The mantra for D.C. United leading up to last weekend’s clash with Kansas City was simple, if not desperate: eight men behind the ball.
Who were the other two? Jaime Moreno and Luciano Emilio, of course, who worked their magic, scoring one goal apiece while their teammates locked down the Wizards for a 2-0 victory, United’s first shutout of the season.
“They’re definitely a yin and yang kind of couple,” said Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad, who last week played in the MLS All-Star game while Emilio and Moreno stayed home. “Emilio is very direct — he’s kind of like a bull in a china shop. And he does well to create space for himself. He got a half chance, I figured, and he put it away. That’s why he was MVP last year and it seems he’s rounding back into form. Moreno is just crafty and you have to pay attention to him no matter where he is on the field.”
Emilio scored for the 11th time in 2008, keeping him on pace for another 20-goal season while Moreno added to his all-time scoring mark with his 119th career goal. The 34-year-old Bolivian, who couldn’t remember the last he had scored with a header, has now matched or exceeded his 2007 statistics with seven goals and seven assists.
“I always said, when I lose that desire of playing soccer, I’m going to retire,” said Moreno. “I know a lot of people, they keep saying that I’m too old and to retire. They’re going to hate it, but they’re going to see me for a while.”
