In deference to Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup semifinal, D.C. United started Sunday’s league encounter at Chivas USA with a host of regulars absent, and even at less than full strength, it was the better team against the last place team in MLS’ Western Conference. But D.C. still paid the price, as reserve central defender Barry Rice got beat by Chivas forward Justin Braun to a header at the top of box in the first half which proved to be the only goal in a 1-0 defeat.
The shutout was United’s 14th of the season.
Jaime Moreno, who was honored by the home team before the match, had United’s best chance when Mariano Trujillo cleared his header off the line on a corner kick in the 69th minute.
But Rice, and goalkeeper Troy Perkins, who had no chance on the looping header that slipped just underneath the crossbar from 18 yards, were the biggest victims. Rice later left the field with a bloody towel to his face after a nasty collision of heads on a D.C. corner kick.
Regular D.C. starters Andy Najar, Clyde Simms, Bill Hamid, Chris Pontius and Julius James all started the night on the bench while Danny Allsopp (illness), Marc Burch (rest) and Pablo Hernandez (rest) stayed in D.C.
Najar made an immediate impact in forward as a second-half substitute but his outside-of-the-foot shot/cross was saved by Zach Thornton and his sent another cross out of a bounds on the opposite side of the field. Both plays showed where he’s still raw and needs more composure and decisiveness in front of the net to fully complement his work rate and skills in tight spaces.
A disappointing outcome, but it fits right in line with how things have gone for D.C. this season. The key question, will it be worth it come Wednesday?
