PHILADELPHIA – D.C. United desperately wants to believe that it is better three matches into the 2010 season than it was before the season started. That may be true, given how bad the season-opening 4-0 loss was at Kansas City and how the 2-0 home-opening loss last weekend was only marginally better. Tonight at Lincoln Financial Field, United and came back from the oblivion of a shocking opening half to end a scoreless drought at 243 minutes, and momentarily had an upset victory in their sights before a 3-2 loss to the expansion Union in its first-ever home game. That’s progress, right?
The fact is, D.C. United may be better, but that’s not enough to be better than any other team in Major League Soccer, and that’s the only better that counts.
“It’s very hard to understand what’s happened because we work so hard in the week, and them come into the game and it seems like luck is not on our side, you know,” said Jaime Moreno. “Players get injured, we get sent off, and it’s just one – hopefully, not one of those years, but we just got to dig deep, work together, and keep believing that this can turn around… To be honest with you, I’m just tired of saying, ‘What do I take from this game.’ It’s very simple: We lost, and we’re not good enough. We know that, and we have to go back to work and figure it out, how to win and how to become a better team.”
Three other thoughts:
United’s defense started badly and finished in shambles. Goalkeeper Troy Perkins tried to claim responsibility for the first and third of three goals from Sebastien Le Toux, who apparently took all of Seattle’s goals with him when he moved cross country.
“That whole game was my fault,” said Perkins. “That first goal, I’m too deep on my line. I can’t get too it, and then the third goal, I don’t think I cheat. I just think I’m too far over to one side a little bit. So you know what, I’ll hold my hand up, and I’ll take it for that.”
Admirable, and Perkins was probably accurate for the last goal, but there wasn’t a player within three yards of Le Toux on goal one, and the blame for goal two can be widespread.
“Getting countered is unacceptable,” said United head coach Curt Onalfo. “You have to break up that play earlier. If you have to foul, you foul, and then the play is done.”
Dejan Jakovic was least partially responsible for the third, too, even if a red card was a harsh punishment. Alejandro Moreno is probably the most fouled player in MLS history over the last decade – United upended him a game-high five times, basically ignoring the scouting report.
“It kind up popped up, just went over my head,” said Jakovic, of the ball that led to the foul call and Le Toux’s hat trick-earning free kick. “I mean, I think it was a pretty soft call. He kind of hooked me, and then I barely touched him, and he just went down right away. There were a lot worse tackles in the game, and I felt like for him to give me a red card, I don’t know. It’s disappointing.”
Meanwhile, Juan Peña went off the first half with a hamstring injury – he told me afterward he heard something pop. Meanwhile, Jakovic sported a huge gash across his chest suffered in a collision with Peña’s replacement, Julius James, who also planted his shin into Jakovic’s face and left him with sore right shoulder, too.
“We have Devon McTavish who is healthy again,” said Onalfo of his back line depth. “Carey Talley can play in the middle so we have plenty of options, and anytime somebody goes out with injuries or through red cards, it’s an opportunity for somebody else. To Julius’s credit, I think he stepped in and did a hell of a job today. It’s an opportunity now for him next week to start and keep his job.”
In other words, it’ll be shocking if those three players aren’t starting next weekend vs. Chicago.
Moreno’s goal was unlike any other I’ve ever seen. In the 68th minute, Union goalkeeper Chris Seitz lined up for a punt with Moreno just close enough to unnerve him. As Seitz went for the kick, Moreno faked a lunge, and Seitz flinched – bad – and the ball bounced out of the penalty area without him even taking a swing. Instead of kicking it, he just let it drop. Moreno quickly pounced, faked left and pulled the ball to his right to roll the ball into an open goal.
“I’ve seen a goalkeeper put a ball down, think he’s going to hit it off the ground, and the guy comes from behind,” said Perkins. “But I’ve never seen a goalkeeper not even swing at the ball. It’s first for me. You’re better off hitting it, and if he steps in front of it, it’s a free kick because he’s too close to you. If he does that, just hit it, don’t worry about it. It’s crazy. Weird.”
Not a bad night for Major League Soccer and especially Philadelphia. D.C. United conjured memories of its 3-3 thriller at Seattle last year with tonight’s entertaining contest. A crowd of 34,870 – wow – perfect weather, and Vice President Joe Biden, too.
“He greeted me,” said MLS commissioner Don Garber, “and the first thing he said is, ‘I hear you had 36000 in Seattle.’ So either he’s a really big fan or he’s got some pretty good handlers.”
The bigger downer than United’s loss was the Polish tragedy and the effect on Union head coach Peter Nowak, who didn’t coach the match, instead watching from a box.
“He was very emotional,” said Garber. “It’s a devastating thing in our world, to see a head of state, a cabinet and so many people die in such a tragic accident. I feel for him, I know Vice President Biden walked over and said something. It’s a dark day.”
Both Nowak and D.C. United, in their own ways, hope it will get better soon.
