Emilio denied as United settles for tie
By: Craig Stouffer
Examiner Staff Writer
August 22, 2009
D.C. United 0, Los Angeles Galaxy 0
D.C. United needed a victory badly Saturday night against the Los Angeles Galaxy, considering a recent string of disappointing results, including one victory in its last seven league matches, which had put a significant dent in the team’s playoff hopes.
But while heart, effort and scoring chances were all there against one of MLS’ hottest teams, so too were two questionable calls that left United feeling like they had done enough for a win despite settling for scoreless draw in front of 22,134, their biggest home crowd of the regular season.
Luciano Emilio was involved with both disputed plays, the first an offside ruling after he latched onto a pass from Fred in the eighth minute.
“From our point of view, it looked like he made a really well-timed run and it was a good goal,” said United assistant coach Chad Ashton, who manned the sideline in place of head coach Tom Soehn, who missed the game due to illness and had undergone testing for H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.
Emilio was then denied in the opposite fashion in the 66th minute, as referee Mark Geiger didn’t blow his whistle when Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant pushed the Brazilian forward down in the penalty box as the two tried to corral a Santino Quaranta cross.
“I think it was a PK, this situation,” said Emilio, “because [Dunivant] didn’t have any more chance to go to get to the ball, and push with both arms. It’s hundred percent PK, but the referee, again, made the mistake.”
The diminishing rain at RFK Stadium and goalless outcome were offset by a riveting clash of the league’s two most storied franchises.
United (6-5-11) owned a heavy majority of possession but other than Emilio’s denied attempt, struggled in the final third of the field, producing just three shots on goal, the best a stinging strike from Quaranta to the near post that Donovan Ricketts parried away during a trio of corner kicks late in the first half.
D.C. was also tested on the counterattack in front of its own net, with defender Bryan Namoff stretching to block shots in each half. United goalkeeper Josh Wicks also made three of his five saves in the final ten minutes, denying a close-range effort by Dunivant and a swerving ball from David Beckham in second-half stoppage time that would’ve sent the Galaxy (8-4-11) to their seventh victory in nine games.
Instead, both clubs added to their league-leading number of ties.
“I think it’s the only game this year that we’ve had the right mentality throughout the game,” said United midfielder Ben Olsen. “Our lapses were very few, and that’s an important step for this team. Now can we build on it? Are we a professional enough team to realize that’s not going to do it? We need to do that, and sneak a goal. We were a little unlucky today. We’d like to get three points. But it’s certainly something to build on.”
