DC United Burned by the Fire
DC United loses its fifth of seven matches as the team is off to its worst start since 2002. read more...
DC United Burned by the Fire
Mike Martin
May 09, 2008
DC's Gonzalo Martinez consoles Marc Burch after their 5th loss of the season
Photo: Chris Leon
Banged up and overwhelmed, United dropped its fifth match 2-0 to the Fire to fall to 2-5 on the season. It’s the worst start to the season since the dark ages of 2002 when United went 2-5 on their way to an ignoble 9-14-5 and out of the playoffs.
Washington D.C.,
United was without three starters as Fred, Devon McTavish, and designated player Marcelo Gallardo all failed to dress for this match due to nagging injuries. Without their offensive presence, United crumbled under the pressure from the Fire and dropped a crucial decision for this early in the year.
Oddly enough, United came out very well considering the absent players and took the game to the Fire in the opening 30 minutes of the match. Without their vaunted superstars, United still managed to take the vast majority of the play away from the Fire throughout the opening stanza.
Unfortunately, United was unable to capitalize on some lovely chances and allowed the Fire to snatch the opening goal on their first legitimate opportunity in the 38th minute. Chris Rolfe was allowed time to cross a tantalizing ball from right flank that Chad Barrett was able to out jump Bryan Namoff for, and nod down to a wide open Justin Mapp who was left criminally alone by Santino Quaranta and so was able to finish easily from 18 yards out.
Santino explained after the game, “I’m in a position now, obviously I like to attack as a player. It just naturally when the ball was in the air I wanted to go help Bryan [Namoff]. I didn’t know that nobody else was going to be behind me. As an attacking player, I was just trying to help defensively. I ran so much and worked so hard. I want to go forward, that’s my first instinct. I’m in a situation where I have to be honest, and I was honest about it.”
It was a bit of misfortune as United had been the more aggressive side and did not deserve to find themselves behind, but as is usual when playing the Fire, even small lapses come back to haunt the black and red.
In the second half, United attempted to regain the momentum, only to see themselves fall further behind due to a beautiful goal from Cuauhtémoc Blanco in the 62nd minute.
With United pressing forward, Blanco collected a pass in midfield and pressed into the attack with acres of space to launch a lovely left footed strike into the far side netting for the two goal lead.
United refused to accept defeat and nearly halved the lead when Moreno cracked a Burch corner kick off the woodwork, but it simply was not United’s night and they fell to 2-5 on the season and the glorious expectations for this year are rapidly becoming a simple plea for respectability.
Coach Tommy Soehn was pretty unhappy after the match. “It’s very concerning. I asked the guys to come out with the effort and I thought that improved a bit, but still, over 90 minutes it still wasn’t good enough. We broke down and good teams are going to punish you. So it’s very concerning. We’ve got to really evaluate and make sure now that we turn this around. It’s getting to a crucial time.”
For the last three years, United has started out slowly, but has managed to pull themselves together for either the Supporter's Shield that they won the past two years, or at least a repsectable season, but right now United is as far behind this early in the season as they ever have been and time is runnig out to find the solution to their problems.
Soehn expressed his exasperation with another slow start after the match. “I think it sits in our head, but the Colorado game still sits in my head, that we came out without any passion and any energy. That improved today, but it still wasn’t good enough, so we have to continue to do that consistently. But yeah – it’s similar to last year, but it’s not last year. It’s this year and we have to fix it now.”
DC returns to MLS action next weekend against ChivasUSA in LA and plays Toronto FC in BMO field before returning home to host Toronto in the return leg exactly 16 days from today.
Visitor Comments
Agree with Nick that we are missing Gomez, Benny and Perkins right now. I think Fred is a more than capable player to take a spot on the wing. Brian Carroll is an interesting case. In the 352 with Ben or Simms he was great. However, when we went to a 442 with him as the single DM not as much and Simms seemed to play better in that formation.
It is not just the DP's the problem as many players are not performing to the level needed to compete in this league. In addition to Emilio (who wasn't a DP till this week), Peralta and Neill are not performing well. These guys are making good cash. Our role players are no better right now. In my eyes we only have a few players earning their money.
Mike is correct in his analysis , I want to add , where did they get this guy Peralto from ? he doesn't know 'ball side / goal side' , he is slow to react and slow to keep up..........he is the poorest sweeper in the league,,,,,,,,,,our defensive marking is terrible , the talent is not thers this year , we really miss Gomez and Carrol,,,,,,,,,
Mike,
I have seen this coming for weeks. I got lambasted on the boards for saying this team is just not as talented as some people think and are not above other teams in the League.
Unless there is a turnaround of monumental proportions I just don't see United doing anything this year.
The bottom line is the FO totally blew it in the off season and Tommy Soehn has not demonstrated he can squeeze the most out of what he has.
Given that wonderful gift of 20/20 hindsight its clear now that the heart of this team was Gomez, Olsen, Gross, Carrol and Perkins. The things we needed to add to that team was a big, strong fast forward and strong, technical and fast, centerback and perhaps a young high workrate replacement for a retiring Gros.
Instead, we gutted the team and have created a LA like team with a couple of DPs Gallardo/Emelio and a solid third player in Fred (ala Beckham/Donovan and Ruiz). The problem is our DPs are nowhere near the caliber of LA...
Not sure what you were watching during the second goal. Blanco received a pass from a teammate. How did he dribble past 3 defenders when no defenders even approached him? Simms was behind him from the start of the play and the whole backline covered the 2 forwards. He got a freebie. It was a beautiful shot but you make it sound like he had our defenders falling over from his moves.
Good catch there rugman! I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote that, but it was late. I will fix it with your thoughts in mind!
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Match Report
Houston Hammers DC out of Superliga
July 20, 2008
United Virtually Eliminated From SuperLiga with 3-2 loss to Atlante
July 15, 2008
United Falls In SuperLiga Opener 2-1 to Chivas
July 12, 2008
United ends Cup hex against Chicago with 2-1 win in extra time
July 08, 2008
United defeats Rochester 2-0 in Open Cup
July 01, 2008
United thrash wilted Galaxy 4-1
June 29, 2008
United struggles in 3-1 win over San Jose
June 22, 2008
United cruises to 4-1 win over New York behind Emilio hat trick
June 14, 2008
9 man United completes stunning come from behind 2-1 win in Chicago
June 07, 2008
Revolution Catches Up to DC
May 30, 2008
United roars back for big 3-2 win over Toronto FC
May 24, 2008
United Loses Fourth in a Row at Toronto 1-0
May 21, 2008
United's Season Continues to Fade with 3-1 loss against Chivas USA
May 18, 2008
United Offers Little Resistance in 2-0 Loss in Colorado
May 04, 2008
United returns the favor, defeats RSL 4-1
April 27, 2008
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