WASHINGTON – It took extreme hustle and a well placed deep cross to finally give DC United (5-9-6, 21 points) the 3-2 victory over Orlando City (7-15-2, 23 points) last night at Audi Field in Washington D.C. Sunday night. If you are looking from the Orlando side, Your take might be that they fell victim to three video reviews.
The match between the two teams, who both desperately needed the wins to keep their slim playoff hopes to stay alive, were tied 0-0 at halftime, but Luciano Acosta rifled the opening goal in the fourth minute of added time.
City leveled in the 50th minute when Uri Rosell crossed the ball along the endline before it bounced off United goalkeeper David Ousted and in.
Orlando midfielder Cristian Higuita was shown a red card after Video Review. The Colombian appeared to raise his elbow to Yamil Asad’s face while running past him. This left the Lions a man down for the rest of the match.
D.C. made it 2-1 in the 64th minute when Acosta tapped the ball under a charging Joe Bendik. Acosta was originally ruled offside, but the goal was awarded upon Video Review.
Orlando City leveled again in the 71st minute when Rosell slipped a beautiful pass in for Dom Dwyer, who chipped it over Ousted for his team-leading 11th goal of the season.
In the sixth minute of stoppage time, video review had an impact on the match once again.
Rooney beat out Will Johnson on a ball that was cleared out from the DC defensive end. Rooney caught up to Johnson and took the ball with a clean tackle, and kicked a deep cross to Acosta, who headed the ball past Joe Bendik for the winning score.
Acosta appeared offside but the goal was upheld upon Video Review.
“Obviously gutting. When you play like that with 10 men, get back into the game 2-2, create some chances, have an opportunity at the end,” Lions head coach James O’Connor said. “We were told in LA that if it’s clear and obvious that’s the only time to interfere. If the decision is made and it’s clear and obvious that it’s a mistake, you get involved. If it’s not clear and obvious, you’re not meant to get involved. Regardless of all that, we can’t change any of that. We need to look at the way we played with 10 men. I thought that was really encouraging.”
Orlando returns to action on August 24 to face Atlanta at Orlando City Stadium.
