A game-winner by Lionard Pajoy over the Philadelphia Union gave D.C. United six points in two games and has D.C. United in the fourth playoff spot with five matches left in the season.
Martin Schatzer at Black and Red United was understandably quite pleased with United's performance in the second win in as many games, noting that the same squad was on the field for Thursday night's game-winner as had been when the team went ahead against the New England Revolution in the team's last game:
This team fights on. We have another game in three days, but Ben Olsen didn't make any late substitutes because he didn't need to. Everyone on the field from the 55th minute on was willing to fight until the end. Pajoy was clearly tired, but he kept working. Chris Korb picked up a knock early in the second half but showed no intent to leave the field.
Especially heartening for United fans is the emergence of Chris Pontius after Dwayne De Rosario suffered an injury while playing for Canada in World Cup Qualifying. The 25-year-old has assists on the team's two most recent game-winning scores.
We also have as definitive an answer as we're going to get to the question of Who Will Step Up Without Dwayne De Rosario. It's Pontius. There shouldn't be any doubt why he was given the captain's armband in DeRo's absense. He was leading by example with a newfound and unexpected maturity, pushing the team forward with consistency and precision... Pontius was always going to be the likeliest player to create a goal. When the team needed a play, Pontius made it.
United returns to home for a matchup Sunday against Chivas USA.
For more on D.C. United, head over to Black and Red United and continue to check out SB Nation DC.