United Uses Classy Effort to Down Colorado

By Brian Patrick Weeks

August 26, 2008

DC United’s see-saw season took a turn for the better on Saturday night as they used a composed performance to down the visiting Colorado Rapids.  Goals from Joe Vide, Santino Quaranta and reserve Quavas Kirk dealt a blow to Colorado’s playoff ambitions.  Christian Gomez played his first game in Washington since his trade this offseason, but his performance was overshadowed by a United side missing a slew of regular starters.

United entered the match after a spirited yet underwhelming performance against the New England Revolution at Foxborough on Wednesday.  The 2-1 loss signaled a further blow to United’s aspirations to enter the race for the Eastern Conference crown and the Supporter’s Shield.  Colorado, on the other hand, had won their last match, scoring a 2-1 victory at home against a faltering Kansas City Wizards side on the strength of two goals from behemoth Conor Casey.  The Rapids also parted ways with long-time coach Fernando Clavijo during the week as Englishman Gary Smith took the reins on an interim basis.

United made one change from the team that lost to New England in mid-week, with Craig Thompson starting in midfield in place of defender Mike Zaher as United shifted to a 3-5-2.  The Rapids team remained unchanged from the previous weekend. 

United started off with more of the possession, but it was Colorado who threatened, albeit from long distance, as Conor Casey blasted an attempt over the bar from 25 yards after some nifty footwork at midfield.  United also had a look at goal early, as Brian Namoff got up field and slotted a pass to an unmarked Thompson who scuffed his shot straight at Preston Burpo from 12 yards out.  After Casey and Santino Quaranta sliced their attempts from distance, the game settled into a chess match as Colorado dropped numbers behind the ball and left Casey by his lonesome up top.  United enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, but were struggling to create chances as former US National Team defender Cory Gibbs added steel, pace and guile to the Colorado backline in the opening stanza.  It took a goal from an unlikely source to break the deadlock, as Joe Vide was able to blast a laser to Burpo’s near post after a nice layoff from Emilio in minute 45.  Vide’s goal was a just reward for his tireless effort in breaking up Colorado attacks and foraging up field, and United were deservedly ahead at the break. 

Colorado made two substitutions at halftime, as Colin Clark came on for an ineffective Jacob Peterson and Greg Dalby for an equally ineffective Mehdi Ballouchy.  Dalby was to last only 13 minutes, however, after he exited the game with an apparent knee injury after a collision with Vide.  Christian Gomez entered to polite applause from the United faithful who had witnessed his heroics during his term with United.  Gomez, however, was unable to will the Rapids to victory as he had done with United during his years at RFK Stadium.  The United defense, aided by the twin defensive midfielders of Clyde Simms and Vide, was rarely troubled in the second stanza.  Louis Crayton, who finished with four saves, had another solid game as he solidifies his place as United’s number one.  The closest Colorado came to tying the score came in minute 81, as Cory Gibbs shanked his shot high and wide after some good approach work.  A minute later, Santino Quaranta sealed the victory with an impressive blast from just inside the penalty area that sailed into the upper 90 at the far post.  United repeatedly threatened in the final twenty minutes, and Quavas Kirk added to the raucous celebrations of the United faithful when he tapped in a rebound from six yards out after Brian Namoff’s initial header had been parried on the line by Burpo. 

United returns to league action this Saturday, August 30, against the New York Red Bulls.  They will be looking for revenge after a 4-1 defeat at the Meadowlands on August 10.  The Atlantic Cup will also be on the line during this mammoth encounter.  Colorado, meanwhile, will take on their arch rivals Real Salt Lake in Utah on Friday, August 29.