WASHINGTON, D.C. — D.C. United fell back to the pressure of New York City FC’s offense from the opening whistle Sunday at Audi Field. The home side failed to find its footing, conceded early and lost 2-0.
“It is very disappointing,” captain Wayne Rooney said. “I don’t think we deserved anything out of the game the way that we played.”
NYCFC forwards Alexandru Mitriță and Maxi Moralez took three shots too close for comfort in the first 20 minutes. Each went wide of the net. Despite several decent attempts, it was a lapse in United’s defense that lead to the visitors’ opening goal.
“I didn’t think we started the game well,” Defender Steve Birnbaum said. “We gave [the ball] away in a bad spot and they [were] off to the races on the counter attack.”
United has now lost three straight matches at home, and conceded six goals.
“I am concerned in that we have not been able to, over the last couple games, get a home win. But each game is a different dynamic,” coach Ben Olsen said. “The way to fix that … is work and fight and [get] set pieces and figure out ways to win. That was a little lacking today.”
On the first goal, D.C. midfielder Chris Durkin turned over the ball to New York’s Ebenezer Ofori, who passed to Héber, who beat defender Steve Birnbaum to get an assist to Mitriță.
Mitriță slipped a ball through the legs of United’s Frédéric Brillant, who had blocked goalkeeper Bill Hamid’s vision.
“It is combination of us not keeping the ball especially in the right moments, I think we tried to go too fast today,” Birnbaum said. “Overall we have not been good in possession and on the opposite side we haven’t been good enough defensively and breaking up those plays.”
NYCFC almost doubled the score during stoppage time of the first half. Defender Leo Jara sprinted down the right flank in a foot race against Anton Tinnerholm. Falling behind, Jara shouldered Tinnerholm. The foul resulted in a penalty kick for New York. Fortunately for United, Moralez’s shot panged off the post and referee Allen Chapman called for halftime.
“I didn’t know what [Chapman] was doing tonight,” Olsen said. “It was like prison rules for a while and then he was cleaning it up and then he wasn’t in any hurry. It wasn’t [Chapman’s] fault.”
In the second half, United switched formations, opting for three in the back to push Paul Arriola higher up the right side of the field.
NYCFC kept the pressure and in the 57th minute, Ronald Matarrita got a pass off to Héber. He beat midfielder Ulises Segura for the second goal.
It was the first goal and start for Héber, who transferred to the club last month from Croatian club HNK Rijeka.
United had several opportunities on set pieces taken by Wayne Rooney, but could not convert in front of the net. In the 78th minute, after a foul to Luciano Acosta, Rooney launched a ball from 25 yards out. Acosta saw the ball and attempted a bicycle kick that soared over the net.
“Everybody circles [Acosta]. Everybody knows that he and Wayne are such a huge part of our attack” Olsen said. “[Acosta and Rooney] have to push and get better, but we also have to get better around the field and have better performances so we don’t rely too heavily on them.”
In a final effort to add to the attack, Olsen subbed on forward Quincy Amarikwa for Lucas Rodriguez. United’s formation shifted again with Rooney playing just under Amarikwa. Less than 10 minutes later, 16-year-old homegrown Griffin Yow made his first appearance for United, coming in for Arriola.
“We started four homegrowns last game,” Olsen said. “[Yow] is a lovely kid and has a bright future. It was a game where we throw him a bone and get him in there and give [Arriola] a rest for a little bit.”
United started the first four games of the season scoring nine goals and conceding just one in a 2-1 victory over Orlando City. In past four games, United has scored three goals and given up eight.
There isn’t much time to dwell for United. They face another quick turnaround in the form of a Wednesday road game in Columbus.
“Because it hasn’t been great the last three games at home, we have to keep in mind that we did win a game last week. That is a good thing,” Olsen said. “We have to also understand and not be too dramatic about the moment. We have some injuries and we have to get through this period and it doesn’t get any easier.”