Debriefing for Match 13.B.02: Atlante

D.C. United 2 : 3 Atlante

Superliga, Match Day 2

Six Word Novel Recap

Superliga is done. Play the reserves

Media, Traditional and Otherwise

The Washington Post, Steve Goff: "Luis Gabriel Rey scored twice in the first half and Christian Bermúdez added a second-half strike from beyond the penalty area for Atlante. Francis Doe had United's first-half goal in front of 12,122 at RFK Stadium...Luciano Emilio halved the deficit in the 79th minute, but Atlante goalkeeper Federico Vilar stopped reserve Rod Dyachenko's blast late in added time to hand United its second consecutive loss after entering the eight-team tournament on an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions."
The Washington Times, John Haydon: "United suffered its second consecutive home loss to a Mexican team Tuesday night, falling 3-2 to Atlante FC in the SuperLiga tournament. United, with no points after two games, barely remains alive in the competition."
UnitedMania, Chris Webb: "United's much maligned defense was on the back foot on many occasions often letting the quicker Mexican side get behind the makeshift central pairing of Devon McTavish and Marc Burch. Playing thier fourth consecutive match together both players looked tired and often drifted out of position and left gaping holes for Atlante striker Luis Gabriel Rey to exploit."
MLSNet, Charles Boehm: "Wracked by injuries and drained by a busy schedule, D.C. United needed to dig deep for their SuperLiga group match against Atlante FC on Tuesday night, where a win was crucial for safeguarding their prospects of a berth in the tournament's semifinal round. But all United managed to dig was an even deeper hole for themselves..."
MLSNet, Charles Boehm: "United made one change from the same first XI as Saturday's loss to Chivas, demoting Rod Dyachenko to the bench in favor of Francis Doe. The home side lined up in what the lineup sheet described as a 4-3-3 formation but in reality performed much like the team's standard 4-4-2, with Jaime Moreno manning the playmaking role vacated by Marcelo Gallardo, who continues to battle a groin injury."
DCUMD, Shatz: "Sometimes Doe has a tendency to try to outdo himself. He needs to learn that the cheeky backpass or the underside-of-the-foot-flick is not always necessary; that sometimes the better option is a simple trap and pass or a through ball. Doe has good vision, but his talent lets him down sometimes, and he isn't always on the same page as the rest of the team. Um... nice goal though."
BLCKDGRD, BDR: "I don't pretend to understand MLS rules regarding salary caps and team rosters, but whatever they are, this team's depth sucks, and that's on Kasper. Soehn doesn't have options beyond the eleven he started last night if Gallardo is crippled (and the silence surrounding Gallardo's cripple-ness is ominous), if Peralta's not much better than a useless Marc Burch at center-back, if Quaranta is one hop away from missing another three weeks with his perma-hamstring pull. People who need the night off on Saturday aren't going to get it because there's no one to replace them."
The Offside: DC United, jon: "Fred. You looked like you did not want to be out there tonight, and it was plain to everyone watching. You weren’t connecting with the midfield, you couldn’t cross the ball, and your attempts to get in the attack never materialized. Tonight, and for the last few weeks, you sir, have sucked. Get it together, or get gone."
Fullback Files, Fullback: "What's with the dicking around with the ball at the back and the Latin-style molasses attack? Does the increase in Spanish vocabulary being lobbed about the pitch like so many errant grenadoes bring this out in us?"

The Good

1. Moreno in the Center: Yes, it was that much better than Rod Dyachenko. He was tired, you could see it on some poorly played balls into the box, but he at least held the ball as well as he ever does.
   
2. Emilio's Goal: A highlight in a game that didn't really have many. A nice turn, but even nicer considering he turned without the ball to take the shot first touch.
   

The Bad

1. Tom Soehn as Piotr Nowak: I understand that sometimes there's stick, and sometimes there's carrot. From Behind the Badge: "Our performance, particularly in the first half, was atrocious; we had no commitment, no passion, and we played flat. It is unacceptable, especially in a tournament like this. Every time a player wears the D.C. United uniform, they should be proud. This team is well known for its pride, and that’s something we did not show today. We didn’t appear in the first half. Thus, we couldn’t contain any team. We tried in the second half, but that was too late. We cannot do that in this competition. Whether you are tired or not, you have to put in an effort. And that sweat wasn’t out there today. "
   
   This is fan service at its worst. I gave Tom Soehn a pass on the line-up, because he was going for the win and he had few options once that choice was made. But we have been running the players hard since the poor start, a poor start that was at least partially Tom Soehn's fault. As a result, it has caught up with us. The worst thing he can do now is try and play the starters out Saturday. They're tired, they've given a lot to the league and US Open cup runs, now let them rest. Go ahead and be disappointed, but what did ripping the team in public accomplish? Will that make them less fatigued? I doubt it.
2. Marc Burch: Sometimes you give the goat in outrage, other times in sadness. Marc Burch was responsible for two goals, but I can't really castigate him. He's played at left wing, left back, and now three games as a center back. His instincts would have been correct for those other positions, but not for a center back as the last man back. He's simply not used to that role, and it victimized us.
3. Fred: Gassed.
4. Clyde Simms: Gassed.
5. The Fans: Gassed.
   
6. Bryan Namoff: He seems to be getting a pass for allowing so much space on the third goal, with most of the blame going to Wells, but I can't agree. Namoff should have shut down the play as much. Yes, Wells was off his line, but he should have been because the ball coming out of there was more likely to be a cross than a carefully measured shot.

Officiating Watch

N/A

Likert Scale Grade: Not Rated

Man of the Match

N/A, your goat is Burch, censure to Fred and Dyachenko, merit to Moreno and Emilio

Final Thoughts

I wrote yesterday that Superliga is no longer viable, even if there is a mathematical chance. I still feel that way, even though a three goal victory against Houston would see United through. It's just not worth the effort from a cost/reward point of view. The league game on the 22nd against Houston is far more important to United, even if it is only one league game, than the game on the 19th. Run out the reserves on the 19th, concede the match, and fight to regain momentum just before the all-star break. Hell, rest Wells even. The loss hurts, it feels bad, but sometimes knowing when you're beat is important.