Needing a jumpstart to an offense that labored during a three-game road trip, D.C. United turned to a pair of fullbacks in their 2-1 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night at RFK Stadium.
Starting left back Taylor Kemp provided the service on Chris Pontius’ equalizer before leaving with an apparent groin injury in the second half.
And Chris Korb picked up where Kemp left off, serving in a looping ball that led to Zach Pfeffer’s late handball and Chris Rolfe’s ensuing game-winning penalty.
“It’s a huge, huge weapon for us,” said United midfielder Davy Arnaud. “With the way that we play … it’s imperative that our outside backs get forward offensively. And I thought all three of them did.”
It was just enough to lift D.C. (7-3-4, 25pts) to a home victory on Saturday, snapping a three-match winless stretch and boosting their Eastern Conference lead to five points over the New England Revolution, who host the LA Galaxy on Sunday (7 pm ET, FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes).
And after scoring his second goal of the season on Kemp’s service, Pontius said it’s an avenue United will have to continue to exploit as more teams adopt a conservative approach against them, especially at RFK.
“Dealing with teams that have sat in a little bit, it’s something that we’re not necessarily used to,” Pontius said. “You’ve got to get the wide service in to hopefully open up the middle. Once you whip a few balls in, they have to respect that.”
Kemp has begun doing more of it, and now holds the club lead with four assists, a fact made bittersweet by his 73rd-minute departure Saturday and a yet uncertain timetable for return.
He picked up his third assist coming on as an offensive-minded sub in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw against a nine-man New England side, and has increasingly become a set piece option on situations calling for left-footed service.
“It’s tough, because his left foot is obviously the best left foot on the team,” Arnaud said. “You see when he whips balls in, they’re dangerous. They’re whipped in with purpose.”
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United coach Ben Olsen suggested Kemp’s injury could be partly blamed on a schedule that presents five matches in 15 days, including a 1-0 loss at the Portland Timbers last Wednesday that Kemp started. D.C. has two matches left in that stretch, both at home.
“Look, you can only ask these guys to do so much,” Olsen said. “You play them, then you fly them to Portland, and then you fly them back, and you play a heavy game like this, some guys are going to go down.”
Korb doesn’t offer Kemp’s left foot. But as the Union became compact late, Korb found enough space in the 84th minute to curl in a right-footed cross from the left toward the back post.
With Rolfe lurking, the Union's Pfeffer extended his right arm slightly, making contact with the ball. The far-side assistant referee immediately raised his flag for the penalty. Rolfe converted it for his fourth goal of the season, and D.C. United's latest win.
“The linesman seemed pretty sure about it,” Olsen said. “And give him credit for making a bold call. Overall, a big three points. It’s been a long week.”
