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D.C. United Comeback Ruins Chivas USA's Home Record
A gutsy late rally by D.C. United was enough to see the team draw 2-2 with Chivas USA away at the Home Depot Center.
May 17, 2009 2:48:26 AM
The top teams from the Eastern and Western Conference played out an exciting 2-2 draw with visitors D.C. United hitting Chivas USA's defense for two goals in the last 15 minutes. The draw blemishes Chivas USA's perfect home record, but means that the Goats remain unbeaten in the Home Depot Center in 2009.
For the hosts, Maykel Galindo started his first match since May of last year, partnering Eduardo Lillingston up top. Ben Olsen was back in the starting lineup for United, with Christian Gomez riding the pine. Louis Crayton was preferred in goal, with Josh Wicks as his backup and rookie Milos Kocic left in Washington.
First Half
D.C. United arrived in Los Angeles late due to a canceled flight, and the team looked like it had mentally shown up for the match late. Lillingston clicked a narrow shot off the post in the third minute after finding himself free in the box.
Four minutes later, Olsen had to leave the pitch thanks to a reassurance of his hip injury which has limited his playing time this year. Andrew Jacobson replaced the influential midfielder.
The game settled into a rhythm with United coming at the organized Chivas defense, but neither attacks were clicking in the final third. Jonathan Bornstein cleared a shot driven in after a Moreno corner early on, but the match stayed scoreless until the 24th minute.
That's when Atiba Harris chipped a ball over top of the United defense for Galindo to latch onto, sidestep the on-rushing Louis Crayton, and slot home for his first goal of the season. The Cuban performed an extravagant dance, displaying his relief to finally have opened his scoring account after being plagued by injuries over the past season. The United defense thought, probably correctly, that Galindo was in an offside position, but the goal stood.
Three minutes later, another questionable offside call put Lillingston alone with Crayton, but the Mexican smashed his shot off the crossbeam to spurn a gilt-edged opportunity to put his side two goals to the good.
He made no mistake three minutes from the half. Chivas USA launched in a series of crosses that the United defense repelled. However, the ball eventually found its way to Mariano Trujillo, and the Mexican's service was misjudged by Crayton, who bundled into Justin Braun. The ball fell to Atiba Harris, whose cross was bravely headed into the net by Lillingston under pressure from Dejan Jakovic, whose calm play at the back didn't deserve to be two goals down.
Second Half
During the half-time interval, D.C. coach Tom Soehn threw on Fred for rookie Chris Pontius in search of more offensive creativity. It was a move that would pay dividends, as the Brazilian vastly improved United's linkup play.
His effect wouldn't come for some time, however, as the second half began similarly to the first. Chivas USA was content to let United attack, confident in a stingy defense which was in search of its fourth consecutive clean sheet.
United fired a warning shot in the 75th minute. Luciano Emilio trapped a deflected Clyde Simms shot from distance and found himself alone with Zach Thornton in the box. His low strike was pushed away by the veteran 'keeper.
Two minutes later, those two were involved for United again. Simms retrieved the ball in midfield and played to Santino Quaranta on the right flank. The 24-year-old's low cross was turned in cleverly by the falling Emilio to make it 2-1.
United continued pouring forward in search of an equalizer. It would come nearly five minutes from time.
A Rodney Wallace cross was punched clear by Thornton and fell to Quaranta, who let loose from 40 yards. Substitute Christian Gomez might have nicked the ball in the box, but somehow it found a way past the sprawling Thornton to even up the game. 2-2 was how it ended.
In the end, a thrilling encounter will leave the United camp more jubilant than the Chivas USA one, which is not accustomed to conceding late.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
For the hosts, Maykel Galindo started his first match since May of last year, partnering Eduardo Lillingston up top. Ben Olsen was back in the starting lineup for United, with Christian Gomez riding the pine. Louis Crayton was preferred in goal, with Josh Wicks as his backup and rookie Milos Kocic left in Washington.
First Half
D.C. United arrived in Los Angeles late due to a canceled flight, and the team looked like it had mentally shown up for the match late. Lillingston clicked a narrow shot off the post in the third minute after finding himself free in the box.
Four minutes later, Olsen had to leave the pitch thanks to a reassurance of his hip injury which has limited his playing time this year. Andrew Jacobson replaced the influential midfielder.
The game settled into a rhythm with United coming at the organized Chivas defense, but neither attacks were clicking in the final third. Jonathan Bornstein cleared a shot driven in after a Moreno corner early on, but the match stayed scoreless until the 24th minute.
That's when Atiba Harris chipped a ball over top of the United defense for Galindo to latch onto, sidestep the on-rushing Louis Crayton, and slot home for his first goal of the season. The Cuban performed an extravagant dance, displaying his relief to finally have opened his scoring account after being plagued by injuries over the past season. The United defense thought, probably correctly, that Galindo was in an offside position, but the goal stood.
Three minutes later, another questionable offside call put Lillingston alone with Crayton, but the Mexican smashed his shot off the crossbeam to spurn a gilt-edged opportunity to put his side two goals to the good.
He made no mistake three minutes from the half. Chivas USA launched in a series of crosses that the United defense repelled. However, the ball eventually found its way to Mariano Trujillo, and the Mexican's service was misjudged by Crayton, who bundled into Justin Braun. The ball fell to Atiba Harris, whose cross was bravely headed into the net by Lillingston under pressure from Dejan Jakovic, whose calm play at the back didn't deserve to be two goals down.
Second Half
During the half-time interval, D.C. coach Tom Soehn threw on Fred for rookie Chris Pontius in search of more offensive creativity. It was a move that would pay dividends, as the Brazilian vastly improved United's linkup play.
His effect wouldn't come for some time, however, as the second half began similarly to the first. Chivas USA was content to let United attack, confident in a stingy defense which was in search of its fourth consecutive clean sheet.
United fired a warning shot in the 75th minute. Luciano Emilio trapped a deflected Clyde Simms shot from distance and found himself alone with Zach Thornton in the box. His low strike was pushed away by the veteran 'keeper.
Two minutes later, those two were involved for United again. Simms retrieved the ball in midfield and played to Santino Quaranta on the right flank. The 24-year-old's low cross was turned in cleverly by the falling Emilio to make it 2-1.
United continued pouring forward in search of an equalizer. It would come nearly five minutes from time.
A Rodney Wallace cross was punched clear by Thornton and fell to Quaranta, who let loose from 40 yards. Substitute Christian Gomez might have nicked the ball in the box, but somehow it found a way past the sprawling Thornton to even up the game. 2-2 was how it ended.
In the end, a thrilling encounter will leave the United camp more jubilant than the Chivas USA one, which is not accustomed to conceding late.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
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