ST. PAUL, Minn. — Pure joy washed over Donovan Pines’s lanky, 6-foot-5 frame. In his third career start since anchoring the University of Maryland to an NCAA championship, D.C. United’s rookie central defender had watched his looping header drop into the net in the 21st minute Sunday at Minnesota United’s Allianz Field.
Off he went, long strides carrying him some 60 yards to celebrate his first pro goal with his coaches and support staff on the sideline.
But like everything else on this afternoon, disappointment followed. Pines’s apparent goal was nullified by video replay and, near the end of an uninspiring second-half performance by the visitors, United conceded a late score and fell, 1-0.