DC United get rare scoring outburst, beat vacationing AC Milan 3-2 in international friendly

DC United beat leisurely AC Milan 3-2 in friendly

WASHINGTON — D.C. United proved they can indeed score — albeit when the game doesn’t count — as Chris Pontius had a goal and an assist Wednesday night in a 3-2 victory over Italian powerhouse AC Milan in an international friendly.

United have scored only four goals in nine MLS games, but they found the net with relative ease against an unmotivated Milan team that essentially was taking a leisurely American holiday after the long Serie A season.

Star Brazilian forwards Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato helped draw 30,367 fans to RFK Stadium, but Milan was without at least a half-dozen players who are with various national teams preparing for the World Cup. Ronaldinho did have one highlight — a right-footed bicycle kick that hit the right post early in the second half, a close call that left the former two-time FIFA world player of the year smiling in disbelief.

Luciano Emilio scored off Pontius’ assist in the 20th minute, and Pontius headed in Santino Quaranta’s corner kick in the 30th. Danny Allsopp got credit for a goal in the 61st when goalkeeper Christian Abbiati attempted a sliding save — only to deflect the ball off the United player’s shin and into the net.

United played the final 25 minutes with 10 men after substitute midfielder Brandon Barklage was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle injury. Milan substitute Massimo Oddo took advantage by scoring twice in a four-minute span, converting a penalty in the 70th and a long-range shot in the 74th.

Barklage will have an MRI on his left ankle on Thursday.