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Strong Second Half Helps United Rally Past Colorado
A stunning 15 minute display from D.C. United saw them erase a 1-0 halftime deficit, as they defeated the Colorado Rapids 3-1 in front of 18,248 fans at RFK Stadium.
Jul 19, 2009 2:04:50 AM
Just under a month after the Colorado Rapids defeated D.C. 3-0 in Denver, United were able to rally behind goals from Luciano Emilio and Jaime Moreno, both of whom returned to the side after layoffs with injuries. Colorado were boosted with the return of the suspended Cory Gibbs, and with the return of Omar Cummings from international duty. However, they were lacking Ugo Ihemelu, who missed the match due to a suspension.
Both sides were also missing players due to the Gold Cup, as Colin Clark was absent for Colorado, and D.C. had Santino Quaranta and Dejan Jakovic missing.
First Half
The game began at a frantic pace, and chances were created early and often by both sides.
United midfielder Ben Olsen had the first chance of the game, but his long-range effort was deflected just wide for a corner. From the resulting corner, defender Bryan Namoff had his header go just wide.
D.C. were presented with a great chance to take the lead in the sixth minute. An Olsen through-ball found its way past the Colorado defense and reached Thabiso Khumalo. With just Colorado 'keeper Matt Pickens to beat, Khumalo's shot was well wide, as the South African wasted a terrific opportunity to give United an early lead.
The game continued at a blistering pace, as Colorado striker Conor Casey had a header go just wide of the upright, and United forward Chris Pontius bounced a shot just wide of the far post.
From the resulting goal kick, Colorado took the lead. No one dealt with Pickens' clearance in the air, and it bounced dangerously towards the United goal. Namoff then tried to take care of the loose ball, but he only managed to chip it over his own keeper, Josh Wicks, handing Colorado the lead in the 14th minute.
From there, the pace of the game began to slow, as both sides looked towards their midfielders to control the tempo of the game, which created a more manageable speed of play.
Casey had another opportunity in the 22nd minute, as he won the ball deep in United's half. His shot found its way through the legs of United defender Marc Burch, but Wicks was able to parry the shot away for a corner, which Colorado failed to capitalize on.
While possession remained even throughout the rest of the half, United were able to create the only other chances for the rest of the half.
Christain Gomez had a shot blocked in the box, and Burch had a shot deflected, only for Pickens to recover in time to save the shot. Luciano Emilio had a great chance from a Fred cross, but his header was straight at Pickens. In the 44th minute, Khumalo had a chance with another header, but Pickens was again able to make the save.
After two minutes of stoppage time, the teams went into halftime with the Rapids holding a 1-0 lead.
Second Half
Although Colorado had the lead at the half, it only took United 15 minutes to put the game away in the second half.
Two minutes into the second half, United were already level, thanks to a penalty from substitute Jamie Moreno. Moreno played a through ball for Gomez, who was taken down in the box by Colorado captain Pablo Mastroeni. Moreno then stepped up to the spot and calmly powered home a shot past Pickens, equalizing the score at 1-1.
With the momentum clearly on their side, United went ahead in the 56th minute, courtesy of Namoff. Pontius won a corner for United, as his cross was deflected out. Gomez took the corner, and placed it invitingly at the near post. Namoff came diving in towards the ball, and fit his header neatly into a tight space for an emphatic 2-1 lead.
By the 61st minute, the game was all but wrapped up, thanks to Emilio's sixth goal of the season. Colorado defender Julien Baudet attempted to screen Gomez in the Colorado box, as the ball was rolling towards becoming a goal kick. But Gomez fought for the ball, and poked it over to Fred. Fred had the ball just in front of Pickens, with his back to the goal. Emilio was streaking into the box, and Fred laid a simple pass back, with Emilio easily slotted home, handing United a 3-1 lead.
With United in the ascendancy, they were able to control the possession for the next twenty minutes, without really threatening to score another goal.
Colorado were frustrated by the proceedings, and seemed unlikely to earn as much as a point from the game.
