Sporting Kansas City 0 - 0 D.C. United
Final
  for this game

DCU clinches playoff berth with draw against SKC

Oct 4, 2014 - 2:15 AM Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - D.C. United became the first team in the Eastern Conference to clinch a playoff spot as a 0-0 draw with Sporting Kansas City on Friday at RFK Stadium was enough.

The match had plenty of intensity between two of the top sides in the East, but it lacked clear-cut scoring chances, and in the end it helped United return to the postseason after a one-year hiatus.

Sporting came into the game seemingly more concerned with defending than attacking after losing five of its last six games, while United remains six points clear at the top of the East with Friday's result.

The best opportunity for either side in the first half came in the 28th minute when Luis Silva dropped a ball off to Fabian Espindola, whose dangerous first- time shot was turned away by an important block from Sporting defender Matt Besler.

Silva set up Espindola again in the second half with a good ball down the left that allowed the forward to cut into the area and drive a low shot wide of the far post.

It was then Silva's turn to threaten Andy Gruenebaum's net with a 25-yard free kick that sailed narrowly past the left post.

United goalkeeper Bill Hamid had a relatively quiet evening, but he was called upon in the 76th minute when C.J. Sapong turned a header on goal from close range that required Hamid to get down quickly to keep out the effort.






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