A second defensive lapse proved costly for D.C. United on Wednesday night as the Black-and-Red's playoff hopes suffered a crippling defeat in the form of a 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps Wednesday night at BC Place Stadium.
After falling behind 1-0 45 seconds into the match, United had looked like coming back into the match prior to half time. But less than a minute into the second half, Vancouver struck again. As on the first goal, the ball came to Jordan Harvey on the left wing. As on the first goal, Harvey was allowed too much time and space by Andy Najar. As on the first goal, Harvey lofted a left-footed cross into the penalty area. This time, it was Chinese striker Long Tan who headed the ball brilliantly past Bill Hamid to put Vancouver on top 2-0 55 seconds into the second half.
United managed to pull a goal back in the 57th minute as Brandon McDonald redirected a Santino Quaranta free kick past Joe Cannon. But that was not enough for the visitors and despite two very good chances -- an appeal for a penalty from a possible handball of a Marc Burch shot that was denied in the 77th minute and a Quaranta header that just bounced wide a minute later -- United fell to their third straight defeat.