D.C. United 2, Philadelphia Union 1 | 2017 MLS Match Recap

Dave Zeitlin

D.C. United finally got their first goal of the season — and their first win too.

After failing to score through their first three games of the year, D.C. netted two goals in the first 27 minutes Saturday night en route to 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union at RFK Stadium.

José Guillermo Ortiz got the home team on the board in the 18th minute with his first MLS goal following a Union giveaway. Luciano Acosta scored on a penalty kick less than 10 minutes later after Philly defender Richie Marquez was whistled for a handball just inside the box.

C.J. Sapong drew one back for the Union in the 71st minute, but Bill Hamid made enough big saves — including a late one on Sapong — to thwart Philly’s charge and keep them winless on the season at 0-2-2.

After rough start to 2017, D.C. United rediscover "character" in "gutsy" win

Goals

18' — DC — José Guillermo Ortiz WATCH
27' — DC — Luciano Acosta WATCH
71 — PHI — C.J. Sapong WATCH

Three Things

NO MULLINS, NO PROBLEM: Some may have thought D.C. United’s goal-scoring slump would continue with Patrick Mullins, the club’s second-leading scorer last season, out with a hamstring injury. But D.C. newcomer Ortiz stepped up in a big way, making his first MLS start before scoring his first MLS goal. With Mullins likely out for the next few games, the play of the Costa Rican forward, who also skimmed the crossbar with an ambitious first-half attempt, was certainly a promising development for head coach Ben Olsen.

THE BILL HAMID SHOW
: Few, if any, MLS goalkeepers make better saves than the two facing off in Saturday’s game — the Union’s
Andre Blake
and United’s Hamid. But it was Hamid who stole the show in this one, making seven saves to Blake’s one and coming through with diving or leaping stops on
Haris Medunjanin
,
Keegan Rosenberry
and Sapong.

Hamid with a HUGE save on Sapong to preserve the lead. #DCvPHI https://t.co/bhj1rQb2Wd
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 2, 2017

ROUGH DAY AT THE OFFICE: Sapong coming off the bench to score his third goal in as many games was certainly a bright spot for Philly, as was the late pressure they put on D.C. United. But the first half was a rough one for the Union, who now haven’t won in their last 11 games, dating back to last season. It was a particularly difficult for night for the minutes-eating Marquez, who made a rare exit at halftime due to a head injury after getting called for a tough first-half penalty. That led to rookie Jack Elliott, a fourth-round 2017 draft pick, making his MLS debut in a big spot.