BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- It appeared D.C. United's playoff hopes would take a hit Friday night, as the Chicago Fire took a 2-1 lead into stoppage time.
A late goal just before the final whistle salvaged a point for United, however, as Bobby Boswell headed home a rebound off a late save from Sean Johnson to give both teams a point in a 2-2 draw, and keep D.C. in the playoff hunt with five games left to play.
"This isn't the easiest place to come and play, [Chicago's] record is fairly good here," head coach Ben Olsen said after the game. "Being down 2-1 with those circumstances, you come away feeling pretty good about grabbing something because right now in the East, every point counts."
The late goal for D.C. was the second week in a row the team has earned a point at the death, after doing the same to Atlantic Cup rivals New York Red Bulls a week prior at Red Bull Arena. Despite getting on the board first through a Rob Vincent goal on a rare indirect free kick in the box, United conceded twice in short duration, via Razvan Cocis and David Accam in the 22nd and 29th minutes, respectively.
"Today I thought we were on the front foot. We get the first goal and we started out bright, and I felt they counted us straight away, and we weren't able to deal with that," Olsen said. "Having good first halves has not been an issue for our team, in fact it's been the opposite, at some points in the middle stretch of the season.
"We'll find that sweet spot where we're putting together full games of high energy, focus, and quality soccer."
United used numerous chances in the second half to take the game to the Fire, and Chicago rued their own result by not finishing chances of their own. In the end, Olsen and D.C. were happy to take a point away, but disappointed to draw the same team they handily beat 6-2 just three weeks prior.
"[The locker room] is certainly not joyful. It's maybe a little relieved that we grabbed a point, and we understand right now how big a point is in the East. We also understand that frankly, that's a beatable team. I think we had enough looks tonight, in the first and second half, to get three points, so it's a little mixed."
"I believe in this team. I believe it's a playoff team, and I think the players believe that, but you've gotta do it."
