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Practice Makes Perfect For United In Victory Over Dallas
In a game in which United conceded first, their persistence in attack paid off in the second half, as two goals from striker Jamie Moreno was enough to see off a challenge from FC Dallas.
May 3, 2009 12:29:11 AM
F.C. Dallas' counterattack plan worked to perfection, as they avoided
conceding in the first half versus D.C. United, while picking up a goal themselves. The
second half proved to be a different story, however, with Moreno scoring
twice in ten minutes to ensure all three points for D.C. United in a 2-1 win.
The first United goal came via the long ball from the backline, a play that both defender Bryan Namoff, who assisted on the goal, and head coach Tom Soehn, admitted had come from team training.
In the locker room after the game, Namoff said, "It's the patterns of plays that we have been working on in training. We have been working on it in training, and it feels a lot more natural."
"We have been working on it, and amazingly, after eight years as a pro, he [Namoff] gets something right," added a joking Soehn in the press conference after the game.
For the second United goal, second half substitute Christian Gomez played a through ball for Moreno, and he was able to chip the ball over Dallas keeper Ray Burse for the winning goal.
Speaking about Moreno after the game, Soehn stated during the press conference, "On a day when he was honored for 100 [goals] and 100 [assists], he showed exactly why he is there, especially with that second goal."
Before the match, Moreno was recognized by the club as being the first-ever MLS player to reach the rare of over 100 goals and assists in each category. Moreno received a plaque, as a video montage of his goals and assists were being shown on the video board. When that was done -- he proceeded to put on a show in the second half.
After the game, Moreno reflected upon his accomplishment.
"This doesn't happen very often, and the moments are special," stated Moreno, who was emotional about not being able to have his parents with him for such an occasion.
United also employed their third different keeper in MLS play this season, as rookie Milos Kocic got his first-ever MLS start, ten days after making his United debut against Dallas in the US Open Cup.
Despite having already played against Dallas in the Open Cup, Kocic recognized the difference in the effort between the two competitions.
"[They] were much more motivated, much more ready to play the game. I felt in the Cup game, they came just to play the game, not to win, just to get it done. I felt this game, they were much more ready to play, and this game meant more to them than the Cup game." said Kocic.
For Dallas, it was another tough match, as they picked up their fifth defeat of the season. After going ahead in the first half, from Rocha's first goal of the season, the Texas club was unable to hold onto the lead in the second half, and then could not find the back of the net late on in the game. The defeat to United was their second in a row, as they lost 2-0 to Chivas USA last weekend. They continue to sit at the bottom of the Western Conference, with an MLS-high five defeats.
Steven Streff, Goal.com
Goal.com has coverage of all the action in Major League Soccer!
The first United goal came via the long ball from the backline, a play that both defender Bryan Namoff, who assisted on the goal, and head coach Tom Soehn, admitted had come from team training.
In the locker room after the game, Namoff said, "It's the patterns of plays that we have been working on in training. We have been working on it in training, and it feels a lot more natural."
"We have been working on it, and amazingly, after eight years as a pro, he [Namoff] gets something right," added a joking Soehn in the press conference after the game.
For the second United goal, second half substitute Christian Gomez played a through ball for Moreno, and he was able to chip the ball over Dallas keeper Ray Burse for the winning goal.
Speaking about Moreno after the game, Soehn stated during the press conference, "On a day when he was honored for 100 [goals] and 100 [assists], he showed exactly why he is there, especially with that second goal."
Before the match, Moreno was recognized by the club as being the first-ever MLS player to reach the rare of over 100 goals and assists in each category. Moreno received a plaque, as a video montage of his goals and assists were being shown on the video board. When that was done -- he proceeded to put on a show in the second half.
After the game, Moreno reflected upon his accomplishment.
"This doesn't happen very often, and the moments are special," stated Moreno, who was emotional about not being able to have his parents with him for such an occasion.
United also employed their third different keeper in MLS play this season, as rookie Milos Kocic got his first-ever MLS start, ten days after making his United debut against Dallas in the US Open Cup.
Despite having already played against Dallas in the Open Cup, Kocic recognized the difference in the effort between the two competitions.
"[They] were much more motivated, much more ready to play the game. I felt in the Cup game, they came just to play the game, not to win, just to get it done. I felt this game, they were much more ready to play, and this game meant more to them than the Cup game." said Kocic.
For Dallas, it was another tough match, as they picked up their fifth defeat of the season. After going ahead in the first half, from Rocha's first goal of the season, the Texas club was unable to hold onto the lead in the second half, and then could not find the back of the net late on in the game. The defeat to United was their second in a row, as they lost 2-0 to Chivas USA last weekend. They continue to sit at the bottom of the Western Conference, with an MLS-high five defeats.
Steven Streff, Goal.com
Goal.com has coverage of all the action in Major League Soccer!
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