9 man United completes stunning come from behind 2-1 win in Chicago

Chris Webb

June 07, 2008

DC United's Luciano Emilio

DC United's Luciano Emilio
Photo: Martin Fernandez

Perhaps this is the moment that DC United's season starts to turn around. Down one goal and facing another super human goalkeeping effort from Jon Busch, United scored twice in the second half and survived two men being ejected.

Washington D.C., Luciano Emilio and Jaime Moreno scored second half goals as nine man United managed to get it's first road win of 2008 and their first victory in Toyota Park in just over two seasons.

An action packed game saw three players ejected and more stunning goalkeeping against United but they maintained their poise and got a big three points that perhaps can kick start a run up the table before they take off the entire month of July for SuperLiga.

United controlled the flow of play for the entire first half but it was the home side who got on the scoreboard first. Cuauhtemoc Blanco froze United defender Gonzalo Peralta at midfield and hit a through ball to Chad Barrett who sprinted towards goal. Defender Devon MacTavish got back in time but his slide tackle unfortunately helped guide the ball past Zach Wells for a 1-0 lead.

United poured on the pressure after the goal and string of world class saves from Busch kept Chicago in the lead until halftime. On one sequence Busch denied Fred from close and then dove to his left to palm out a rebound header from Emilio. Minutes later he got a hand up on Santino Quaranta's beautiful left footed curler and kept the game close for Chicago.

The second half was pretty much the same from United as they continued to dominate possession and the goal scoring chances. The game changed dramatically however in the 55th minute when both Brandon Prideaux and Marcelo Gallardo were sent off with straight reds. The 4th official at midfield actually called over the head referee and informed him of the shenanigans going on after the play had moved upfield. Replays showed Prideaux shoving and dragging his boot over the prone Gallardo who sprung up into the chin of Prideaux. Both sending offs were deserved.

One would think this would give Chicago the big advantage as United lost their most effective player on the evening. Just a mere eight minutes later though United equalized on a great individual effort from the suddenly resurgent Emilio. Emilio received the ball on the right flank and moved into the box and pulled off a Preki-like cut back move that froze two Fire defenders. Emilio took an off balance shot that Busch parried away, only for Moreno to poke in the rebound for his 5th goal of the season.

In a game that saw eleven cards handed out, Bryan Namoff was the last recipient of the cards when he was red carded for a tackle on Blanco in the 88th minute. Chicago piled on the pressure to no avail however and again Emilio was the difference on the night. The defending league MVP collected a ball on the left flank and moved diagonally into the box as the Fire defense inexplicably retreated. Emilio got a sliver of space on his right foot and sent a worm burner near post past the diving Busch for the game winner in the 93rd minute. 

The stunning win pushed United's unbeaten streak to three games and has moved the team out of the cellar of the Eastern Conference for the first time in nearly two months. DC now has three straight home games to help keep the momentum going as they face the New York Red Bulls next Saturday evening at RFK Stadium at 7:30 pm. The game will be shown nationally on HDNet and locally on Comcast.

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