Debriefing for Match 12.A.04: At CD Guadalajara

Leg #2 - CD Guadalajara 2 : 1 D.C. United
Aggregate - DC United 2: 3 CD Guadalajara

Six Word Novel Recap

To be so close hurts more.

Media, Traditional and Otherwise

The Washington Post, Steve Goff: "D.C. United got off to a spectacular start against Mexican power Chivas last night, but allowed the tying goal just before the half and fell behind on goalkeeper Troy Perkins's gaffe, resulting in a 2-1 defeat in the second leg of the Champions' Cup semifinals at rainy Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico."
MLSNet, Jason Halpin: "But while goalkeeper Troy Perkins' fumble of a slick ball gifted Chivas the game-winner early in the second half, it was the poor marking on Chivas' strike at the end of the first frame that United coach Tom Soehn homed in on after the game."
US National Soccer Players, Ian Penderleith: " The game was actually more reminiscent of United's 2005 defeat in the Copa Sudamericana to Chile's Catolica."
UnitedMania, Martin Fernandez: "United fought back. Second half substitute Jamil Walker nearly evened the score late in the game but luck was on the Mexican side."
An American's View, Brian Garrison: "Our ball control, for the most part, was very good. Player support for the guy on the ball needs to improve, and I expect that it will. Passing out of the defense needs to improve as well, which we will have to wait and see how it does."
Ben Olsen's Beard: "Two stars to Stephen deRoux. While he is not a world-beater by any means, he stepped up when needed and logged what were mostly quality minutes."
QuarterVolley: " United did not roll over and die."
BlackDogRed: "Perkins gets forgiven that one by me - he's more than earned one absolved gaffe - but this is the one and only time. Less forgivable is giving up that first goal only minutes after Moreno's goal.. "

The Good

1. Jamie Moreno: I have been on the Jamie Moreno worry bandwagon for most of a year now, but even I was impressed by his performance. Even before the goal, he served notice that he was coming to play, sending in an aggressive shot in the 17th minute. The thing is, Moreno did show up occasionally last year, so I'm not ready to retire the "worry about Jamie" chain of reasoning, but he certainly had his best showing on Tuesday night. That being said, it seems Tom Soehn will be much more conscious of keeping Moreno fresh. Moreno didn't need to come out in the 75th minute, but him coming out sends a good message that Soehn will not burn him out.
2. Jamil Walker: His best appearance as a sub in several months. No, he didn't score, but he was clawing and scratching and fighting for this team.
3. Think Different: United's play is still not together yet. Passing is overly casual in the midfield, but the creative play is starting to come together. That bodes well. United was much more creative in terms of playing balls into space and playing smartly.
   
4. Officiating: I have been wrong on this throughout the entire tournament. The officiating, despite crediting Chivas with some diving, was overall fantastic. Full credit to CONCACAF on this one.
   

The Bad

1. Goal One: There's tons of blame to go around on the first Chivas goal. Facundo Erpen, as Maradawga notes, was beat with speed. I think this is overconfidence more than anything. Erpen has tremendous recovery speed, so I believe that he believes in his own abilities too much on occasion. He positioning was far from ideal, and against the speed that Chivas has he was exposed. Most of the time he can get away with it. But not against this team. That being said, he did push the attack to a bad angle, and all might have been saved had not Boswell made a conscious decision to leave his man. To his credit, he knows it, but there was a lot that led to that first goal.
2. Perkins on the Second Goal: We know. He knows. And he didn't let it shake his confidence as he went out and made great stops after it. Enough. That being said, you wonder if more MLS teams will try and test him with high hard shots. Knowing the accuracy of most MLS midfielders, I kind of hope they do.
3. DCenters at the Pub Quiz: We got shelled. Pumas like. Still, it was fun, and it was nice meeting some of you out there. Let's do it again sometime.
   

Man of the Match

N/A. We lost.

Final Thoughts

I have nothing to add that I haven't already said. I will say that Fred played pretty much as much as I thought he would, and I tried to caution people from assuming he was going to play immediately. I am curious to see if he will replace Gros or Moreno against Colorado.

We played well. We lost. It sucks. Thank goodness the season starts soon.

First Impressions - CD Chivas Guadalajara 2 : 1 D.C. United

AGGREGATE - D.C. UNITED 2 : 3 CD GUADALAJARA

D.C. UNITED ELIMINATED IN SEMI-FINAL OF 2007 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP

Honestly?

Better than I expected. Worse than I hoped.

There may be talk of blame after this game, but I think it's unnecessary. Or if there is some thought to blame, it should be on the first goal. The later defensive breakdowns were a combination of fatigue and pressing for an equalizer. They should be expected. Yet for all that, unlike the first leg, Chivas did not seem like they clearly had the better players. They may, but for the first time this seemed like a match between teams that could be considered equals.

