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D.C. Downs New York 2-0 In Downpour
A game affected by constant rain throughout the match saw D.C. United defeat the New York Red Bulls 2-0, behind goals from Santino Quaranta and Jamie Moreno. With the victory, United retain the Atlantic Cup over their fierce rivals.
Jun 5, 2009 1:05:24 AM
With the 2-0 win over the Red Bulls, D.C. United retains the Atlantic Cup, a trophy
contested between New York and D.C.. Both of the MLS regular season
matchups have been played already, and United keeps the trophy, thanks
to their 3-2 win in New York in April, as well tonight's 2-0 victory.
United has now kept the trophy every season since 2004.
First Half
In a half marred by a constant rainfall, both teams struggled, literally, to get a foothold in the match. With the ground soaked from the rainfall, players on both teams were having a tough time with their footing, and on many occasions, players from both sides were slipping and falling. While the rain limited creativity and passing to an extent, the first half had its share of highlights nonetheless.
New York was able to work the first chance of the game, with Jorge Rojas lining up an effort for the Red Bulls in the 5th minute. But his effort from outside of the box was saved by United 'keeper Josh Wicks, who was unable to hold on to the shot, an indication of the slippery conditions. But Wicks recovered in time to secure the loose ball, before New York could create another chance.
United's first chance came in the 15th minute, as United captain Bryan Namoff tried his luck, while well up field as a defender. He was able to maneuver into the box, and set up a shot for himself, but the shot from his weaker left foot was collected by NY 'keeper Jon Conway.
Five minutes later, United rookie Chris Pontius worked himself a bit of room outside of the box, before firing a shot towards the goal. However, it was always curling away from the far post, and in the end, did not create a real threat to Conway, who had his post covered regardless.
New York had a well-worked free kick in the 22nd minute, taken by Rojas. The free kick was headed onto the path of NY defender Mike Petke, but his effort was not quite strong enough to beat Wicks, who was able to recover and collect the shot on the line.
The game then went dull for a period of time, as neither team was able to create much, as the weather appeared to have a negative effect on the proceedings.
However, with the next real chance in the 36th minute, United found a goal, courtesy of winger Santino Quaranta. A long ball was flicked on twice, by D.C. forwards Ange N'Silu and Luciano Emilio. The second header fell into the path of Fred, who was able to beat NY defender Carlos Mendes. Fred then slid a pass back into the middle of the box, and Quaranta arrived just in time to knock it in, for his second goal of the season.
The final chance of the half fell to NY in the 43rd minute. Seth Stammler played a terrific lofted pass into the box for Danleigh Borman, who was able to fend off Pontius. Borman was all alone in the box with the ball at his feet. But from there, he got the ball stuck at his feet, and Wicks was quickly off his line to knock the ball away, and quickly cover it up. Just like that, the chance was gone.
United went in at the half, up a goal, a situation they had found themselves in during many games this year, which did not end always end favorably for D.C.
Second Half
With the rain continuing to pour down, United came out in the second half pushing for a goal, which they nearly found in the 49th minute. A quick exchange of passes between Emilio and Christian Gomez, who came on at halftime, sent Gomez clear down the middle of the field. He tried a long range effort, which Conway was able to parry away. Emilio was the first to the rebound and he put the ball back into the middle of the box for Gomez. But Gomez's header was just over the bar, and NY escaped the danger.
United then had to sustain some pressure, as New York began to push for an equalizer. For the next five minutes, the Red Bulls enjoyed more of the possession, and created some dangerous moments, but they were unable to create any real scoring chances from the possession. After a bit of lull in the play, New York then had the next golden opportunity in the 63 minute, when Dane Richards was given plenty of space to run down the left flank. But with Clyde Simms closing in, Richards was only able to put the ball into the side netting, failing to test Wicks from a close range.
Immediately after that, Jamie Moreno came on for Emilio. But as Emilio made his way back to the bench, he threw the team water bottles onto the field. That earned him a red card, but United were not forced to play a man down, since Emilio was off the field and not part of the team when the event occurred.
In the 73rd minute, United were presented with the next chance, as a loose ball around the New York box eventually fell to Pontius. He was able to turn his defender, and found a clear path to goal. But Conway was equal to the chance, and made an excellent save, pushing the shot out for a corner, and preserving New York's chances to get a point.
Then in the 79th minute, New York began a spell in which they had several opportunities to level the score, but to no avail. The first chance came from Nick Zimmerman, but his long range blast was palmed over the bar by Wicks. Angel then won a free kick about twenty five yards out from goal in the 80th minute. He then took the free kick, only to place it just over the bar, with Wicks possibly beaten.
New York's best chance to level the game came in the 86th minute, when a flicked pass from Richards found Angel alone in the box. With time and space in the box, Angel lined up a shot, only for Wicks to deny the Colombian striker at the near post. After the save, New York's chances of a comeback seemed to run out of steam.
