HARRISON, N.J. – Without the heroics of goalkeeper Bill Hamid, D.C. United almost certainly wouldn't have had the opportunity to mount a back-from-the-dead comeback against Atlantic Cup rivals New York on Sunday at Red Bull Arena.
Not that Hamid's willing to accept that narrative after a 2-2 road draw that both represented a point gained and, depending on your perspective, two lost for United.
Despite coming up big on a pair of shots from Sal Zizzo and Bradley Wright-Phillips to keep D.C. in a match they were then trailing 2-0, Hamid spent his postgame interview focused on how his mistakes cost D.C. a full three points.
"I made a mistake on that second goal. If I don't make that mistake, I think we walk out with three points," Hamid said. "What's most important to me is doing my job helping this team. On that second goal for them, I don't think I did my job."
Wright-Phillips scored the goal in question for New York after being played into space in the right channel by Daniel Royer. Instead of going big on his marker, Hamid got caught guessing and couldn't stop a blistering, close-range strike from Wright-Phillips at the near post.
However, D.C. did not fold – and neither did their star 'keeper. Instead, Hamid was called upon to make four big saves after his blemish, saves that put United in position to mount their last-second comeback.
"Goals are a big deal, but [Hamid] will be his toughest critic," D.C. boss Ben Olsen said. "He will always make a few saves to keep us in the game. He will consistently do that for us."
"I kept going, we kept going, the focus and the attitude were spectacular, the hunger and the fight, knowing we were punched in the gut and we had to keep going," Hamid said. "It was brilliant."
Hamid described the match as a "dogfight," and it certainly was. Chippy battles dominated the encounter, with the teams combining for 31 fouls and three yellow cards. The physical nature of the match made scoring opportunities sparse. However, when called upon, Hamid came up big in a rivalry draw that pulled D.C. within a point of the red line.
"It's a dogfight between these two teams, between New York and DC, its always been like that since I can remember," Hamid said. "Since Thierry Henry, Tim Cahill, Rafa Marquez was on the team and I started playing with DC, all I can remember are dogfights, close matches, scraps, tough tackles, good goals.
"It's been up and down between DC and New York and its something we get geared up for. It's always going to be a close match because both teams really don't like each other."