Still, Luis Bueno wrote in anticipation of last night's game "I continue to give D.C. no chance." He was wrong. But not wrong enough.

Like the Copa Sudamericana, my expectation on the way in were low. Like the Copa Sudamericana, the hope was sweet but tempered by the feeling of transience. Like the Copa Sudamericana, this one hurts.

I think that the greatest thing I can say about D.C. United is "there are no more moral victories." Such things are not possible for a team that can play as well as this one can. There are only wins. And defeats. This was the latter, but like our victories we show class in defeat. There are no moral victories because we know we can win any game. Moral victories only come when defeat is assured. We lost. But I never want to hear again that we are doomed to defeat if we play in Mexico. We just haven't done it yet. There will be a first time.

As usual, full debrief later.

Want to Hang with the DCenters, then watch the game?

Well, we just found out that the person who would be the 4th person of our Pub Quiz team has dropped out, so if you want to hang with us, we need a fourth for tonight's quiz. Drop an email or a comment, and you can join us. Hell, I'll pay for your entry fee.

Cliches about Journeys and Single Steps and Associated Kerfluffle

PRET? ALLEZ!: First, Oscar put up our match preview last night, and it is the essential document for getting you ready for tonight. Honestly, I have no idea if United will fair well or poorly tonight (so much will depend on how well Chivas can finish their chances) but I do know that I am excited for this match.

URBAN - RELEASE THE MOOSE SO THE MOOSE CAN BE... WELL, YOU KNOW: Bill Urban tips Justin Moose as a 2006 draft pick who can make a difference. He calls Moose a "combative bundle of midfield energy" which almost sounds like a doting parent talking about a precocious toddler. That seems about right to me.

FRED IS FRED: Dan Loney with what I am now declaring is the definitive take on the "FRED" uniform situation. Personally, I liked the entire "you earn the right to have the first name on the jersey" concept advanced previously by Kevin Payne, and the idea of standards and all, but hey, there's something to be said for cultural sensitivity.

CURSING THE DARKNESS: One of the nice things about the expanding soccersphere is that it gives more chance for me to dissent from other opinions. David over at The Offside: Chivas USA savages Garber's announced changes to the league competition structure. You should read his article, but I do want to take issue with some of it. I'm not afraid to attack the league and its decisions from time to time, but in this situation I think David's got it wrong. He writes:

There is no mention within these new initiatives to increase the player’s wages or accept a Player’s union. Rather the effort is used to hire new scouts for South America and create “world-wide” databases. If you cannot pay your own players and help cultivate the talent within your own country, how do you expect to “scout” for international talent? How do you expect to keep your own players?

First, there is a player's union, which has a Collective Bargaining Agreement in place. Steve Goff has a pretty good breakdown on what it says for the 2007 season. So essentially the players have negotiated what they feel is fair until 2010. Now, this deal can be amended (and indeed probably will be since there's a playoff bonus, and if there are fewer playoff teams then the union probably can demand that the playoff bonus be either increased or distributed as if eight teams made the playoffs instead of six.) The point is, while I agree that MLS salaries for home-grown talent, especially developmental contracts, are disgustingly low, it is what the union has negotiated for. That's how collective bargaining works. As Goff points out, this current deal is an improvement, despite some of the low rates. David's big issue (so far, and I am awaiting part 2 of this series) is that players aren't paid well enough. I agree! But the league and the union made that agreement, and it isn't something Garber can dictate. Now, the other thing at work here is that while the CBA has set minimums, the league sets the cap, and market forces may cause an increase in the cap if developmental players consistently jump to Europe (or, say, Puerto Rico). In that case, it's in the league's interest to go ahead and make money available for more players without waiting for the union to renegotiate.

As for David's conculusion:

The “Game First” initiatives are no more than just a band-aid and are issues that should have been addressed years ago.

Maybe, but for three years I've head a lot about how MLS couldn't find its ass with a map and a flashlight. They're wrong. Over the past two years, MLS has been consistently making moves in the right direction. Sure, there's no single table (but when there are 16 teams I'll bet we see one). Sure, even with only six playoff spots the regular season could still be more meaningful. But the fact is that almost every major change approved by the league over the past two years for competition has been in the correct direction. Yes, more can be done, but I say right now: I am more optimistic about the future of MLS, and the way the league is led, every day. Yes, there are some supreme idiots out there making some decisions, but overall the trend is very positive. We are only a few years from the Florida Contraction, when MLS seemed on the verge of disintegration. We are now in a place where we can be cautiously optimistic about a quality, long-term future for this league. There's more to be said on this, but that's enough for now.

Match Briefing for 12.A.04: At Guadalajara

Match #: 12.A.04

Opponent: Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Mexico)

Six Word Novel Preview: Score tied, count on Brazillian magic?

Aggregate Score: DC United 1 : 1 Club Deportivo Chivas

TV: Fox Soccer Channel, 9:30PM

Radio: Not known at this time.

