The missed call hung over D.C. United’s tense match Sunday at Portland for more than 50 minutes, an apparent goal acknowledged by neither the match officials nor the video assistant referee.
With United clinging to a precarious one-goal lead, the mistake figured to cost the visitors at some point — and dent their MLS playoff hopes — amid the Timbers’ constant pressure in the second half.
But D.C. survived the officiating miscue to escape with an inartistic but satisfying 1-0 victory before the announced sellout crowd of 25,218 at rainy Providence Park in Portland, Ore.
“It looks like it went in,” Coach Ben Olsen said after watching postgame video, “but the good news is we didn’t let that affect us and we continued to grind away and grab three points.