Final
Olsen's goal in 90th minute gives United 1-1 tie
Apr 18, 2009 - 2:44 AM WASHINGTON (Stats) -- It was only thanks to Ben Olsen's header in stoppage time that D.C. United earned a 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution on Friday evening.United, though, left the match feeling the outcome should have been much better.
United (1-1-3) dominated possession, outshooting the Revolution 20-4 and stringing together several prime scoring opportunities with eight shots on goal. New England had just two.
"We had every opportunity to have buried this game today because they did absolutely nothing," said United goalkeeper Louis Crayton. "They just sat back defending and we had all the chances to win this game today."
The Revolution (2-0-2) had led since the 50th minute when Shalrie Joseph scored on a header. United had been puzzled most of the match by Brad Knighton, who stopped seven of eight shots and made a handful of stunning saves.
But with seconds ticking away, United's Jaime Moreno took a free kick from the far side of the box. He chipped the ball across to Olsen in a scrum on the far side, and Olsen managed to knock it in.
"I'm usually at the 18, and that post looked a little bit open throughout the game," Olsen said. "It's the 90th minute, we're down, so everybody's pushing, I jumped in there. Fortunately a good ball came back post, and I was lucky to sneak in there somehow."
With the assist, Moreno - MLS's all-time leading goal-scorer - became the first player in league history to tally at least 100 goals and 100 assists.
"It doesn't really mean a lot to me," Moreno said. "But I guess numbers count in America, so it's good. I'm happy for it."
The Revolution struck first when Wells Thompson left the ball on the far side of the box for Steve Ralston, who found Joseph cutting through toward the goal. Joseph drilled the ball with his head past Crayton for his first goal of the season.
That goal seemed as if it would hold behind great play by Knighton, who was making his third career start in place of injured Matt Reis. Knighton has yielded three goals in his first three career starts. He made seven saves against United.
In the 35th minute, Christian Gomez gathered Luciano Emilio's redirected cross on the bounce from 10 feet and unleashed a shot to the left, but Knighton dove into the open space to punch away the ball.
He made another tricky save moments after Joseph's goal when he absorbed Moreno's close-range shot off a long cross from Gomez.
"We came in with the attitude that we weren't going to let them score," Knighton said. "We played really well defensively, not giving them many opportunities. Just to have that in stoppage time, it doesn't show how much work we put in and how big of an effort we gave."
Knighton's highlights only served as reminders of what could have been for United.
"It's a tie," Olsen said. "It ends up still being disappointing. I still think with the way we played, especially in the first half, we could get more out of that game."
- MLS CORRECTION
NEW ENGLAND 1
DC UNITED 1
Apr 17 9:02 PM - MLS UPDATE
NEW ENGLAND 1
DC UNITED 1
NEW ENGLAND CAUTION: Shalrie Joseph in the 90th minute
Apr 17 9:00 PM - MLS
NEW ENGLAND 1
DC UNITED 1 FINAL
Apr 17 8:59 PM - MLS UPDATE
NEW ENGLAND 1
DC UNITED 1
DC UNITED GOAL: Ben Olsen in the 90th minute
Revolution 1, D.C. United 1 End of Reg.Apr 17 8:55 PM - MLS UPDATE
NEW ENGLAND 1
DC UNITED 0
NEW ENGLAND GOAL: Shalrie Joseph in the 50th minute
Revolution 1, D.C. United 0 50'Apr 17 8:15 PM - MLS
NEW ENGLAND 0
DC UNITED 0 HALFTIME
Apr 17 7:55 PM
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