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Playoff Hopes Fading Fast For Unlucky D.C. United
Jul 16, 2010 2:15:00 AM
By Max Zeger
WASHINGTON D.C—With one late header at the back post after an atypical Jordan Graye mistake, D.C United’s second half of the season began much as the first did, with a painful loss.
13,716 came out to RFK Stadium on a hot and humid Thursday to see United’s first home match since before the World Cup break, and they were bitterly disappointed to see their home team give up a soft late goal in a game, which on another night, they could have won.
Coach Curt Onalfo said it simply enough, “We didn’t finish our chances.”
After a horrendous start to the season, United had rebounded nicely, and was coming off two encouraging draws on the road, one to San Jose, the other to rivals New York, but this home match against a struggling Sounders squad was crucial in their push to get back into the playoff picture.
United began with new signings Pablo Hernandez and Branko Boskovic on the bench, as did Seattle with Blaise N’kufo. Onalfo opted to start Jaime Moreno after an impressive performance against New York, but the striker rarely looked dangerous.
D.C struggled in the first half, with Andy Najar the only player who was consistently troubling the Seattle back line. He tested Sounders ‘keeper Kasey Keller twice with blistering drives. The 40-year-old was up to it each time, though.
Onalfo had nothing but praise for Najar after the game. “At 17 years old, he’s making runs in the 90th minute to create chances, and the majority of our chances came from his side. He was dangerous.”
Despite Najar’s persistence, Seattle looked the more likely to score at the outset, with Fredy Montero shooting wide from distance, and Steve Zakuani scuffing a wide open look at Perkins’ net all within the first 10 minutes. Zakuani and Montero troubled the United back line constantly, and almost broke through again late in the first half when the two combined neatly in the box, but Perkins was able to smother Zakuani’s attempt on goal.
“We thought we were fortunate to still be tied at halftime,” remarked central midfielder Stephen King. “We were bitterly disappointed with how we performed in the first half.”
D.C’s fortunes improved in the second half, as they were able to grab more possession, and create quality-scoring opportunities. The best chance of the night came when Andy Najar broke free down the left, and avoided an onrushing Kasey Keller. Najar crossed the ball to Pablo Hernandez, who entered early in the second half. His curling effort on an open net was headed off the line by Patrick Ianni. New Designated Player, Branko Boskovic, also made his debut, but did little to aid the cause in his 18 minutes of play.
United pushed for the win, and ultimately was punished for pushing so many men forward. Rookie left back Jordan Graye was bringing the ball up the side, when substitute Sanna Nyassi stole the ball from him, and laid it off to Montero. The Colombian crossed to the back post where Roger Levesque headed the ball home.
It was a rookie mistake that the Red and Black could ill afford.
“With young players, it’s going to happen, but at the end of the day, it is still people’s livelihood, and their jobs are on the line,” commented Troy Perkins on Graye’s mistake. “There comes a point where mistakes end up costing people.”
Graye was equally hard on himself for costing his team a valuable point. “I just have to bounce back. I got caught attacking too much. I wasn’t even thinking we were going to lose the game, but I ended up causing the error which gave up the goal.”
Things don’t get any easier for D.C United in the near future. On just two days rest, United will play Los Angeles, currently the best team in the league. The squad boasts Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle, and an extremely stingy defense.
Graye says the team will come out looking for the win. “We need to come out with a more die-hard attitude, a win-or-die attitude.”
For United, things are almost win or die. With just 14 league games remaining, United need to pick things up significantly if they still harbor hopes of making the playoffs, but the bitter taste of a match that was there for the taking still lingers.
“We have taken a whole bunch of steps forward, tonight, we took a step back,” explained Onalfo. “We just have to like our wounds and keep progressing.”
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
Max Zeger is a Goal.com contributor. You can follow him on twitter @mcmz403
13,716 came out to RFK Stadium on a hot and humid Thursday to see United’s first home match since before the World Cup break, and they were bitterly disappointed to see their home team give up a soft late goal in a game, which on another night, they could have won.
Coach Curt Onalfo said it simply enough, “We didn’t finish our chances.”
After a horrendous start to the season, United had rebounded nicely, and was coming off two encouraging draws on the road, one to San Jose, the other to rivals New York, but this home match against a struggling Sounders squad was crucial in their push to get back into the playoff picture.
United began with new signings Pablo Hernandez and Branko Boskovic on the bench, as did Seattle with Blaise N’kufo. Onalfo opted to start Jaime Moreno after an impressive performance against New York, but the striker rarely looked dangerous.
D.C struggled in the first half, with Andy Najar the only player who was consistently troubling the Seattle back line. He tested Sounders ‘keeper Kasey Keller twice with blistering drives. The 40-year-old was up to it each time, though.
Onalfo had nothing but praise for Najar after the game. “At 17 years old, he’s making runs in the 90th minute to create chances, and the majority of our chances came from his side. He was dangerous.”
Despite Najar’s persistence, Seattle looked the more likely to score at the outset, with Fredy Montero shooting wide from distance, and Steve Zakuani scuffing a wide open look at Perkins’ net all within the first 10 minutes. Zakuani and Montero troubled the United back line constantly, and almost broke through again late in the first half when the two combined neatly in the box, but Perkins was able to smother Zakuani’s attempt on goal.
“We thought we were fortunate to still be tied at halftime,” remarked central midfielder Stephen King. “We were bitterly disappointed with how we performed in the first half.”
D.C’s fortunes improved in the second half, as they were able to grab more possession, and create quality-scoring opportunities. The best chance of the night came when Andy Najar broke free down the left, and avoided an onrushing Kasey Keller. Najar crossed the ball to Pablo Hernandez, who entered early in the second half. His curling effort on an open net was headed off the line by Patrick Ianni. New Designated Player, Branko Boskovic, also made his debut, but did little to aid the cause in his 18 minutes of play.
United pushed for the win, and ultimately was punished for pushing so many men forward. Rookie left back Jordan Graye was bringing the ball up the side, when substitute Sanna Nyassi stole the ball from him, and laid it off to Montero. The Colombian crossed to the back post where Roger Levesque headed the ball home.
It was a rookie mistake that the Red and Black could ill afford.
“With young players, it’s going to happen, but at the end of the day, it is still people’s livelihood, and their jobs are on the line,” commented Troy Perkins on Graye’s mistake. “There comes a point where mistakes end up costing people.”
Graye was equally hard on himself for costing his team a valuable point. “I just have to bounce back. I got caught attacking too much. I wasn’t even thinking we were going to lose the game, but I ended up causing the error which gave up the goal.”
Things don’t get any easier for D.C United in the near future. On just two days rest, United will play Los Angeles, currently the best team in the league. The squad boasts Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle, and an extremely stingy defense.
Graye says the team will come out looking for the win. “We need to come out with a more die-hard attitude, a win-or-die attitude.”
For United, things are almost win or die. With just 14 league games remaining, United need to pick things up significantly if they still harbor hopes of making the playoffs, but the bitter taste of a match that was there for the taking still lingers.
“We have taken a whole bunch of steps forward, tonight, we took a step back,” explained Onalfo. “We just have to like our wounds and keep progressing.”
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
Max Zeger is a Goal.com contributor. You can follow him on twitter @mcmz403
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