D.C. United scored three times before halftime en route to a 3-1 win over New York City FC that clinched the hosts their third straight postseason berth in the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs in both teams' penultimate game of the regular season Sunday afternoon at RFK Stadium.
The goals. The crowd. Playoffs. It's all for the &!#DCU#BringTheFightpic.twitter.com/12PYqmZkul
— D.C. United (@dcunited) October 16, 2016
Patrick Mullins scored his first goal against his former club in the 27th minute to give D.C. United a 1-0 lead. Lloyd Sam sent a low cross across the six-yard box where Mullins tapped in at the back post for his eighth goal of the season.
Sam picked up his second assist of the game four minutes later when Bobby Boswell latched onto his corner kick and headed in from six yards out to double D.C. United’s lead.
Andoni Iraola gifted D.C. United a third goal just before halftime on a poor pass back to Josh Saunders that instead landed at Mullins' feet. Mullins slipped back to Rob Vincent, who easily scored into the empty net to put D.C. comfortably ahead at the break.
More than 30,000 fans were on hand at RFK to witness the final regular season home match.
Bill Hamid tied a career-high with eight saves in a game, Sam notched his ninth and tenth assists, notching his own career high in assists (10) and Mullins scored a goal and added an assist in a game for the first time in his career.
United now travel to Orlando for the final day of the regular season and fight to earn a home playoff match.
