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D.C. Made To Rue Missed Opportunites
Goal.com's Steven Streff recounts the two points that got away as D.C. United failed to close out a second straight match.
Mar 29, 2009 12:45:49 AM
D.C. United again failed to hold on to a lead in a game, and was forced to settle with a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire.
A week after the game against the LA Galaxy, in which United gave up a two goal lead in the last ten minutes, United were unable to secure all three points in their first home game, after taking the lead early in the first half, through Luciano Emilio's first goal of the season.
While United dominated the first half behind a boisterous home crowd, they struggled in the second half, and by the end of the game, D.C. head coach Tom Soehn said that the team was "protecting a tie". Where United had controlled the game in the first half, it was equally struggling to find a footing in the game during the second half, and was unable to win the home opener.
The first half was an improvement over last week, and goal scorer Emilio noted, "We had more possession after the goal, and we had more confidence." But with all the possession and chances that United had in the first half, the team was unable to completely take control of the game, and was left with only the single goal, which it would rue later on.
Soehn said in the press conference that he would have liked to see the team come out with more goals from the first half, "because we put so much into it". Ben Olsen also noted that Chicago "had trouble with our midfield" as he pinpointed that as one of the reasons why United was able to dominate play for most of the first half.
United got another strong performance out of Ben Olsen, who was able to play the entire 90 minutes this week, after playing 72 minutes last week in the opener in LA. Olsen said that his ankle "was okay" after the entire performance, which saw him pick up a yellow card in the first half for a tackle.
But with that lone goal in the first half, it was not enough for United. And with the team's "legs being heavy" in the second half, according to Soehn, United conceded a goal from the restart almost as quickly as it had scored in the first half. Patrick Nyarko provided the equalizer for Chicago in the 53rd minute, and with that, the momentum had completely swung in favor of Chicago.
Once the goal had gone in for Chicago, "the tempo had been set" according to D.C. United defender Marc Burch, and United failed to recover during the second half. Chicago was creating the chances, and looked like the team more likely to find the next goal. But, with the heroics of D.C. goalkeeper Josh Wicks late on, United was able to preserve the tie.
Despite having dropped 2 points in each of its first two games, United's hopes for the season have not been lost yet. As United midfielder Clyde Simms put it, "we are undefeated, so you can look at it that way." So while the team may be struggling to win the games in which it is taking the lead, Simms noted that the performance was better this week.
So with the result, United has earned two points from two games. With another tough opponent at home next week, the Houston Dynamo, United will have another chance to prove that it has started the season off well, and show that is has built upon the two previous performances, by picking up all three points for the first time this season.
But as most players and Soehn pointed out afterwards, United would have to not have another ten to fifteen minute lapse that has cost them wins in the past two games.
Steven Streff is a regular contributor to Goal.com
A week after the game against the LA Galaxy, in which United gave up a two goal lead in the last ten minutes, United were unable to secure all three points in their first home game, after taking the lead early in the first half, through Luciano Emilio's first goal of the season.
While United dominated the first half behind a boisterous home crowd, they struggled in the second half, and by the end of the game, D.C. head coach Tom Soehn said that the team was "protecting a tie". Where United had controlled the game in the first half, it was equally struggling to find a footing in the game during the second half, and was unable to win the home opener.
The first half was an improvement over last week, and goal scorer Emilio noted, "We had more possession after the goal, and we had more confidence." But with all the possession and chances that United had in the first half, the team was unable to completely take control of the game, and was left with only the single goal, which it would rue later on.
Soehn said in the press conference that he would have liked to see the team come out with more goals from the first half, "because we put so much into it". Ben Olsen also noted that Chicago "had trouble with our midfield" as he pinpointed that as one of the reasons why United was able to dominate play for most of the first half.
United got another strong performance out of Ben Olsen, who was able to play the entire 90 minutes this week, after playing 72 minutes last week in the opener in LA. Olsen said that his ankle "was okay" after the entire performance, which saw him pick up a yellow card in the first half for a tackle.
But with that lone goal in the first half, it was not enough for United. And with the team's "legs being heavy" in the second half, according to Soehn, United conceded a goal from the restart almost as quickly as it had scored in the first half. Patrick Nyarko provided the equalizer for Chicago in the 53rd minute, and with that, the momentum had completely swung in favor of Chicago.
Once the goal had gone in for Chicago, "the tempo had been set" according to D.C. United defender Marc Burch, and United failed to recover during the second half. Chicago was creating the chances, and looked like the team more likely to find the next goal. But, with the heroics of D.C. goalkeeper Josh Wicks late on, United was able to preserve the tie.
Despite having dropped 2 points in each of its first two games, United's hopes for the season have not been lost yet. As United midfielder Clyde Simms put it, "we are undefeated, so you can look at it that way." So while the team may be struggling to win the games in which it is taking the lead, Simms noted that the performance was better this week.
So with the result, United has earned two points from two games. With another tough opponent at home next week, the Houston Dynamo, United will have another chance to prove that it has started the season off well, and show that is has built upon the two previous performances, by picking up all three points for the first time this season.
But as most players and Soehn pointed out afterwards, United would have to not have another ten to fifteen minute lapse that has cost them wins in the past two games.
Steven Streff is a regular contributor to Goal.com
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