D.C. United drew 0-0 against CF Montréal in their tenth match of the 2021 MLS Regular Season. Despite outshooting Montreal 25-4 and keeping 54% of the possession in the match, United were unable to earn three points after keeping their third straight clean sheet. The draw was the first of the season for United, who sit on 13 points with a record of 4-5-1.
Hernán Losada stuck with the same starting eleven that came out on top of Inter Miami CF last time out on June 19. Bill Hamid played in goal with Andy Najar, Brendan Hines-Ike, and Donovan Pines in front of him as the three center backs. Kevin Paredes and Julian Gressel started as the two wingbacks and Russell Canouse and Felipe were partnered in the center of midfield. Paul Arriola, Adrien Perez, and Ola Kamara played as the front three.
D.C. United created a number of good chances to score in the first half. In the 14th minute, Ola Kamara rose highest on a long ball and cleverly headed the ball onward to a charging Adrien Perez. The forward gathered it in stride and forced a good save from the CF Montréal goalkeeper. Five minutes later, Perez found himself in space again down the left side after a defense-splitting through ball from Arriola. His firmly struck effort was tipped over the bar by the goalkeeper’s fingertips. Just before halftime, Montréal midfielder Zorhan Bassong picked up his second yellow card, forcing them to play at a man disadvantage for the remainder of the match. The sides went into the break level at 0-0.
United continued to control the match after the restart. In the 58th minute, Kevin Paredes played a clever pass across the box to Paul Arriola, whose side-footed shot was saved by a diving effort by the Montreal goalkeeper. Nigel Robertha, who came on as a substitute in the second half, got on the end of a couple crosses and made his presence felt in the air, narrowly missing the goal on two headed efforts late in the match. United’s last chance of the night came in the 85th minute when Russell Canouse’s header from a corner kick was once again saved by Montréal’s goalkeeper. Despite United’s dominance throughout, the match finished in a scoreless draw.
Bill Hamid collected his third consecutive clean sheet and the 73rd of his career, which is good for ninth most in MLS history.
D.C. United’s next match is against New York City FC on Sunday, June 27 at Red Bull Arena with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 PM ET. Tune into NBC Sports Washington, TeleXitos, and www.dcunited.com to watch the match.