Previous Meeting: United 1 (Emilio) : 1 (Bravo) CD Chivas

The Stakes: This is still simple, the aim is still to advance. It doesn't have to be pretty, just a win. Emilio's goal gave the team a lifeline, but they will be away from home and facing a tough team. The player's can't be timid or nervous, and will have to be more effective in disrupting Chivas' game from the beginning. Luckily, this is not as inexperienced a team as the one that was destroyed by Pumas in 2005. D expects that "we won't get nice, unbiased officiating in the away leg twice in this competition."

Chivas will want to prove that the 1-1 tie in RFK was a fluke, and will try to neutralize Christian Gomez to shut down United's attack. Don't be surprised if they try to goad our players into picking up needless cards. They're coming off of a 1-0 los to San Luis this Saturday. How tired will the Mexican team be after having played on Saturday? Will we see the usual starters? It is everyone's understanding that Mexican National Teamer Omar Bravo won't be available due to yellow card accumulation - how will that affect them?

Previews from the DCUniverse: Washington Post (added as we see them)

The DCenter Team's Location: The whole crew, D, Kinney, and Oscar will be at the SE Pub quiz. You should be there too.

Expectations: The outright fan in me wouldn't be surprised by a United win, this team could still advance. But they didn't help themselves by letting Chivas walk out of RFK with a tie. Even a one goal lead would be something. A tie during regulation wouldn't be anything to be ashamed of.

What to look for? Tighter defense - and hopefully no patented Erpen miscues out of the back. The team will have to work better to free Gomez, and provide quick outlets to capitalize if Chivas collapses 2, 3, or 4 players on him. Perkins will have to keep his back line focused and sharp for ninety minutes.

Ouch (shuffle) Ouch (Shuffle) Ouch.

FAN GUIDE PROGRESS: I managed to sprain my ankle over the weekend, which meant I didn't spend enough time on the New Fan's Guide as I would have liked. However, I did watch a lot of TV while being propped up on my sofa. Yes, that meant I saw San Luis take on Chivas, and United fans could take heart from seeing that result. San Luis was clearly the less skilled team.

My lack of activity being noted, others did make progress, and there are some helpful comments left in previous posts. My thanks to all that have done something, but please, we still need your contributions and editing to make this as great as we can.

SEE US LIVE: The DCenters, all of us (Kinney, Oscar, and myself) will be at the Screaming Eagles Pub Quiz tomorrow (look for the March 27 posting.) The event will be at the Babylon Futbol Cafe in Bailey's Crossroads starting at 6:30. If you ever wanted to say something to our face, this would be a good time. Registration for the quiz is $10, and you can get assigned to a team. I fully intend for our team to dominate. Failing that, I intend for our team to be at least mildly humorous.

DC Starters Crush Tecos Reserves

The press release just came out. DC won 3-0, with two of the goals coming in the first half when our starters were on the field. Moreno had two assists, with goals by Emilio, Gomez, and Casal. It's interesting to me that Boswell played the full game as it shows a distinct lack of depth in that position.

Also, according to this Medio Tempio article, Chivas staff were at the game taking notes and video taping. I guess they are taking United pretty seriously.

Stokes Army: Now Operating From Camp Lejeune (and other notes)

WE'RE IN STOKES ARMY: Triangle Soccer Fanatics locate DCU alum David Stokes with the Carolina Railhawks. We, of course, wish him the best of fortune with his new team. And thanks to TriSoccerFan for tracking this one down.

NAME ON, NAMOFF: MLSNet wage-slave Dave Lifton catches up with Bryan Namoff. Key graf:

"It's all about adaptation," Namoff said. "You have to ride the ups and downs of a season and work hard so that you're ready once that opportunity presents itself."

True of so many things.

THE FALSE SPECTER OF HISTORY: Fellow toiler in the MLSNet Grammar Mines Charles Boehm alludes to the Pumas match:

Two years ago, United ventured into the lion's den for the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions' Cup semifinal against a top-caliber Primera Division club after a disappointing 1-1 result at home, only to be torn limb from limb as Pumas UNAM took full advantage of a raw D.C. side with a 5-0 thumping in Mexico City.

You know, I was fearful that Boehm was pretty much the exact article we were trying to preempt a few days ago. Fortunately, Boehm points out that the similarities between the Chivas and Pumas matches are pretty much superficial in nature:

In that 2005 meeting, United took on Pumas with an untested back line that was still in flux after the loss of team captain Ryan Nelsen, and most of the lineup produced poor performances that were compounded by the effects of the high-altitude setting in the Mexican capital.

That sounds about right.

SHARE AND ENJOY!: The first real episode of The Soccer Show was pushed to my iPod this morning. Naturally, I listened to the entire thing on the way to work. It's heavily DC United focused, and caters to the United fan. Which is great for me, but that being said, it seems like the potential for a wider MLS audience to get something out of this show exists. For United fans, it becomes one of the two most important podcasts you get.

