First Impressions - CD Guadalajara 1 : 0 D.C. United
D.C United 2 : 2 CD Guadalajara (AGGREGATE)
D.C United 0 : 1 CD Guadalajara (AWAY GOALS)
D.C. UNITED ELIMINATED ON AWAY GOALS
For a time, I thought that it could work. That the strategy of playing a strong, defensive shape and locking down the game might see us through. I didn't think it was possible entering the match. I thought United needed one more goal to ice the game. Still, for sixty minutes United surrendered only a few chances even while they wore out the sod on the their side of the pitch.
It didn't last. After a series of misplayed balls in our defensive third, a volley beat Perkins. Shifting to a 3-5-2 gave United a chance to actually attack, and of course be vulnerable in the back. But it doesn't matter. If you're down 1-0 or 2-0 in this situation, it didn't matter because only one goal would mean you wouldn't lose after 90 minutes. Time to go for it.
And even then, it almost worked. Almost. Carroll denied wide of the post. Olsen hammers a shot right at the keeper (following some beautiful team passing that was absent for about 85 minutes). We had chances. We just had to finish one of them.
Labels: CD Guadalajara, Copa Sudamericana, DCU, First Impressions
posted by D @ 10:51 PM
5 Comments:
Loses like this remind me that being the best in MLS is like being a star on the JV team...
I too have that feeling. Assuming we win the Shield and/or the Cup, the most important games next season will be international play. Otherwise we might as well be winning the English Nationwide Conference, in terms of respect. Plus I just cannot abide Chivas.
I thought this was the one, I thought DCU was going to advance. I missed most of the first half, but things looked promising towards the end.
I thought we got too defensive and gave away way too much possession starting the second half. Morales' shot was ridiculously nice, and that's all Chivas needed. The few chances at the end made it interesting, but it wasn't enough.
Two questions:
Where was Christian Gomez in the second half? I saw him run behind someone setting up for a free kick, I think, but that was about it.
Was Clyde Simms the worst player on the field? He had some awful giveaways, was he just as bad in the first half?
I'm so damn sick of losing close ones in international play.
Simms was bad. Jaime did nothing, especially after the uncalled attack in front of the Chivas goal early in the game. Luciano tried to do too much and ended up looking like a fool.
BTW: Does anyone actually believe that the Chivas players didn't realize that Jaime was injured for that long? What a bunch of class-less thugs. Remind me of the Ravens.
Oh, and the commentator on the tape delay must have been the guy that does the Chivas radio calls. What a biased commentary. I wanted to mute the damn match.
I have never liked the strategy of playing for a draw. From a fan's perspective it's not very exciting. More importantly, though, as we saw last night, if you spend the game just holding off the attack of a team who really needs a goal and has the support of their fans, the defense gets tired and a breakdown happens. Why not just go out and play to win?
Post a Comment
<< Return to The DCenters Main Page (HOME)