The New England Revolution have an Achilles heel, and it's set pieces. In just the 15th minute, D.C. United discovered that weakness and exploited it, taking a 1-0 lead through a Brandon McDonald header off of a free kick by Branko Boskovic.
Boskovic, United's all-but-forgotten Designated Player, lofted in a free-kick from about fifty yards away from goal. Brandon McDonald slipped behind Shalrie Joseph and in front of A.J. Soares, then leaped to get his head on the ball. Matt Reis was drifting in no-man's land and could do nothing about the ball as it looped into the far corner of the net.
The set-piece goal marks the sixth time this season that the Revs have conceded from dead-ball situations, and the fourth time from a free kick specifically. Last week, New England gave up a goal from a free kick against Houston in the first half en route to a 2-2 draw.
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