Midweek orientation

"32"1 LIFTOFF: Okay, so, I had RSVPed to the Boswell party, but felt like crap when I left work. So I missed it. I know, that is bad fan behavior, but there you have it. However, others did make it to celebrate the launch of BobbyBoswell.Com, and I salute them. Charles Boehm on the launch of the website with Bobby. The Far Post, of course, has pictures. Ian Penderleith was there and decided to play grandpa to all those young people with their rock and roll and clothing and whatnot. So was Nats fan Miss Chatter, whom we have had the pleasure of hanging out with from time to time, so kudos to all of you. Now, we may have to throw down when Bobby gets around to announcing the skills challenge. Oh yes.

TRAINING FOR CHIVAS: MLSNet lackey Dave Lifton on how United hopes to have learned from their previous match. And Steve Goff on young Fulham reservist now United winger Yinka Cassal.

STADIUM OPINION WATCH: The Washington Times once again rumbles vaguely about the DC United stadium deal:

City financing for the $700 million-plus Anacostia waterfront stadium for the Washington Nationals baseball team is much more egregious than Mr. Pollin's request. The same may also prove true of the city's planned giveaway of 110 acres of Poplar Point to build a soccer stadium for D.C. United.

"May also?" Weren't you guys trashing the deal two months ago without having seen it, and now you're pretending to have an open mind? I think we all see a charade of consideration when it is being set up. Of course, if you are actually withholding judgment and know you were a bit rash before, perhaps you should admit that.

CHRISTIAN GOMEZ IS YOUR MVP. MINE TOO. Climbing the Ladder does the world a service with a Christian Gomez goal compilation.

Uplifted

I detect a certain degree of resignation among a subset of D.C. United fans regarding the CONCACAF Champion's Cup. The 1-1 draw with Chivas at RFK has led many to believe that the defeat in Mexico is inevitable, and that DC's best hopes are to avoid a complete humiliation. I can understand this, but it's wrong. The Anxious Auxiliary Brigades are quick to point out that 1-1 was the result after the RFK leg with UNAM Pumas, an uncomfortable prelude to a 5-0 beat-down. History, it seems, would dictate these worries.

Readers of the DCenters know a few things: First, we don't believe that large margins of victories in single games are true indicators of talent so much as multiple small margins of victory. Five-nil is definitely within the fluke classification. Second, we don't believe that history is determinant. Just as people will be quick to say "Those that do not study history are bound to repeat it" people seem just as quick to equate that to "I've studied history, and this is what has happened, so this is what will happen." That second statement of historical determinism is bullshit of the highest order. Things change. DC doesn't lose in knockout competitions to MLS Teams. Unless it is the Chicago Fire. Until it was New England. Similarly, on the reverse side, DC is not doomed because of some macro-historical pseudo-scientific mumbo-jumbo.

Let me ask you a question, those of you that watched the Chivas match either on-screen or in-person: Did you feel that D.C. United looked bad because they weren't playing as well as they could, or because Chivas was so much better that D.C. looked bad in comparison?

I personally feel that many of the problems in the Chivas match were not caused so much by Chivas, but rather by United. That's not to say that Chivas wasn't a skilled team, and didn't cause United problems. But I didn't feel like I was looking at a team destined to play United off the pitch. DC made DC look bad more than Chivas did (although Chivas played their part.)

All this is saying that I think United can play a better game in Guadalajara. Of course, they may well play a better game and see Chivas step their game up a notch or two as well. But it's not set in stone that this is a repeat of the 2005 Pumas second leg. The forces of history are not necessarily a match for Ben Olsen.

Call for Video!

If someone taped the game, and would like to make a nice YouTube video of a Chivas player sliding groin first into a goal post, we certainly wouldn't object. And we're not the only ones.

Debriefing for 12.A.03: CD Guadalajara

Leg #1 - DC UNITED 1 : 1 CD Guadalajara

Six Word Novel Recap

Chivas plays well, acts like jerks.

