DC United’s inspiring draw against Inter Miami not enough to escape playoff elimination
DC United fought to a 1-1 draw before a sold out 19,365 at Audi Field on Saturday night. Jackson Hopkins scored the opening golazo for the Black-and-Red, but Baltasar Rodriguez added a golazo of his own to give both teams the point.
There were a ton of casual fans and Inter Miami fans intermixed among the DC United faithful in the crowd at Audi Field, most of them likely purchasing their tickets in the hopes of seeing a few of the main stars on both teams. However, Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba didn’t make the trip due to injury for Miami, and Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez started on the bench. Both did eventually make an appearance in the match. On DC United’s side, Christian Benteke was suspended due to yellow card accumulation, which didn’t help appease the supporters who have been calling for DC United’s owners to sell the team and for changes to be made. The Chico Stand was largely quiet for much of the match, save for the occasional DC United chant and a Free DC chant at 51 minutes on the clock. Add to the fact that there was a huge National Guard and security presence and heavily inflated parking prices, the capacity crowd provided a lot of energy to both teams on the field.
Inter Miami gambled by rotating their squad after their Leagues Cup win midweek, and DC United sought to take advantage. In the 13th minute, Jackson Hopkins, who was given the captain’s armband and started in a central forward position, scored an incredible goal, holding off his defender on a Matti Peltola ball ball in the air, collecting it, turning and then one shot past the keeper Rocco Rios Novo.
“I saw Masa [Peltola] hit it up and I knew I was onside and I didn’t think,” Hopkins said of the goal after the match. I think all the defenders thought I was going through the goalie, and I just took a chance and scored.”
Hopkins said he had no idea that he was selected to wear the captain’s armband, but appreciated the opportunity to lead the team on the field. “I mean, I felt great. Obviously, just being in the academy, [wearing the armband is] something we always wanted to do. And when I showed up at the stadium, it was in my locker. I was kind of shocked, but I was excited.”
“Yeah, he’s a strong player, but to be captain, that’s not so important for me,” head coach René Weiler said after the match. “I hope that I have not only one captain, [but] that I have 20 captains. Everybody has to take his responsibility, but I gave him that job today.”
The supporters didn’t appear to be inspired by the lead, but DC United played with tenacity throughout the first half as they held their first home lead in league play in almost four months. However, Inter Miami would equalize in the 64th minute. Fresh off the entrance of Luis Suarez into the match, a Miami corner kick glances just over his head. But then, Baltasar Rodriguez launched a meteoric strike from 25 yards to make it 1-1.
DC United thought they had a go-ahead goal in the 78th minute when Jacob Murrell was able to fight off two Miami defenders and score, but the goal was called back for offside. Referee Ricardo Montero spoke to the pool reporter about the play and what led to the call:
The match ended in a 1-1 draw, which officially eliminated from playoff contention. However, it was still an inspiring draw as the team look to what’s next. “I’m looking from one day to the other, from one game to the other,” Weiler said of his team’s playoff hopes officially drying up. “I have to take a look to all players in the squad to judge them. They have to be well analyzed [so] that we will have a better season next season than we had this season.”
The evaluation will begin now as DC United seek to gain some momentum from this match to try and begin the turnaround as they finish out the season.
If we’re evaluating players since Weiler took over, Hopkins stands out. Murrell was really dangerous in limited minutes. Peltola even more limited minutes, but he made DC United more dangerous in the attack. Kijima had moments, but needed to be more clinical in and around the box. None of the defenders have really staked a claim to a spot next year, though Peltola has upped his game. Some of the others will probably be back, but just because it’s hard to bring in 20+ new players under MLS’ system.
We are in a decent spot to claim the first pick in college draft though. Ahead of the Galaxy right now, but they have a game in hand, and they just look more likely to win some games. DCU are even with St. Louis on points anyway (we’ll never catch them on tiebreakers), but St. Louis also have a game in hand. My hope is that Weiler doesn’t lose any games — but doesn’t win any either. 8 straight draws. And hope LA win 3 games, and St. Louis win twice at least. There’s a chance that there might be 3 good players coming out in the next draft, but it’s also possible there will be only one.
Lovely goal by Hopkins and good fight by the team as a whole.
Fact. It was a whip of a goal. One of the best in years. Captain’s armband. I give credit to Weiler, he is intent to “shake it up”
(Cue the Cars classic)
Still the brazen MLS disparity for “salary cap” was on full display.
Their bench verses our bench was a bit telling. One of the better performances from us this season.
To be sure, this is true about the “Garber imposed” salary cap disparity.
But also, DCU has a voluntary salary cap that is a self-inflicted wound.
[…] from the MLS Cup Playoffs last weekend. The team earned that distinction despite a surprising 1-1 home draw with an Inter Miami CF that was missing Lionel Messi – this is the sixth consecutive year that DC […]