New York had a corner kick in the second minute of stoppage time, but all that did was present United with a chance to add to their own tally, and ensure the victory. From the corner, United cleared the ball quickly, and made their way up field. Moreno played a through ball for Gomez, who was then taken down by Conway in the box. Moreno stepped up to the spot, and beat Conway to the right, giving United a 2-0 victory over their rivals.
Steven Streff, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com’s MLS page.
First Half
In a half marred by a constant rainfall, both teams struggled, literally, to get a foothold in the match. With the ground soaked from the rainfall, players on both teams were having a tough time with their footing, and on many occasions, players from both sides were slipping and falling. While the rain limited creativity and passing to an extent, the first half had its share of highlights nonetheless.
New York was able to work the first chance of the game, with Jorge Rojas lining up an effort for the Red Bulls in the 5th minute. But his effort from outside of the box was saved by United 'keeper Josh Wicks, who was unable to hold on to the shot, an indication of the slippery conditions. But Wicks recovered in time to secure the loose ball, before New York could create another chance.
United's first chance came in the 15th minute, as United captain Bryan Namoff tried his luck, while well up field as a defender. He was able to maneuver into the box, and set up a shot for himself, but the shot from his weaker left foot was collected by NY 'keeper Jon Conway.
Five minutes later, United rookie Chris Pontius worked himself a bit of room outside of the box, before firing a shot towards the goal. However, it was always curling away from the far post, and in the end, did not create a real threat to Conway, who had his post covered regardless.
New York had a well-worked free kick in the 22nd minute, taken by Rojas. The free kick was headed onto the path of NY defender Mike Petke, but his effort was not quite strong enough to beat Wicks, who was able to recover and collect the shot on the line.
The game then went dull for a period of time, as neither team was able to create much, as the weather appeared to have a negative effect on the proceedings.
However, with the next real chance in the 36th minute, United found a goal, courtesy of winger Santino Quaranta. A long ball was flicked on twice, by D.C. forwards Ange N'Silu and Luciano Emilio. The second header fell into the path of Fred, who was able to beat NY defender Carlos Mendes. Fred then slid a pass back into the middle of the box, and Quaranta arrived just in time to knock it in, for his second goal of the season.
The final chance of the half fell to NY in the 43rd minute. Seth Stammler played a terrific lofted pass into the box for Danleigh Borman, who was able to fend off Pontius. Borman was all alone in the box with the ball at his feet. But from there, he got the ball stuck at his feet, and Wicks was quickly off his line to knock the ball away, and quickly cover it up. Just like that, the chance was gone.
United went in at the half, up a goal, a situation they had found themselves in during many games this year, which did not end always end favorably for D.C.
Second Half
With the rain continuing to pour down, United came out in the second half pushing for a goal, which they nearly found in the 49th minute. A quick exchange of passes between Emilio and Christian Gomez, who came on at halftime, sent Gomez clear down the middle of the field. He tried a long range effort, which Conway was able to parry away. Emilio was the first to the rebound and he put the ball back into the middle of the box for Gomez. But Gomez's header was just over the bar, and NY escaped the danger.
United then had to sustain some pressure, as New York began to push for an equalizer. For the next five minutes, the Red Bulls enjoyed more of the possession, and created some dangerous moments, but they were unable to create any real scoring chances from the possession. After a bit of lull in the play, New York then had the next golden opportunity in the 63 minute, when Dane Richards was given plenty of space to run down the left flank. But with Clyde Simms closing in, Richards was only able to put the ball into the side netting, failing to test Wicks from a close range.
Immediately after that, Jamie Moreno came on for Emilio. But as Emilio made his way back to the bench, he threw the team water bottles onto the field. That earned him a red card, but United were not forced to play a man down, since Emilio was off the field and not part of the team when the event occurred.
In the 73rd minute, United were presented with the next chance, as a loose ball around the New York box eventually fell to Pontius. He was able to turn his defender, and found a clear path to goal. But Conway was equal to the chance, and made an excellent save, pushing the shot out for a corner, and preserving New York's chances to get a point.
Then in the 79th minute, New York began a spell in which they had several opportunities to level the score, but to no avail. The first chance came from Nick Zimmerman, but his long range blast was palmed over the bar by Wicks. Angel then won a free kick about twenty five yards out from goal in the 80th minute. He then took the free kick, only to place it just over the bar, with Wicks possibly beaten.
New York's best chance to level the game came in the 86th minute, when a flicked pass from Richards found Angel alone in the box. With time and space in the box, Angel lined up a shot, only for Wicks to deny the Colombian striker at the near post. After the save, New York's chances of a comeback seemed to run out of steam.
New York had a corner kick in the second minute of stoppage time, but all that did was present United with a chance to add to their own tally, and ensure the victory. From the corner, United cleared the ball quickly, and made their way up field. Moreno played a through ball for Gomez, who was then taken down by Conway in the box. Moreno stepped up to the spot, and beat Conway to the right, giving United a 2-0 victory over their rivals.
Steven Streff, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com’s MLS page.
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