Media, Traditional and Otherwise

NEW!!! Kyle Gustafson has some great photos. And yes, Chivas fans have a point about the goal we scored. Ben Olsen does seem to be taking out the Chivas keeper with a full-on Donald Brashear.
The Washington Post, Steve Goff: "...United had to work very hard just to salvage a tie at home and now faces the prospect of having to win the final leg of the two-game, total-goals series April 3 in Guadalajara to advance to the Champions' Cup finals."
The Washington Times, John Haydon: " Emilio's goal -- his fourth in three games with his new team -- lifted United to a 1-1 tie against CD Guadalajara at RFK Stadium, putting the aggregate
MLSNet, Charles Boehm: "The passionate rivalry between the CONCACAF nations was clearly felt at the club level as well, with heavy tackles flying in while both sets of fans looked to drown out the other's cheers."
An American's View..., Brian Garrison: "Our attack needs to get much better and get everyone back on the same page that we were on against Olimpia. If that is to happen, we have a fighting chance in the second leg."
BlackDogRed: "...if ever a tie felt like a loss this was it."
Hexagonal Blog: "The comm said that this was a great result for United - well, it's better than 0-1, but not what was required in the end. It changes the task on 5 April from 'impossible' to 'very difficult.'"
DC Soccer, Joseph Schoenbauer: "Therefore, MLS teams in this competition never really stand a chance, and if say, DC United or the Houston Dynamo, who defeated Pachuca 2-0 tonight in the first leg in Houston, does pull off a remarkable aggregate victory, it will be a one off that will give no real justification for perceptions of MLS fans and fans around the world to believe that this will become a regular result in years to come." (Note: This was left in our comments last night. I can't find a link to it on DCSoccer itself, but it's a hell of an article.)

(NOTE: We may add more recaps to this list as we see them. Or we may not. It depends on how lazy I am. But I think Off-wing, SE Pod, SE Match Report, Barra Bravand a few others will be coming.)

The Good

1. Atmosphere: I know... the Chivas fans were louder and outnumbered the United fans. It was a strange feeling, but also a somewhat exhilarating one. It made it a clear choice for our side: Do we give up knowing we can be drowned out at any moment? Or do we sing as loud as we can for as long as we can? I can honestly say, and I have no idea how it was on TV, that we did the latter. I applaud the effort.
   
2. Defensively Tighter: I wrote yesterday that I wouldn't be surprised if Chivas managed to play balls into the box, but I wanted our defenders to deny them space. For the most part, that is exactly what happened, and the backline of Erpen, Namoff, and Boswell pressured the Chivas attackers well. Yes, all three made gaffs, but they were rare for the most part and not nearly as problematic as the last match against Olimpia. The defense as a whole kept its shape well.
   
3. Leadership: Olsen and Boswell were very obviously quite vocal, especially in the second half. It is what I want to see from them, the willingness to rally and take command.
   
4. Stephen DeRoux: Look, it's not like he had a great game, but he played better on the wing than I thought he would. I may have been wrong about him.
   

The Bad

1. 20 minute warm-up: Yes, this is the same point as last time: United was not well in the first 20 minutes.
   
2. Developing Chances: If the defense did their job in stopping attacks, distribution was still a bit of a problem. Even when that worked, United was much too indecisive in midfield to create much of an opportunity. Part of this may have been that Chivas marked out attackers better than Olimpia, but that's not the entire story. They could have done more here.
3. Brian Carroll: Multiple goofs, slow, and awkward out there. Not a good basis for his national team selection.
   
4. Jaime Moreno: Look, I'm not about to say it's time for him to hang it up. It just may be that it takes him a few more games to warm-up and get into form given his age. I'm willing to give him half a season if necessary. But it bears watching.
5. Divas Guadalajara: I'm stealing this from Tucksider in our comments from yesterday. It's a great phrase, and fits well. Also, check out the very insightful comment from someone who is I think a DCenters reader over at Soccer by Ives. Matt Y on the difference between Ben Olsen and Chivas. I think he refutes Ives nicely on this one. Seriously, and I mean this in the most derogatory way possible: Chivas comported themselves like a bunch of Italians Footballers out there.
   

Man of the Match

Tough call on this one. Merit award to Ben Olsen, but despite the own goal, my man of the match is Bryan Namoff. He kept this game within reach with multiple neat steps, headers out of the box, and classy tackles. Seriously.

Final Thoughts

In the fiftieth minute, Moreno has tracked back to help stop a Chivas counter. With Namoff also back, he made an attempt to step in and take the ball from, I think, Mejia. He clipped a bit of Mejia's foot, who went down just inside the box. The referee motioned for Mejia to get up.

In Guadalajara, that's going to be a penalty (although it really should probably be an indirect free kick inside the box.) I fully expect again that, at times, we'll be jobbed by the officials.

The result was about what I expected, but I'm not doom and gloom about this. Am I expecting a win in Mexico? No, that'd be foolish. But neither am I writing this off as a series already lost. United has more than a theoretical chance. Underdogs? Sure. But they were underdogs when this series started. They can, and will, play better.

Highlights of DC United vs. CD Guadalajara

Not many highlights in this one folks. Pretty ugly game all around, but here they are if you want to see the goals. This is the home leg of the two game home and away series.

First Impressions - DC United 1 : 1 Chivas Guadalajara

Chivas proved two things over the course of the game I just saw. First, they were the better team over ninety minutes. Second, they have no class.

