DC keeper Bill Hamid celebrates after the conclusion of the match (Getty Images)
First place in the Eastern Conference was up for grabs Saturday afternoon as DC United took on the New England Revolution. A win for United would move them ahead of New York and Sporting KC for top spot. The Revs needed 3 points to try to close the gap opening up between them and the middle of the Eastern table; Houston, Columbus, and Chicago.
The match was slow to get started as these oldest of MLS rivals felt each other out. Still it was obvious that DC United had the better energy in the first half, and for the most part they were side pushing the advantage. The first chance of the match fell to Hamdi Salihi in the 13th minute, but he watched his header go wide of the target. United would take the lead two minutes later though. Branko Boskovic sent a free kick into the area from distance and defender Brandon McDonald headed the ball into goal to make it 1-0 to DC United.
New England head man Jay Heaps was clearly exasperated, not only because the Revs conceded the early goal, but because the passion just didn't seem to be there in response. It got worse for New England before halftime as well. In the first minute of stoppage time United sent a corner kick into the six. A scrum ensued, and DC defender Dejan Jakovic emerged and smacked the ball into the back of the net to give United the 2-0 lead going into halftime.
As the teams headed into the locker rooms, Jay Heaps got all fired up and went and screamed in the referee's face. Apparently he gave his team the same treatment, because they came out looking like a totally different side in the 2nd half.
In the 48th minute Benny Feilhaber sent a scorching shot in at DC 'keeper Bill Hamid. Hamid managed to parry the shot away, but the ball fell right to Saer Sene, who easily poked home the rebound to make it 2-1. Just two minutes later, the Revs earned a corner kick, and AJ Soares headed it in for the equalizer. The teams proceeded through the next ten minutes on even ground at 2-2.
DC had one more trick up their sleeves though, and his name was Dwayne De Rosario. In the 61st minute he penetrated the penalty area, then passed back to the top of the box where Maicon Santos was waiting. Santos proceeded to smash the ball past Matt Reis to give DC United the 3-2 lead.
New England didn't just roll over though. In the 90th minute Kelyn Rowe put a header on frame that looked to be the equalizer, but Hamid was able to save the shot and preserve the 3-2 win at full time.
NOTES: DC United did in fact take over first place in the east on 27 points from 15 matches. They trail only Real Salt Lake in the overall table, as RSL has 29 points from 14 matches. Their next MLS match will be at Philadelphia on June 16. The loss mires the Revs in 7th place, just one point ahead of the expansion Impact. However, The Revs get a chance to make up ground as they play Chicago next weekend while the rest of the league is idle.
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