First Impressions - DC UNITED 4 : 3 NYRB

There is so much that went wrong with this game, it seemed like every weakness of the season was popping up. DC was making stupid mistakes. Players were taking cards too easily. Erpen was doing something stupid in between brilliant defensive stops. We were plagues by injury and fatigue.

Yet there was one weakness that finally didn't show up: The inability to get a two goal lead once in front. And finally we managed to pull something together on that front. Credit to Jamie Moreno for coming in and jazzing the team up. Credit to Piotr Nowak for letting Jamie get some rest. Credit to Christian Gomez for another outstanding game against New York. Credit to the kids, as Jeff Carroll and Rod Dyachneko and Freddy Adu acquitted themselves well. DC was given ample opportunity to fold like Johnny Chan looking at 7-2 offsuit, yet for once kept pushing for the win. Can I say they deserved it? Probably not, but it was nice to see a few things pay off. A win that causes more of a sigh of relief than any exhiliration, right now. But that's something.

Just one more thing. I've been harping on the Supporter's Shield all year, and in fact since before the season started. I still am. Right now I have little confidence that DC will bring home a fifth title, but I do believe this teams has done enough to represent the country in international play. Win the supporter's shield, and that happens. And now we can see that, for the first time this year, that result is in our hands.