On the first point, Chivas was clearly the more dangerous team, although the United defense did well to contain them for the first sixty minutes. Namoff especially made several vital interventions before his effort was spoiled when he deflected Bravo's shot past Troy Perkins. The main problem for United was that they couldn't seem to generate chances when they had possession, and never really put Chivas on their heels. A significant problem was that United was consistently beat to 50-50 balls, and were never confident when making moves on Chivas players. That could be preseason form, or it could just have been nerves. Or perhaps Chivas really is that better in the marginal situations. However, certain players did play their heart out, and in addition to Namoff I should credit Ben Olsen, Christian Gomez, and Clyde Simms.

On the second point, Chivas were a bunch of divas and thugs throughout the night, blatantly mugging the United midfield and then pouting on the slightest call. Pathetic. Special call-out to Gonzalo Pineda (#7), who was in a give-and-take with Ben Olsen all night. At the end of the match, Ben did the honorable thing and went to shake hands. Pineda took the outstretched arm, and with his left hand delivered a shove to Olsen's face. Pineda is a useless wretch of a human being. He wouldn't know class if you spotted him the C and the L. Fuck him.

All in all, the Chivas fans were decent and loud, and probably outnumbered the United faithful three to one. I respect the fans, but honestly, your team did not earn your love with their deportment tonight. The United supporters, well, we did our best, and I have no voice left to show for it. I am proud of all who stood through the game.

Again, this was what I expected as a result, and while the odds are against us, it can still happen. This isn't over.

Match Briefing for 12.A.03: Chivas Guadalajara

Match #: 12.A.03

Opponent: Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Mexico)

Six Word Novel Preview: Home away from home? Not RFK.

CONCACAF Champions Record: First Match of Semifinals
CD Guadalajara - 1962 Champions (Corrected, see comments)
D.C. United - 1998 Champions

TV: Fox Soccer Channel, 8PM

Radio: ??

Previous Meeting: DC United 2 : 2 CD Guadalajara (August 24, 1997) [Note: Corrected, see comments]

The Stakes: You're going to hear a lot about how this will be a measuring stick about MLS. I don't buy these arguments. This game is simply a match beteween DC United and a Mexican team that's playing quite well in their league right now. For DCU, the questions about the defensive play will come to the forefront, and the ability to manage Chivas's wing play and counter attack will say a lot about how much progress has been made. DC United needs a lead coming out of this leg to maintain a decent hope of advancing, but hope is not dead with a draw.

For Chivas, the stakes are lower. They would like to come out of RFK close enough to take the win at home. Sunday they will be playing Club America at Estadio Azteca, and will no doubt want to take three points in that match. While they may not be looking past D.C. United, they may have to deal with a small case of fixture congestion that causes them not to play their best XI for the full 90 minutes.

Previews from the DCUniverse: DCUnited.COM, Ian Penderleith, Washington Post, Washington Times, The Offside: DC United, UnitedMania, DCist, Off-Wing Opinion (others added if/when we see them).

D's Location: Kinney has an extra ticket. Or rather, he had one. It's mine now. I just need to pay him. I'm not missing this game. No sir.

What to Look For: From Penderleith's article above: "The defense also practiced dealing with balls coming in from wide positions, as this is where D.C. feels Chivas can be at its most dangerous." That jives with what we saw from Chivas in their game on Sunday. And it will be a key. I'm not saying that I expect defenders to deny Chivas the ball on passes or early crosses in from the wing, but I damn sure expect them to deny Chivas space. If DC can be opportunistic in exploiting mistakes from Chivas, and limit the Chivas' supply from the wing, they can win this game. Key players to watch: Erpen, Namoff, Olsen. Also watch Perkins not on how well he goes from side to side, or how well he kicks the ball, but how quickly he can get up or down in his positioning.

Expectations: Every fan of Mexico on the East Coast will be at this game. That means you, yes YOU, must have a ticket and be in black. Walk up and buy one. I don't care if you own a DC United replica or not, get a black button-up wear the damn thing. Hell, it works for Jay-Z. If you're on the quiet side, you damn well clap along when a certain drummer shows up in your section. If you're on the other side, you sing, you clap, and you stand. If it rains, you do not head to the back. You get wet. Or bring something with a hood, provided it is black. Okay, PSA over.

The fact is, I expect a draw. While that won't bode well, it isn't the end of the world. United can score goals in other countries. Remember they put a number up in the Sudamericana away leg, even though they lost. Anything better than a draw, and DCU will have exceeded expectations. A loss is, however, a disappointment.

Practice and Perfection

Dave Lifton has been posting practice updates over at the SE Podcast (here and here) and now gets a MLSNet.COM byline (?!) to give you a quick update on the DC boys getting ready for the Goats. All three are good reads.

Keeping Tabs Abroad

Two items to begin with. First, watching Chivas in preparation for Thursday. Second, thoughts on Alecko Eskandarian.

CHIVAS BRIEFING: If you're like me, which is to say, if you're obsessed with the local soccer club, then you do things like watch Univision on Sunday to check out the Chivas - Pumas UNAM match. I see that some people on BigSoccer did the same, so I find it interesting that they have a completely different viewpoint than I do. So read their thoughts, but here are my impressions.

