Match 3- DC United x Houston Dynamo
April 15, 2006
RFK Stadium
Washington, DC- By Brian Weeks, Tuesday, April 18, 2006
The good news for DC United is that they are 2-0-1 after three straight home games at RFK Stadium. The bad news is that they have yet to put together the masterclass performance which will put the conference and league on notice. On Saturday night, United came as close as it has all season to playing a complete 90 minutes of soccer in defeating the visiting Houston Dynamo 2-0. Coach Peter Nowak said post-match that United "played two complete halves…this is what we expect… playing two complete halves gives you a result like that.” However, neutral observers may think the scoreline flattered United after the Dynamo missed a number of glaring opportunities in the last 15 minutes of the game. United also had opportunities to extend its lead in a wide-open second half, but poor finishing allowed the Dynamo to stay close.
As predicted, Nowak decided to revert to his preferred 3-5-2 formation to start the match. Nowak made a couple changes to the starting lineup. Brandon Prideaux replaced John Wilson as the third defender. Freddy Adu was rewarded for his strong play off the bench against Chivas with a start at right midfield. Joshua Gros was switched to left midfield. Alecko Eskandarian began the game on the bench, as Jaime Moreno and Lucio Filomeno started up top for United. Ben Olsen, fresh off a goal-scoring appearance for the national team in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Jamaica, lined up in his customary central midfield position along with Brian Carroll and Christian Gomez. The Erpen-Boswell combo joined Prideaux as defenders in front of goalkeeper Troy Perkins. The Dynamo, meanwhile, were missing the inspirational Dwayne De Rosario due to his ejection in the loss to the Kansas City Wizards. Brad Davis took his place in central midfield. Hard-nosed defender Craig Waibel was also a new addition to the starting 11, replacing Kevin Goldthwaite.
United had been unable to score early in their two previous games, but they threatened from the start against the Dynamo. Filomeno reacted well to an errant back pass intended for Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad in minute 4, but Onstad was on hand to deny Filomeno’s shot on goal. The Dynamo seemed content to defend in numbers in the first half, and their opportunities were a result of ill-advised giveaways by United’s defenders. Erpen lost the ball to National Team striker Brian Ching in United’s own half in minute 14, but Boswell was on hand to deny Ching’s attempt on goal. The resulting corner kick was headed wide by Canadian Adrian Serioux. Erpen’s tendency to give away possession in United’s own half must be considered a liability. Olsen could be seen shouting at his teammate as the teams lined up for the corner kick. Not to be outdone by Erpen’s howler, Prideaux gave the ball away to the Dynamo some thirty yards from United’s goal, and Boswell had to react well again to save his fellow defender as Brian Mullan descended on Perkins’ goal. It was United, however, who took the lead in minute 25. Gros was held up just outside the box and was able to center to Moreno, but referee Abiodun Okulaja decided not to play advantage and whistled for the foul. Christian Gomez’ service was excellent, and Moreno’s first-time effort was stopped by Onstad on the goal line. Gros was on hand to blast home from no more than a couple yards out. Gros’ first goal of the season and sixth in his MLS career was well earned, as the hard-working midfielder both started the play and finished it, setting off wild celebrations by the United faithful. Gros said, “I think we had a great scoring opportunity when the ref didn’t let play go on, and I think it (the goal) was kind of a little bit of payback.” Ching had an apparent equalizer waved off due to offsides, and the two teams headed to the locker room with United holding a 1-0 advantage after an even first half.
The Dynamo attacked with purpose at the beginning of the second half, but found it tough to break down United’s three man backline. United, for its part, was content with mimicking the Dynamo’s first half strategy of defending with numbers and hitting on the break. Adu was hugely influential in his new free role in the second half. In minute 68 he was sent through down the left side by a Christian Gomez through ball and was in alone against Onstad, but scuffed his shot just wide of the Dynamo goal. Three minutes later, Adu’s close control and dribbling skill won United a free kick from about 20 yards out. Adu left the ball for Gomez to strike, and his curling shot took a slight deflection off the Dynamo wall and past Onstad for the second goal of the match. The introduction of ex-United forward Ronald Cerritos and United forward Alecko Eskandarian signaled the attacking mentality of the opposing coaches in the second half. Cerritos was to make his mark on the match in the dying moments, but Adu was not yet done creating opportunities for United. He narrowly missed two wonderful opportunities to score his first goal of the season for United. The first, in minute 79, saw Adu make a long run down the right side and use his patented pump fake to create space for a curling shot from just outside the box which narrowly missed the upper right corner. He came even closer about three minutes later, after excellent work by Eskandarian freed Adu for a blast off the crossbar with Onstad well beaten. Nowak gave his begrudging praise to Adu’s second half performance, saying, “You can see the progress, you can see how he adjust to situation and reads the game and what’s important on the field, and of course, go forward because this is his strength and this is his weapon.” United continued to fire blanks in front of goal, although this time Eskandarian was the culprit after he attempted to round Onstad in minute 85 and was stuffed by the Canadian keeper. Just a minute later, Cerritos missed the first of two sitters for the Dynamo after he was left unmarked in the box and shot high. He was afforded another wonderful opportunity less than a minute later, but somehow headed straight into Perkins’ arms from six yards out after he was left unmarked yet again. United may have been left to rue their poor finishing if Cerritos had been able to direct either of his chances into the net.
United heads to the Meadowlands on Saturday to renew their Atlantic Cup rivalry with a winless New York Red Bulls squad. The Red Bulls lost General Manager Alexi Lalas to the Los Angeles Galaxy on Tuesday. United will need to improve on its finishing to continue its run of two straight victories. A bright spot during the victories has been the improved play of keeper Troy Perkins, who has not given up a goal in nearly 250 minutes. When pressed on whether Perkins had done enough to challenge Nick Rimando for the starting position once both are in good health, Nowak said, “Let them compete…the crosses from both sides (for the Dynamo) were good today… and he did good with that.” The Dynamo will look to avoid their third straight loss when they travel back home to Houston to take on Real Salt Lake on Saturday.