91st-minute free kick clinches 1-0 win over expansion team
Orlando, Fla. (April 4, 2015) – D.C. United (3-1-0, 9 points) scored in stoppage time for the second straight game, winning its inaugural match against OrlandoCity (1-2-2, 5 points), 1-0.
Luis Silva, making his first appearance since October, came off the bench to score with a free kick in the 91st minute. Bill Hamid finished with five saves and his third shutout of the season for D.C. United, which moved into first place in the Eastern Conference. D.C. United returns to action against the New York Red Bulls at RFK Stadium on Saturday, April 11 (Comcast SportsNet, 7).
Game notes:
*D.C. United won its second game in a row.
*D.C. United is off to its best start since 2006, when the team went 3-0-1 in its first four matches.
*D.C. United’s game-winning goal was the second in as many weeks by a player from UC Santa Barbara.
*D.C. United has scored a goal in the 86th minute or later in three of its last six games.
*Since Major League Soccer began its period of sustained expansion in 2005, D.C. United has lost once in 11 inaugural matches (9-1-1) against expansion or relocated teams. United’s only defeat came in a 3-2 loss to Portland in 2011. D.C. United will meet New York City FC for the first time on Aug. 13 at Yankee Stadium.
*D.C. United played its first regular season match in Florida since 2001.
*Luis Silva made his first appearance since Oct. 12, 2014. He missed the final two games of 2014 and the first three of 2015.
*Luis Silva recorded his first goal of 2015 and his 20th career MLS goal.
*The game was the first of five this season for D.C. United on artificial turf. The Black-and-Red will return to the Citrus Bowl in June, and they also have away games in 2015 at Vancouver, Seattle, Portland and New England.
*Head Coach Ben Olsen’s overall record is now 52-65-35.
*Bobby Boswell made his 58th consecutive regular season start. Boswell has 38 consecutive starts since his return to D.C. United in 2014.
*D.C. United made one change to the starting lineup from the previous game against Los Angeles, with Kofi Opare replacing an injured Steven Birnbaum: Hamid, Kemp, Opare, Boswell, Franklin, Rolfe, Arnaud, Kitchen, DeLeon, Pontius, Arrieta.
*Kofi Opare made his first regular season start for D.C. United, following his acquisition by the Black-and-Red from the Los Angeles Galaxy in July 2014. Opare made four starts for United in 2014 in CONCACAF Champions League.
*Bill Hamid recorded his third shutout of the 2015 season and the 33rd shutout of his career. He has started 23 straight regular season games.
Highlights:
Silva goal: http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-04-03-orlando-city-sc-vs-dc-united/details/video/35265
Game highlights: http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-04-03-orlando-city-sc-vs-dc-united/details/video/35269
D.C. United (3-1-0, 9 points) vs. Orlando City (1-2-2, 5 points)
MLS regular season
April 3, 2015 – Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Fla.
Attendance: 32,822
Goals by Period 1 2 Total
D.C. United 0 1 1
Orlando City 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
DC: Luis Silva 1, 90+1’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL: Kevin Molino (hand) 27’
DC: Davy Arnaud (off the ball foul) 60’
ORL: Darwin Ceren (foul) 65’
ORL: Carlos Rivas (off the ball foul) 83’
D.C. United lineup:
Bill Hamid; Taylor Kemp, Kofi Opare, Bobby Boswell, Sean Franklin; Chris Rolfe (Luis Silva 76’), Davy Arnaud, Perry Kitchen, Nick DeLeon (Michael Farfan 46’); Chris Pontius, Jairo Arrieta (Conor Doyle 54’)
Unused Substitutes: Andrew Dykstra, Miguel Aguilar, Jared Jeffrey, Chris Korb
Orlando City lineup:
Donovan Ricketts; Brek Shea, Seb Hines, Aurélien Collin, Rafael Ramos (Bryan Rochez 90+3’); Amobi Okugo, Kaká, Eric Avila (Carlos Rivas 71’), Darwin Ceren; Kevin Molino, Pedro Ribeiro (Cyle Larin 22’)
Unused substitutes: Luke Boden, Sean St. Ledger, Harrison Heath, Earl Edwards.
Referee: Chris Penso
Assistant Referees: Sean Hurd, Craig Lowry
Fourth Official: Marcos de Oliveira