Chivas is a much better team than Olimpia. I know that should be obvious, but it is a point which emotionally I think many of us, including perhaps me, are inclined to ignore. We shouldn't. They are fluid team that possesses speed, tactical savvy, and determination. That being said, they are beatable.

Watching them play Pumas, I was struck that they were able to attack the Pumas back line in two different ways. They could run the ball through the center circle and then kick it out to the wing for the cross. They could play the ball in early from the wing through the air and find attackers who could beat their marker one-on-one. Both methods created clear chances for Chivas, and Pumas was saved only a lack of finishing. Twice, attackers were in alone on the Pumas keeper. Twice the save was made when the low show was contained by an outstretched leg. The fact is, Troy Perkins (or Jay Nolly) will almost certainly have to deal with similar situations in the next two games, so studying the positioning of the Pumas keeper and the way he got down to stop those shots is informative. It is also interesting that the one time Chivas took a high shot one on one with the keeper it started a sequence that put the ball in the net, only for it to come back for the offisde call.

Similarly, at the end of the first half Chivas had two free headers on crosses in from the wing. The first was over the crossbar, the second bounced off of it. It will benefit DC if we can get some similar good fortunate.

Chivas pressures well, at the top, through the midfield, and down to the backs. That being said, the backs are prone to ridiculous giveaways, with each by my reckoning making an Erpen-esque giveaway to manufacture a chance for Pumas. Their clearance and distribution out of the back is somewhat suspect, and I would think DC could create a chance to two here that they will need to finish. That being saids, their backs when pushed play well in a compact form, making a defense difficult to break down. Pumas' best chances in the second half came from shots outside the box (one of which clattered off a post.) DC may have to take some long-shots as well (Long as in 16-24 meters out, not 40). I don't think we'll be able to dribble it in.

In all, Chivas was impressive in their road match, especially during the 60th to 70th minutes where they strung together a beautiful set of passes and the touches for UNAM were limited to clearances back to the Chivas midfield. They're a good team. But not so good that I walked away thinking it would take a miracle.

ALECKO IN TORONTO:Bill Urban gets a few quotes from Alecko Eskandarian. Key graf:

"It is actually a little bit surreal," he said. "I became a family with everyone at D.C. United, so it's definitely a change, but it's part of life, and I think it will probably be beneficial in the end."

I still root for him. Good luck up there, Alecko. Stay healthy.

DC United v. CD Olimpia Second Leg Highlights

For those of you who missed the game. Here is a youtube video.

Debriefing for Match 12.A.02: CD Olimpia

Leg #2 - DC UNITED 3 : 2 CD Olimpia
Aggregate - DC United 7 : 3 CD Olimpia

Six Word Novel Recap

The rain fell. So did Olimpia.

Media, Traditional and Otherwise

The Washington Post, Steve Goff: "United claimed a 3-2 victory before 8,181 spectators to win the series by a 7-3 aggregate score."
The Washington Times, John Haydon: "The D.C. United faithful likely will chant Luciano Emilio's name plenty this season. United's new Brazilian acquisition scored two exquisite goals last night against his old team, CD Olimpia of Honduras..."
UnitedMania, Jimmy LaRoue: "Olimpia threatened United's defense on numerous occasions, especially in the first half, and it was rewarded with a 30th minute penalty from Hendry Thomas after Bryan Namoff's foul in the 18-yard box."
MLSNet, Charles Boehm: "United's back line were making things even more difficult for themselves with some slipshod passing under high pressure and they finally paid the price in the 29th minute when Namoff scuffed his clearance deep in his own corner and compounded the error by clipping Barahona as he cut back onto his right foot in the penalty area."
MLSNet, Charles Boehm: (yes, a second article, dude earns his paycheck) "With the 7-3 win on aggregate against Olimpia, United advances to take on CD Guadalajara (better known as Chivas) in the tournament's semifinals, with the first leg scheduled for March 15 at RFK. The Mexican giants present a substantially more imposing obstacle for the Black-and-Red, but United's veter
An American's View..., Brian Garrison: "With the exception of the second goal, our [DC's] defense looked very composed and in control. I would have to say that Boswell, Erpen, Namoff and Simms killed off about 10 minutes of the match at the end, simply with their ball control. Erpen still had a few of his "WTF!?!?!" moments, but Boswell showed exactly why he will be a regular part of the USMNT this summer with his ability to cover for his fellow defenders."
BlackDogRed: "One distinct difference I see so far between Nowak's and Soehn's philosophies is Soehn is sending Erpen forward far more regularly, loping a midfielder behind to cover, and I think this signals a far less rigid - and hopefully far more joyful - system."
(NOTE: We may add more recaps to this list as we see them. Or we may not. It depends on how lazy I am.)

