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D.C. Roll Back The Clock In 2-1 Win Over Chicago
The win pulled D.C. closer to the team they beat at the top of of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Jun 13, 2009 11:46:43 PM
D.C. United beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 on Saturday night, with a Jamie Moreno penalty and Christian Gomez free kick canceling out a well placed Marco Pappa goal, as United jumped Chicago to move into first place in the Eastern Conference.
First Half
The second meeting between these Eastern Conference rivals at RFK stadium saw little action in the early stages of the first half.
Santino Quaranta had the first real chance of the game for United in the 5th minute, as he worked a well-played combination with Jamie Moreno. Moreno laid the ball into the box for Quaranta, who then put his shot into the side netting, with Chicago keeper Jon Busch having the spot covered.
Chicago had a couple of dangerous moments while attacking, but John Thorrington was muscled off the ball by United defender Dejan Jakovic, and Chicago's Patrick Nyarko had a dangerous cross knocked out for a corner, which did not amount to anything.
The first controversial moment of the game also produced the first goal of the game. A long ball into the box found Pontius, but his shot went wide of the far post. But Busch and Pontius collided after the shot, and referee Baldomero Toledo adjudged that Busch had committed a foul, and awarded a penalty accordingly.
Moreno stepped up to the spot, and sent Busch the wrong way, giving D.C. a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute.
Shocked by the decision of the referee, Chicago was determined to get back into the game. Striker Brian McBride had a chance in the 29th minute, as a cross fell to him at the far post. But he put his effort into the side netting, not even troubling United keeper Josh Wicks.
But in the 33rd minute, Chicago found an equalizer, courtesy of a fantastic striker from winger Marco Pappa. Thorrington played a cross field pass that eventually found right back Tim Ward. Pappa peeled off his marker in the box, and Ward found Pappa in the box with a simple pass. Pappa then made room for himself with a quick move, before curling an effort around Wicks at the far post, leveling the score at 1-1.
United were then forced to make a change in the 39th minute, as Moreno came off in place of Ange N'Silu. Moreno was struggling throughout the match with an injury, which eventually forced the change.
Just two minutes later, United were back out in front. A long ball found Ponitus just outside the box, but he was fouled as he went up for a header, giving United a free kick 20 yards out from goal. Christian Gomez and Marc Burch both stood of the free kick, but it was Gomez who eventually took it. And he was able to bend it around the ball, and beat Busch to the post, giving United a 2-1 lead in the 41st minute.
Little else happened in the rest of the half, and United went in with the slender one goal lead.
Second Half
The second half got off to a quick start, and Chicago had several chances early on to equalize the game.
In the 47th minute, a ball fell in the box for a wide open Wilman Conde of Chicago, but the defender put his shot straight at Wicks, who was able to block it, before collecting it to end the threat.
Moments later, Wicks was at it again. A through ball found Nyarko in the box, but Wicks was quick off of his line, and blocked the shot.
However, in blocking the shot, Wicks collided with Nyarko. And just as the case was in the first half, Toledo again awarded a penalty, this time to Chicago. With Cuauhtemoc Blanco not in the game, Brian McBride was handed the task of taking the penalty kick. McBride went to his right, but Wicks guessed correctly, and blocked the shot, which United was able to then clear.
The miss seemed to demoralize Chicago, and gave United a boost after a sluggish start for them in the second half.
United then had a quick succession of chances, but were unable to convert the opportunities. Marc Burch got to a Gomez corner kick, but his header went straight at Busch. Rodney Wallace then put a cross into the box, which eventually found teammate Chris Pontius just outside the box. Pontius placed a well hit shot, but the ball just sizzled by Busch's far post.
D.C. had another chance in the 61st minute, as a through ball found N'Silu behind the Chicago defense. Busch was quick off his line, and was able to block N'Silu's shot near the top of the box. The loose ball then fell to Gomez, but his on- timed shot from outside the box hit the crossbar, after beating Busch.
Chicago was not out of the game though, and in the 65th minute, came close to finding the equalizer. Nyarko won a free kick 25 yards out, and Thorrington stepped up, looking to find an equalizer. But his shot hit the near post, and bounced out, denying Chicago another opportunity.
The pace of the game then began to slow, as United looked to put a clasp on their advantage, and limit Chicago's opportunities. Justin Mapp, who came on for Nyarko, had a chance in the 76th minute, but he ran out of room, and his shot from a tight angle was straight at Wicks, who was able to make the save.
Thabiso Khumalo came on for Fred in the 78th minute, and in the dying moments of the game, created a couple of chances for United to secure the victory. In the 87 minute, Khumalo intercepted a pass in the Chicago half. Khumalo broke free on goal, but he was at a tight angle, and his eventual shot was clear over the goal, with Busch doing well to hold his ground.
Then in the 89th minute, Khumalo was at it again. A long ball played him through on the right side. He sent a cross into the box, which beat Busch. The ball eventually fell to Quaranta at the far post, but he was only able to put his effort into the side netting.
