what DC did.
DC was eager even early on. In the 12th minute, Brettschneider, starting up top for CD9 hit a shot that went just barely wide. That should have woken Portland up, but it didn't. The next minute, DC got an attacking throw in, and Perry Kitchen got his head on it and slipped it past Troy Perkins to give DC a 0-1 lead. Time to see how Portland responded to being down at home.
Turned out they didn't respond well at all. They looked totally non-threatening in the run of play. They did get a couple of set piece chances, but DC defended them really well. Portland has lived by the set-piece way too much this season, and it bit them today.
The questionable officiating that is quickly becoming the hallmark of MLS began to rear it's head in the 31st minute. Portland set up for a free kick at decent range, but the ref payed zero attention to the fact that the DC United player (I forget who) kept sneaking up to the ball spot. In the end, he was no more than six yards from the ball, and deflected the kick. Oops.
DC Continued to press the ball through the rest of the half. In the 40th minute Ngwenya got a nice header on goal that resulted in a great save from Perkins. In the 43rd minute Najar launched a shot wide and Ethan White hit a hard shot from close range that Perkins barely saved in the 44th.
The half ended with more bad officiating. Portland was on the attack in and around the DC penalty area, moving with purpose like they might create a chance. The ref blew his whistle right in the middle of the attack to end the half. Portland and their fans were furious, and I can see why. You never see that happen. Still the half ended and DC led 0-1.
Portland coach Spencer obviously fired up his troops at half time, because they came out on fire and really took it to DC. Kenny Cooper decided to stay onside, for the most part, and hit a shot that was blocked in the 48th. He had another attempt on target in the 51st that was saved by Hamid. The next minute Sal Zizzo sent a screamer shot in but it went just wide. Portland was playing much better. DC brought in Josh Wolff to try and counter.
Things really erupted in the 64th minute. On a corner kick, Cooper and DC defender Jakovic got together at the near post. Jackovic had his arm on Cooper, but Cooper was obviously giving as good as he was getting and shoving back with his entire body. Jakovic actually got the ball as the two went down, but the ref blew for a penalty kick. Really, and I mean REALLY soft PK, in my opinion. That crap happens on every corner in every game every week.
Anyway, Cooper stepped up, hit a horrible penalty kick, and Hamid saved it. However, the DC keeper's joy was short lived as the linesman put his flag up, indicating that Hamid had come off his line. Yeah, he did a little bit, and I know it's the rule, but peruse Youtube and you'll see that almost every keeper does this every time. Ok, whatever, retake the PK.
Anyway, Cooper stepped up, hit a horrible penalty kick, and Hamid saved it. YES, AGAIN, and YES AGAIN, the linesman flags him for coming off the line. Hamid goes all ape-shit, as does the rest of DC, and he gets a yellow card. By this point, John Spencer has seen enough and tells Cooper that Jewsbury is taking the next kick. So he does. Hamid, too scared to even move off the chalk, makes a horrible lunge at a barely adequate PK and misses, the match is equal at 1-1. What a mess.
Well, back to action with the game tied and DC United fuming. Then in the 74th minute, Chara falls on the ball in his own 18, hits it with his hand, and concedes a PK to DC. I thought this was pretty harsh, and might have even been a make up call type of situation. Anyway, Pontius hits the PK and gives DC the lead again at 1-2.
DC seemed to finish it off in the 85th minute. Portland was totally asleep at the switch on a DC goal kick, Wolff ended up getting on the end of the long ball and banging it home past an equally asleep Perkins to make it 1-3. No sunshine songs in Portland.
Watch out though, because in the 85th, Portland struck back. Perlaza heads in a goal off an attacking throw for Portland not unlike DCs first goal, and it was 2-3. However, they couldn't muster another shot on target and DC held on to become the first team to beat Portland at home.
And Timber Joey wept on his chainsaw.
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