United's Season Continues to Fade with 3-1 loss against Chivas USA

Chris Webb

May 18, 2008

Marcelo Gallardo winds up before his goal against Real Salt Lake

Marcelo Gallardo winds up before his goal against Real Salt Lake
Photo: Martin Fernandez

For 72 minutes DC United thought their nightmare road form had started to fade due another spectacular goal from Marcelo Gallardo (left) which gave them the lead until deep into the match. Unfortunately by the 87th minute, the nightmare was front and center again as Chivas stormed back to score three goals in that 11 minute span leaving United's season unbelievably in peril in mid-May.

Washington D.C., Chivas USA scored three times in eleven minutes late in the second half to easily dispatch a clearly dispirited DC United 3-1 last night at the Home Depot Center. United now has lost all four road matches this season and have been outscored 11-1 in those games. To add insult to injury this was the first ever win over United for Chivas USA in six matches.

Jesse Marsch, Sacha Kljestan and Jorge Flores all cancelled out Marcelo Gallardo's brilliant individual effort in the 30th minute. Gallardo got United the lead when he received a Santino Quaranta pass at the top of the penalty area and he danced between two Chivas USA defenders before unleashing a left footed curler that gave Brad Guzan no chance to save.

United controlled most of the first half possession but still looked disjointed in parts with only a few scoring opportunites aside from the opening goal.

Chivas USA Head Coach Preki made a tactical change at halftime by pushing Atiba Harris from the right midfield spot to an attacking position and it made all the difference in the game. His aggression forced the equalizer when he rode United defender Dominec Mediate into United keeper Zach Wells who fumbled the ball into the path of Marsch who tapped into an empty net in the 73rd minuted.

Just three minutes later Harris again was the catalyst as he easily shoved aside Gonzalo Martinez and crossed the ball to a wide open Kljestan to pass into the net for the game winner. And then the feel good story of MLS happened when Sueno MLS winner Jorge Flores got on the end of a Harris breakaway ans slipped it under Wells for the games final goal.

Chivas USA came from behind for the first time in their history to win a game after allowing the first goal. Another hurdle in this match was the fact that eight regular players were out of the starting lineup which makes the defeat that much more painful for the Black and Red.

DC United now has to come back East and get ready to face Toronto FC on Wednesday in Toronto.

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