The Black-and-Red closed out a three-match week with aplomb, earning a 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution on Saturday at RFK Stadium. Summer addition Zoltán Stieber made his D.C. debut, Bill Hamid recorded his third consecutive shutout (for the second time in his career), and Luciano Acosta scored his fifth goal of the season in the win.
United were lively right from the beginning, connecting passes in the final third and threatening Cody Cropper multiple times throughout the first half. Stieber, who started on the left wing, combined well with Acosta from the get-go, starting a move that ended in a low cross to Patrick Mullins, who scooped his effort over the bar.
Paul Arriola, who started opposite Stieber on the right, also joined the attack in the first half, ripping a shot with his left foot directly at Cropper.
But while the team's build up play was solid, they couldn't find a final ball in the first 45 minutes. In the second half, head coach Ben Olsen substituted Lloyd Sam for Arriola, which proved to be a meaningful decision. Three minutes after coming on the field, Sam played a cross into the penalty area, where Kofi Opare redirected the ball across the face of goal and right into the path of Acosta, who finished with a convincing left-footed volley past Cropper to give United the lead.
United continued to generate chances for the remainder of the match, but couldn't find a second. It was no matter though, with Bill Hamid putting in yet another impressive performance in goal. The 26-year-old Homegrown Player earned his third consecutive shutout after making four saves, including one effort late on against Je-Vaugh Watson.
The victory gives United a perfect nine points from their last three games ahead of a week off, and improves upon their perfect record when Acosta scores. Since his addition in 2015, United are 8-0-0 when the Buenos Aires native is on the scoresheet. Opare recorded his first career assist, while Jalen Robinson, who made consecutive starts for the first time in his career, earned his second shutout against Kei Kamara and the Revolution.
