MATCH REPORTS
Mission accomplished but a larger one looms
DC UNITED 3:2 CD OLIMPIA (7:3 AGG)
March 2, 2007
By Aaron Stollar
It wasn't pretty or perfect but D.C. United got the job done and advanced through to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals with a 3-2 win over Olimpia of Honduras.
In only his second match in a United jersey, Brazilian forward Luciano Emilio thrived, scoring two goals. Midfielder Christian Gomez converted a penalty to help D.C. win the two-game series, 7-3.
"I'm happy I was able to score against them," Emilio said after scoring his third goal in two matches.
Emilio, who starred at Olimpia before arriving at RFK, had nothing but positives to say about his former teammates.
"I won a lot of titles with Olimpia so I really don't feel that killer instinct yet towards them," he said. "They gave me a lot as a player."
Unlike in the away leg, United did not control this match from minute one. Olimpia, winners of the Champions Cup in 1972 and 1988, commanded the match early on pinging two crosses, first from Wilfredo Barahona, then from Maynor Figueroa that United were fortunate did not connect with their intended targets.
But the Black and Red surrendered the opening goal on the half-hour mark when defender Bryan Namoff recklessly tackled Barahona in the penalty area after surrendering possession far too cheaply. It was one of the easiest penalty calls Canadian referee Mauricio Navarro will ever have to make. Hendry Thomas converted the penalty kick with a low shot down the middle, past a diving Troy Perkins.
The cold rain continued to pour down but United reacted the way so few MLS clubs have ever done in CONCACAF play, with poise and skill.
It took D.C. but seven minutes to even the match. Emilio pushed left after receiving a cutback pass from Jaime Moreno. In doing so, Emilio left two Olimpia defenders on their posteriors before scoring low past goalkeeper Noel Valladares.
"When I first came here I knew (Gomez and Jaime Moreno) were from South America and we clicked right (away) on and off the field as well," Emilio said. "And I knew their style… would blend with mine."
Gomez ended any faint hopes of an Olimpia comeback after Ben Olsen earned a slightly fortuitous penalty four minutes into the second half. Olsen appeared merely to trip over the already outstretched legs of the Olimpia defender. Gomez duly slotted home the penalty.
United then had to substitute starting goalkeeper Troy Perkins after he suffered an apparent quadriceps strain in the 67th minute. Substitute goalkeeper Jay Nolly made his D.C. debut and soon had to pluck the ball out of the net behind him. Olimpia and Honduras midfielder Wilson Palacios slotted a perfect though-pass to substitute forward Jose Pacini who blasted his shot into the net, tying the match in the 75th minute.
Olimpia's Thomas should play the lotto after he luckily managed to stay on the field after he appeared to stomp on D.C. midfielder Ben Olsen following a tackle near the sideline. United's coaching staff and substitutes went ballistic and with good reason as referee Navarro clearly saw the incident and inexplicably waved play on. Olsen continued on, unhurt.
"It's pretty natural that they're going to take some whacks," Olsen said.
Emilio stamped one final moment into the memories of the supporters (and likely to terrified MLS coaches as well) with his second goal, giving D.C. the 3-2 lead. Gomez found Emilio near the end line with a diagonal pass. The Brazilian had defender Nahun Amaya in front of him, but no matter. He rounded him with ease and scored with a low right-footed shot that gently glanced off the post into the net.
It was a classy finish and the perfect finish to an imperfect night.
United now advances to face Chivas of Guadalajara in the semifinals on March 15th at RFK Stadium. Chivas, the most popular club in Mexico and likely all of CONCACAF, will present D.C. with two of the biggest matches in its history. Chivas qualified for the Champions Cup by winning the Mexican Apertura Tournament last year and won the Champions Cup in 1962.
News…
Marco's back - Former D.C. midfielder Marco "El Diablo" Etcheverry has joined United to serve as Special Consultant to President Kevin Payne. He will work as a liaison to Latin America, as a scout and as an ambassador for the club around the world. Be sure to tune into the Screaming Eagles podcast for Dave Lifton's interview with the legend.
Mediate Waived - United announced that the club waived midfielder Domenic Mediate last night before the match. The Maryland product played in only eight league matches for the club, his time limited by a broken leg he suffered last August against Los Angeles. Mediate will be available to other MLS clubs in Monday's Waiver Draft.