The three minutes of stoppage time then played out without any chances, as Chicago was unable to create any more chances. And with the win, United moved to the top of the Eastern Conference.
Steven Streff, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page!
First Half
The second meeting between these Eastern Conference rivals at RFK stadium saw little action in the early stages of the first half.
Santino Quaranta had the first real chance of the game for United in the 5th minute, as he worked a well-played combination with Jamie Moreno. Moreno laid the ball into the box for Quaranta, who then put his shot into the side netting, with Chicago keeper Jon Busch having the spot covered.
Chicago had a couple of dangerous moments while attacking, but John Thorrington was muscled off the ball by United defender Dejan Jakovic, and Chicago's Patrick Nyarko had a dangerous cross knocked out for a corner, which did not amount to anything.
The first controversial moment of the game also produced the first goal of the game. A long ball into the box found Pontius, but his shot went wide of the far post. But Busch and Pontius collided after the shot, and referee Baldomero Toledo adjudged that Busch had committed a foul, and awarded a penalty accordingly.
Moreno stepped up to the spot, and sent Busch the wrong way, giving D.C. a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute.
Shocked by the decision of the referee, Chicago was determined to get back into the game. Striker Brian McBride had a chance in the 29th minute, as a cross fell to him at the far post. But he put his effort into the side netting, not even troubling United keeper Josh Wicks.
But in the 33rd minute, Chicago found an equalizer, courtesy of a fantastic striker from winger Marco Pappa. Thorrington played a cross field pass that eventually found right back Tim Ward. Pappa peeled off his marker in the box, and Ward found Pappa in the box with a simple pass. Pappa then made room for himself with a quick move, before curling an effort around Wicks at the far post, leveling the score at 1-1.
United were then forced to make a change in the 39th minute, as Moreno came off in place of Ange N'Silu. Moreno was struggling throughout the match with an injury, which eventually forced the change.
Just two minutes later, United were back out in front. A long ball found Ponitus just outside the box, but he was fouled as he went up for a header, giving United a free kick 20 yards out from goal. Christian Gomez and Marc Burch both stood of the free kick, but it was Gomez who eventually took it. And he was able to bend it around the ball, and beat Busch to the post, giving United a 2-1 lead in the 41st minute.
Little else happened in the rest of the half, and United went in with the slender one goal lead.
Second Half
The second half got off to a quick start, and Chicago had several chances early on to equalize the game.
In the 47th minute, a ball fell in the box for a wide open Wilman Conde of Chicago, but the defender put his shot straight at Wicks, who was able to block it, before collecting it to end the threat.
Moments later, Wicks was at it again. A through ball found Nyarko in the box, but Wicks was quick off of his line, and blocked the shot.
However, in blocking the shot, Wicks collided with Nyarko. And just as the case was in the first half, Toledo again awarded a penalty, this time to Chicago. With Cuauhtemoc Blanco not in the game, Brian McBride was handed the task of taking the penalty kick. McBride went to his right, but Wicks guessed correctly, and blocked the shot, which United was able to then clear.
The miss seemed to demoralize Chicago, and gave United a boost after a sluggish start for them in the second half.
United then had a quick succession of chances, but were unable to convert the opportunities. Marc Burch got to a Gomez corner kick, but his header went straight at Busch. Rodney Wallace then put a cross into the box, which eventually found teammate Chris Pontius just outside the box. Pontius placed a well hit shot, but the ball just sizzled by Busch's far post.
D.C. had another chance in the 61st minute, as a through ball found N'Silu behind the Chicago defense. Busch was quick off his line, and was able to block N'Silu's shot near the top of the box. The loose ball then fell to Gomez, but his on- timed shot from outside the box hit the crossbar, after beating Busch.
Chicago was not out of the game though, and in the 65th minute, came close to finding the equalizer. Nyarko won a free kick 25 yards out, and Thorrington stepped up, looking to find an equalizer. But his shot hit the near post, and bounced out, denying Chicago another opportunity.
The pace of the game then began to slow, as United looked to put a clasp on their advantage, and limit Chicago's opportunities. Justin Mapp, who came on for Nyarko, had a chance in the 76th minute, but he ran out of room, and his shot from a tight angle was straight at Wicks, who was able to make the save.
Thabiso Khumalo came on for Fred in the 78th minute, and in the dying moments of the game, created a couple of chances for United to secure the victory. In the 87 minute, Khumalo intercepted a pass in the Chicago half. Khumalo broke free on goal, but he was at a tight angle, and his eventual shot was clear over the goal, with Busch doing well to hold his ground.
Then in the 89th minute, Khumalo was at it again. A long ball played him through on the right side. He sent a cross into the box, which beat Busch. The ball eventually fell to Quaranta at the far post, but he was only able to put his effort into the side netting.
The three minutes of stoppage time then played out without any chances, as Chicago was unable to create any more chances. And with the win, United moved to the top of the Eastern Conference.
Steven Streff, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page!
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