Dynamo and Deluge too much for DC United

Dynamo and Deluge too much for DC United

Mike Martin

July 24, 2008

Houston scored on both sides of a three hour rain delay to defeat DC United 2-0. It is United's first defeat in MLS since May, and Houston's first ever win playing DC United in RFK.

Washington D.C., In the June 4th match, DC was by far the better team in the opening minutes, and felt very hard done when that match was called due to an unplayable field. Turns out that decision did come back to bite the team as Houston was by far the better team this time around and cruised to an easy 2-0 victory despite a nearly three hour rain delay.

In a game that had been postponed from June 4th and re-scheduled from yesterday to today due to a power outage at RFK stadium forcing Houston to stay in town for an extra day, the Dynamo still looked like the more comfortable side and easily controlled the match which lead inevitably to their first goal.

After waves of pressure, United's defense cracked as Houston's Brian Mullan drove deep down the right side, only to cut inside to his left and crack a lovely shot past the helpless Wells to put Houston ahead 1-0.

Sadly, the goal did little to spur United into better form as they continued to connect very nice safe passes in midfield, but did nothing even remotely threatening towards Houston's goal for the remainder of the first half.

Then, just after halftime, the heavens opened and the ensuing downpour became so bad that the game was stopped for nearly three hours until the rain slowed and the field drained enough to be used.

United was especially keen to continue play as had the game been called at that point, it would have resulted in a United loss as per MLS rules. Ironically, MLS made the rule that matches played until halftime before being abandoned were considered complete games after a Kansas City - DC United match in 2000 that had to be abandoned after the stadium lights went out at halftime of a 0-0 match and it was ruled a draw.

However, even with United desperate to find their form and resume their winning ways in MLS after their Superliga slump, the team generated very little truly good chances, the best being a cracking long shot by Clyde Simms that Onstad did well to parry aside.

Unfortunately, the Dynamo were to put the match out of reach when in the 80th minute, Houston's Brian Ching drew and scored a clever free kick. The play began with a long ball out of the back to Ching, who felt a little pressure and dropped like a stone drawing the free kick. And just like in the Superliga match over the weekend, Houston scored off the set piece as Brad Davis found Ching in the box and he nodded in the clinching goal easily.

The loss ends a six match match unbeaten streak for United in MLS play, and for some it is the fourth loss in a row in RFK for the first time ever. Frankly, not being a fan of the made up Superliga, to count them as part of a losing streak in RFK is too much of a stretch; however, the fact remains, that since the LA match and coinciding with Glaardo's and Quaranta's injuries, DC United has not looked good offensively, and has clearly fallen back into their lax defensive ways that punished the team earlier in the season.

DC United is off from all competioins for the next 10 days. They resume MLS play at home against Kansas City Aug. 2nd at RFK.

Also See

United-Dynamo Match Postponed Again

Dynamo and DC United - Take Two

DC Hosts Houston in Battle of Champions

Copa America 2007

Shorthanded United puts forth brave effort in 2-1 loss in San Jose
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DC Hoping to Break Through Fire Wall
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Houston Dynamo campeón de la Copa MLS 2007
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United Wary of Revolution
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