D.C. United forward’s hat trick, assist help snap Salt Lake’s five-game winning streak D.C. United 4, Real Salt Lake 1
It’s impossible to predict the moment when a player, no matter how talented, will permanently carve out a place in the collective memory of a team, or even a league.
In 18 minutes on at RFK Stadium on Saturday, Dwayne De Rosario put together one of the most exquisite stretches of soccer in MLS history, a performance in D.C. United’s 4-1 win over Real Salt Lake that added to his own legacy among league greats, re-handicapped this year’s MLS most valuable player race, and potentially altered the course of United’s season.
Starting with one of the most daring and beautiful passes of the year to set up the night’s first goal, De Rosario completed his own hat trick by the 31st minute – the earliest in MLS history – all but ensuring that Real Salt Lake’s five-match winning streak was over well before halftime and Alvaro Saborio’s late second-half goal was meaningless.
”I’m not even really surprised anymore with some of the stuff he does,” United head coach Ben Olsen said. “Literally, I’ve seen it as a fan of and being on the other side for 10 years. This is what he does, and this is why we wanted him. He’s just been exceptional.”
The first moment of magic came in the 13th minute. Picking up the ball at midfield with his back to goal, De Rosario threaded a 40-yard pass, on the ground, past three Salt Lake defenders, hitting a charging Andy Najar in stride, leaving the 18-year-old to take one touch before beating former D.C. goalkeeper Nick Rimando to the near post.
Najar returned the favor nine minutes later, picking out De Rosario with a pinpoint cross from the right sideline. De Rosario, who’d begun the play at midfield, sprinted half the field and met Najar’s cross with a leaning header to double D.C. United’s lead.
Real Salt Lake (15-8-6) would’ve rather De Rosario had been punished – read: suspended – for embellishment on a penalty kick call in United’s 2-2 draw Chivas USA three days before. Instead, he was on the field to punish the Western Conference contenders for resting the bulk of their first team, making seven changes from their starting lineup in a 3-1 midweek win at New York.
“It helps build your confidence more when you score early and you’re up 2-0,” De Rosario said. “You start to feel real positive, but we were up 2-0 last week, and we saw the team come back.”
So in the 27th minute, De Rosario stepped into a layoff from Josh Wolff and powered a right-footed 25-yard drive into the upper right corner.
Four minutes later De Rosario used that same foot to bend a free kick from 35 yards out inside the left post and past Rimando, who could only stare in disbelief at the replay while the crowd of 16,367 went into delirium.
De Rosario’s second hat trick of the season – he’s the first D.C. United player to have two in one year – moved him to the top of the MLS scoring chart with 13 goals. He’s also three back from the league lead in assists with 11.
“DeRo had a special night,” Wolff said, “I don’t really think I’ve seen anything like that in my 13 or 14 years.”
The victory, however, did little to assist United’s playoff push – D.C. (9-8-10) is the lowest among five teams at the top of the Eastern Conference separated by only four points – but it solidified the midseason acquisition of De Rosario from New York as the most important MLS trade of the year.
“It’s working out for now,” said De Rosario. “We’re still not in the playoffs. So until we make the playoffs, then I can say it’s working out. ‘Personally’ [only] goes so far. My goal is to make the playoffs and win a championship here.”
De Rosario’s move to Washington, his second team change of 2011 and third since 2009, came in part because of his salary demands have always flirted, albeit unsuccessfully, with seven-figure Designated Player territory. At 33 years old, he’ll earn a guaranteed $493,750 this season, and the team owns an option for next year.
His performance Saturday added him to the team’s soul forever. It’ll be up to D.C. United to ensure he stays on the roster.
“Oh, we’ll keep him around,” Olsen said. “I’ve talked to my owner, Will Chang. He’s not going anywhere.”
