DC scored two late goals for a 3-1 road win in Toronto at BMO Field last Saturday (August 31). The picture above is of the stadium in 2007 (yes, I took it); it has been expanded since then.
DC started Bono in goal; Santos, McVey (making his first start in over a month, finally back (hopefully) from injury), Bartlett and Herrera on defense; Peltola, Klich, Dajome and Stroud in midfield; and Ted KDP and Benteke at forward. Schnegg and Akinmboni were both out with injuries.
The first half was relatively uneventful. Both sides had 3 shots, 2 on goal. Benteke squandered a 3-on-1 break in the 22nd minute with a poor cross. Bono came up with 2 great saves, and Toronto's Sean Johnson kept DC out of the net on their two chances. It was 0-0 at halftime.
The second half had all the fireworks. Rodriguez came in for McVey to start the half; since this was McVey's first start in a month, and may have been forced by Akinmboni's injury, it seemed quite prudent. Peltola slid back into central defense, and Rodriguez played in midfield.
DC broke the deadlock in the 67th minute, on a beautiful set piece. The free kick was slid to Stroud at the top of the box, who chipped to Ted KDP on the right side. Ted headed a beautiful ball in front of goal and Rodriguez shot it in from close range.
Pirani came in for Ted KDP, and Badji for Benteke, in the 78th minute. DC was holding firm, but in the 82nd minute (somewhat against the run of play) Toronto's Richie Laryea hit a cross to Deandre Kerr, who outleaped Herrera on a header, tying the game at 1-1. It looked like the all-too-common story this year of giving up goals (and points) late. However, DC definitely had more energy at this point. Murrell came in for Stroud in the 85th minute.
The extra energy paid off. In the 88th minute, Dajome stripped the ball from Toronto's Henry Wingo in the offensive half and sent a beautiful pass to Badji, who slid the ball under Sean Johnson to put DC back in the lead, 2-1.
There were 8 minutes of stoppage time, and Pirani lost his cool in the first minute, mixing it up with Laryea and getting a yellow card. However, DC kept attacking, and it paid off. After a shot by Murrell was blocked, Pirani put the rebound into the right corner to make it 3-1 in the 93rd minute. That's how it finished.
Despite being 5 games under .500 (7-8-12), DC is now in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Atlanta in 9th (the last playoff place) and 4 points behind Toronto in 8th. Philadelphia is one point ahead of DC in 10th place.
The next game is in Chicago next Saturday (September 7). Enow, Peltola and Herrera will all miss the game due to international duty.
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