Two Sides
There are two views as to how to view Saturday’s game against Toronto.
- Disappointment that United gave up a lead and three points or,
- Excitement that United rallied back not once, but twice to salvage a tie.
Neither view is wrong. In fact, both are right.
Recap
Once again, United got a lead, this time early from Ange N’Silu’s first MLS goal. And once again, United squandered many first half opportunities to enter halftime with only a one goal lead. Which is a mistake when playing against a team with Dwayne DeRosario on thier side. The guy has made a career out of making a nothing play into a highlight reel play in an instant. And he did just that. Twice.
First he took advantage of a miscommunication between Jankovic and Sokic, on a long ball from Toronto’s keeper and just managed to poke the ball over the on rushing goalkeeper. Almost any other player would have sailed the ball over the net or kicked the goalkeeper’s head off. DeRo just calmly finished the play. Then while United had just started to regroup, a clumsy challenge from Marc Burch led to a free kick in the United defensive corner. Yahoo Serioux headed the ball home to put Toronto ahead.
Once again, this is the part where the 2008 edition of DC United would have packed it in, but this year’s team kept at it. Second half Chris Pontius brought the score level, but while the team tried to quickly push for a second and the "crowd was too loud"(?!?!?) DeRo struck again. This time weaving through where the midfield usually is, and getting through Bryan Namoff before uncorking a 20 yard bomb to put Toronto back in the lead. But United still didn’t fold. That goal would have taken the wind out of the sails of a lot of teams, but United continued to show resilience and kept pressing the attack.
Then fortune intervened. A long cross found Marvell Wynne’s hand in the area. For some reason, referee Baldomero Toledo must of thought he was in LA because he called the foul and penalty kick. Typically, United never gets that call. After some polite discussion with a majority of the Toronto field players and Toledo, Jamie Moreno stepped up to the spot and slotted home another record setting goal (since as MLS’s all time leading scorer, that’s all he can score anymore).
Yin and Yang
Nothing’s perfect, this team has shown some weaknesses and some strengths. Some were expected, some are surprising.
What are the problems? Squandering scoring opportunities, the inability to string two good consecutive halves (in the same game) together, some unfortunate bounces.
United’s let a lot of solid opportunites slip through their grasp in recent weeks. They should have been up both in this game and Dallas by a couple of goals. Instead both teams remained within sight and made the second half a game, in Dallas’ case they went into the lockerroom being up against the run of play. They’ve also come out a bit flat, or cerebral (thinking too much) to not lose a lead int eh second half, further allowing the visiting team back into the game.
What are the strengths? Team depth, team character.
United’s used depth like never before. Only Anthony Peters and John DiRaimondo haven’t seen any minutes this year. And only Brandon Barklage, Boyzzz Khumalo, and newly acquired Avery John have played less than 100 minutes. Tommy Soehn’s really using the bench this year, and that’s bound to pay divedends later in the season, both in term of wear-and-tear on players and confidence when they need to have it. And you can’t say enough about the team character. They’ve battled back in several games now, and seem to have the old swagger of 1997 and 1998 where they’re almost kind of insulted that they were scored upon and want to get that goal back. Now, they don’t have the talent level that those teams had where they would literally come down the field and get the goal back instantly, but it’s apparent that that fire and pride is there.
You’d hope that they can rectify the squandered opportunites. By getting a second or third goal would deflate the opposition, and hopefully prevent a second half letdown. The season is still fairly young, as is most of the roster, let’s hope they both continue to develop along the path they’re on.
Next
United travels back to the Home Depot Center only this time they take on Chivas USA. Starring two old United players, Alecko Eskandarian, Carey Talley, and Jesse Marsch (wow, those two guys are still playing?). If Ben Olsen makes the trip and plays pay attention to the midfield war as the league’s two best central midfield pests go at it. It’s on Fox Soccer Channel at 11PM (EDT), check out a viewing party if you can.
The next home game is another US Open Cup play-in game, this time against the New York Red Bulls. Next Wednesday at RFK, kickoff is at 7PM. There is no TV, get to the stadium to help United get into the Open Cup to defend it’s title.
Misc
Thanks to the Toronto fans that made the trip down, and participated in the stadium rally. Classy as always, we look forward to your next trip down.
Best wishes to Fred and his family as his daughter recovers from surgery, and congrats to Tino on the arrival of his son Valentino ‘Tiny Tino’.
