D.C. United used a late goal from Darren Mattocks to secure a point in their first visit to Banc of California Stadium, drawing with Los Angeles Football Club 1-1 Saturday night.
The late-game equalizer from Mattocks was his team-leading fifth of the season and continued the Black-and-Red’s success against expansion sides, moving to 21-11-4 all time against teams in their inaugural seasons.
The game opened on equal footing, as both sides felt each other out in the opening minutes. Then LAFC began to turn up the pressure and force some timely saves from United goalkeeper David Ousted.
Though the United defense held through most of the first half, LAFC struck first when a pass into the box from Benny Feilhaber took a deflection and pinballed its way to a waiting Diego Rossi who fired it past Ousted to make it 1-0 at the 39th minute.
The match took a turn, though, when LAFC defender Dejan Jakovic made a hard tackle against Paul Arriola that drew an immediate red card and put the home team down to 10 men.
With United up a man, the Black-and-Red began to make their push, creating several chances on the goal. Just as it was looking like LAFC would escape with the win, Mattocks banged in an equalizer for the Black-and-Red at the 83rd minute when Arriola won an aerial duel to head a Joseph Mora cross right to Mattocks who headed home his team-leading fifth goal of the season to make it 1-1.
United’s west coast trip will continue on June 9th when the Black-and-Red head to Centurylink Field to take on Seattle Sounders FC at 10 PM ET. The match will be one of four remaining until United open their new home, Audi Field, on July 14th against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
