By-the-by, WTF with the Gallese head slap on Hopkins in the closing minutes going unpunished? Shoulda been straight red for violent conduct. If the Disciplinary Committee had the balls of a eunuch (Hah! As if.), he’d get a two-game suspension out of that.
That's what I thought in real time but IIRC there was a reply that showed he shoved him on the shoulder not the head? Could be wrong about that.
I presume it was Rooney's idea, but those short passing sequences involving Romo, Hines-Ike and Birnbaum just about stopped my heart. Yes, it drew attackers into our end, but we came awfully close to giving up the ball in terrible places. Romo is no Nick Rimando. Maybe this new guy Ochoa is better with the ball at his feet. Let's hope so.
there is more to this F1 analogy then at first blush. In that race Ferrari snatched defeat from the jaws of victory - gave away two podium places much as DC has regularly given up late goals over the past 3 seasons. So we did nothing but shrug our shoulders and say, "yeah yeah, wait for it - there is still time left....." But to everyone's surprise, somehow Wazzah magic came up with another last minute goal against Orlando. Stoopid. But I just might be a believer again.
The difference is that Ferrari Ferraried it up as usual. Red Bull changed strategy on the fly and always looked a step ahead. Sure, Rooney told the boys at the half to play quicker, but that first half should have ended 3-0 Orlando. Would have been like Verstappen did his 360 on the 5th lap or so, that would have knackered his race. As the late great Bill Russel used to say, "I'd rather be good than lucky, but I'll take lucky." Red Bull were good, DCU was ********ing lucky.
My biggest hope after this one: DC plays like they did in the second half more than like they did in the first, but Rooney doesn't allow the FO to say "good enough" if the team picks up the points needed to contend for the last playoff spots. We get a full off-season with Rooney contributing to the scouting/acquisition process, and next year we end up with a team that looks like it belongs in the league's playoffs.