On the Tube - United also announced a new four-year deal with Comcast SportsNet which ensures that all of D.C.'s 2007 league matches will be televised live, a majority of which will be in high definition. United's matches next year will be seen on CSN, Fox Soccer Channel, ABC, ESPN2, Telefutura and HDNet. Four of their matches will be exclusive to HDNet which has a limited subscriber area, though those four matches are all take place at RFK Stadium.
Thoughts…
Feisty - D.C. Coach Tom Soehn when asked by some punk reporter (Who are we kidding? It was me.) how he felt to play the "real" Chivas, snapped right back, "Is that assuming we're not a real club? We're going to be ready for everybody," he said. "Let them worry about us."
Good for him. We haven't heard that kind of attitude since Bruce Arena coached here. For all of Nowak's smoldering we never heard that kind of attitude out of him and his teams always appeared soft. I don't think Soehn will allow that to happen. He reminds me of a hockey coach. He doesn't sigh, pause and ponder great tactical thoughts before extolling you with his "genius" the way so many American coaches do. He immediately defends, protects and complements his guys. The difference with Bruce and Soehn, is that once Bruce got done defending and complementing his own guys, he proceeded to remind all that not only is he a genius, but that other people (players, coaches, reporters, USSF guys, mascots, general managers, referees, etc) are all idiots.
Tentative - Brian Carroll played like a player afraid to get a second yellow card and will know he can do better. Before being replaced by Olsen at halftime, Carroll struggled to win aerial balls and hesitated to dispossess Olimpia's midfielders.
"You just have to be smart," Carroll said. "Tommy (Soehn) talked about being smart, splitting Ben and I so we could get some minutes but not put us in a dangerous spot of getting a second yellow."
Insecure - United's three-man defensive corps consisting of Facundo Erpen, Bobby Boswell and Bryan Namoff struggled against the Hondurans, giving away the ball far too often.
"You never want to give them that goal, it puts them in the game, makes them think they have a chance." Boswell said. "We have to work on a lot though. We were giving away balls in the back we shouldn't have been giving away."
The backline remains as the biggest worry going into the MLS season and especially into the tie with Chivas.
Talented - Olimpia's No. 8, Wilson Palacios stood out, assisting on a goal, bossing the Hondurans' midfield and just troubling United with his skill and size. If I was a general manager of a MLS team in need help in the center of the field, I would be on the phone to Tegucigalpa immediately, trying to sign this Honduran international.
CD Olimpia (0-1-0) vs. D.C. United (1-0-0)
March 01, 2007 -- RFK Stadium
Scoring Summary:
OLI -- Hendry Thomas 1 (penalty kick) 30
DC -- Luciano Emilio 1 (Jaime Moreno ) 37
DC -- Christian Gomez 1 (penalty kick) 49
OLI -- Jose Pacini 1 (Wilson Palacios ) 75
DC -- Luciano Emilio 2 (Christian Gomez ) 84
CD Olimpia -- Noel Valladares, Edwin Avila Martinez, Nahun Avila Amaya, Wilfredo Barahona, Maynor Figueroa, Sergio Mendoza, Arnold Cruz, Wilson Palacios (Jesus Alberto Navas 76), Hendry Thomas, Reynaldo Tilguath (Walter Lopez 46), Juan Manuel Carcamo (Jose Pacini 67),
Substitutes Not Used: Carlos Discua, Ricardo James, Rony Morales, Milton Palacios
D.C. United -- Troy Perkins (Jay Nolly 67), Bryan Namoff, Bobby Boswell, Facundo Erpen, Devon McTavish, Brian Carroll (Ben Olsen 46), Christian Gomez, Clyde Simms, Joshua Gros, Luciano Emilio, Jaime Moreno (Jamil Walker 46),
Substitutes Not Used: Stephen deRoux, Rod Dyachenko, Justin Moose, John Wilson
Misconduct Summary:
DC -- Bryan Namoff (caution; Reckless Foul) 29
OLI -- Wilson Palacios (caution; Diving, Exaggeration) 38
OLI -- Sergio Mendoza (caution; Dissent) 71
OLI -- Wilfredo Barahona (caution; Game Disrepute) 85
Referee: Mauricio Navarro
Referee's Assistants: C.J. Morgante; Adam Wienkowski
4th official: Alex Prus
Attendance: 8,181