In the last ten minutes, though, Colorado were finally able to get hold of the possession, and created several chances, although they failed to test Wicks during the stretch. Substitute Pat Noonan and Casey came closest for Colorado, but Noonan's shot went into the side netting, while Casey's attempt was deflected over the bar by Namoff.
After four minutes of stoppage time, referee Ricardo Salazar called for the end of the game, ending in a 3-1 victory for D.C. over Colorado.
Steven Streff, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
Both sides were also missing players due to the Gold Cup, as Colin Clark was absent for Colorado, and D.C. had Santino Quaranta and Dejan Jakovic missing.
First Half
The game began at a frantic pace, and chances were created early and often by both sides.
United midfielder Ben Olsen had the first chance of the game, but his long-range effort was deflected just wide for a corner. From the resulting corner, defender Bryan Namoff had his header go just wide.
D.C. were presented with a great chance to take the lead in the sixth minute. An Olsen through-ball found its way past the Colorado defense and reached Thabiso Khumalo. With just Colorado 'keeper Matt Pickens to beat, Khumalo's shot was well wide, as the South African wasted a terrific opportunity to give United an early lead.
The game continued at a blistering pace, as Colorado striker Conor Casey had a header go just wide of the upright, and United forward Chris Pontius bounced a shot just wide of the far post.
From the resulting goal kick, Colorado took the lead. No one dealt with Pickens' clearance in the air, and it bounced dangerously towards the United goal. Namoff then tried to take care of the loose ball, but he only managed to chip it over his own keeper, Josh Wicks, handing Colorado the lead in the 14th minute.
From there, the pace of the game began to slow, as both sides looked towards their midfielders to control the tempo of the game, which created a more manageable speed of play.
Casey had another opportunity in the 22nd minute, as he won the ball deep in United's half. His shot found its way through the legs of United defender Marc Burch, but Wicks was able to parry the shot away for a corner, which Colorado failed to capitalize on.
While possession remained even throughout the rest of the half, United were able to create the only other chances for the rest of the half.
Christain Gomez had a shot blocked in the box, and Burch had a shot deflected, only for Pickens to recover in time to save the shot. Luciano Emilio had a great chance from a Fred cross, but his header was straight at Pickens. In the 44th minute, Khumalo had a chance with another header, but Pickens was again able to make the save.
After two minutes of stoppage time, the teams went into halftime with the Rapids holding a 1-0 lead.
Second Half
Although Colorado had the lead at the half, it only took United 15 minutes to put the game away in the second half.
Two minutes into the second half, United were already level, thanks to a penalty from substitute Jamie Moreno. Moreno played a through ball for Gomez, who was taken down in the box by Colorado captain Pablo Mastroeni. Moreno then stepped up to the spot and calmly powered home a shot past Pickens, equalizing the score at 1-1.
With the momentum clearly on their side, United went ahead in the 56th minute, courtesy of Namoff. Pontius won a corner for United, as his cross was deflected out. Gomez took the corner, and placed it invitingly at the near post. Namoff came diving in towards the ball, and fit his header neatly into a tight space for an emphatic 2-1 lead.
By the 61st minute, the game was all but wrapped up, thanks to Emilio's sixth goal of the season. Colorado defender Julien Baudet attempted to screen Gomez in the Colorado box, as the ball was rolling towards becoming a goal kick. But Gomez fought for the ball, and poked it over to Fred. Fred had the ball just in front of Pickens, with his back to the goal. Emilio was streaking into the box, and Fred laid a simple pass back, with Emilio easily slotted home, handing United a 3-1 lead.
With United in the ascendancy, they were able to control the possession for the next twenty minutes, without really threatening to score another goal.
Colorado were frustrated by the proceedings, and seemed unlikely to earn as much as a point from the game.
In the last ten minutes, though, Colorado were finally able to get hold of the possession, and created several chances, although they failed to test Wicks during the stretch. Substitute Pat Noonan and Casey came closest for Colorado, but Noonan's shot went into the side netting, while Casey's attempt was deflected over the bar by Namoff.
After four minutes of stoppage time, referee Ricardo Salazar called for the end of the game, ending in a 3-1 victory for D.C. over Colorado.
Steven Streff, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
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