The Good

1. Emiliorgasm: When Luciano Emilio first was announced as coming to DC United, I wondered if he was good enough to help the team more than our beloved Alecko Eskandarian. Now I'm starting to wonder iff the rest of the team is good enough to use Emilio. Seeing him in person is seeing more than just great finishing. He does so many things well, from runs off the ball to little touches to other players into space to glancing headers designed to take advantage of another's well designed run. Simply an amazing home debut.
   
2. Tactically Sound: Coach Tom Soehn has already shown he is not Piotr Nowak. Two substitutions at the half was something I don't recall seeing once last year, especially with one of them being for Moreno. He also showed the ability to think differently. When I first hears Olsen's name announced, I had assumed he was coming in for McTavish. That he came in for Carroll showed flexiblity in Soehn's line-ups, adapting to the situation in a way that called for it. These are good changes in my mind, hopeful ones that show that Soehn is showing his own way of doing things. This is his team now.
   
3. Clyde Simms: One of his best performances to date. What impressed me was not only his ability to step into passing lanes and take possession, but how quickly his head was up and he was usually able to distribute the ball.
   
4. Facundo Erpen: I know, he had his share of bad giveaways, but these weren't nearly as often, or as dangerous, as they were in the past. Most of his risk taking involved poor decisions near the center line, as opposed to out of the box. He also showed real class on several tackles, and given that I rag on him occasionally I wanted to laud his performance last night.
5. Boswell: Is really, really, really, for real. Part of me keeps thinking that as much as I love the guy, he may suddenly show that he's not as good as we think he is. Instead, he just keeps solidifying his game.
6. Jamil Walker: How can a guy who took three clear chances and sent two off them off Olimpia's keeper's face get on the Good list? Because of everything that led to those chances. He was more active in all aspects of the game, from making good runs to harassing Olimpia through the midfield. Excellent all-round effort from the second half substitute.
   
7. Ben Olsen: He took the Captain's armband from Moreno for the second half, and provided excellent on-field leadership and composure from the defensive midfield position.
   

The Bad

1. 20 minute warm-up: Not sure why, but United was quite ragged the opening twenty minutes of the game in all aspects.
   
2. Wing Speed: This is still a problem. McTavish was abused in the opening half, although he recovered somewhat in the second half. Gros also found difficulty in both shutting down his side defensively and in beating Olimpia defenders to through balls down his side.
   
3. Jaime Moreno: It's tough to say something bad about a legend, but his opening 45 minutes were not inspiring. I can usually understand his decision making when he chooses to pass rather than pull the trigger, but his decision to pass up a shot in the twentieth minute when he was in on the keeper was truly befuddling, as his pass to McTavish was across three Olimpia defenders and put McTavish into a much tighter angle that Jaime was in.
   
4. Cohesion: We're still definitely in pre-season form. Or, if you want to be pessimistic, end of last season form. It's showing up in little ways, and can get much better.
5. The Perkins Injury: Nothing against Jay Nolly, but seeing Troy limp off the field was not a good feeling. I know we want him to come back for the game on the 15th, but I'd even prefer he missed the game rather than come back too soon and make things worse. Get well, Troy. Don't worry about "soon." We'll worry about that. You just get better.
   

Man of the Match

I want to give this to Clyde Simms, but Emilio deserves it. Welcome to DC, Luciano Emilio. Merit awards to Simms, Boswell, Gomez, and Olsen.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the game, the rain has subsided to a small drizzle. Across came Olsen, Boswell, and Gomez, applauding the supporters for their efforts. Boswell even fist bumped the D.C. United shield on his jersey. "It's nice to see you all again," their applause said. Well, it was nice to see them again as well. We've missed this. Good to have it back.

First Impressions - DC United 3 : 2 CD Olimpia

Aggregate - DC United 7 : 3 CD Olimpia
DC United advances to CONCACAF Champion's Semifinal

I'm wet. I'm tired. I'm hoarse. But I was happy I was there. And I'm still happy now.

Go ahead and leave MotM suggestions in the comments. Yes, Luciano Emilio is definitely the real deal, and to see it in person is to see so much more than just him having the ball at his feet. A brace is pretty much going to make him the front runner for MotM honors. Still, a couple of other performances are worth a mention: Clyde Simms and Facundo Erpen were both much improved from last week, and Clyde impressed me quite a bit with his timing. Ben Olsen was a great second half sub, and he kept his play controlled despite suffering more than a few hard fouls. Boswell was decent, Namoff acceptable after giving up the penalty. The offense didn't have to run through Gomez, but he did well when he had it.

Some disappointments, but we can save those for tomorrow. DC did what they had to do, and then they did a bit more than that. The team took a step forward, both in terms of the competition and in the form they showed on the pitch. Now we get Real Chivas next (See what I did there? Clever, eh?). March 15. If we can brave the elements for this game, you can brave it for the next one.