Good fortune appeared to grace D.C. United on Wednesday, as the team’s reserve-heavy lineup had only to face a similarly weakened Cruz Azul squad in CONCACAF Champions League group play. But the Mexicans had even better luck, with a deflected goal for a 1-0 victory in front of 7,214 at RFK Stadium.
United dropped to 0-3 midway through the tournament’s group stage and extended its winless streak to six games in all competitions.
With continental ambitions already rendered secondary to making the Major League Soccer playoffs, D.C. tested its roster depth, opting for just four players with more than 15 regular season starts among its first eleven.
But Cruz Azul went one step further, with only three starters from its latest Mexican first division match.
An even contest ensued, and United’s Francis Doe came the closest to scoring first, with his 26th minute volley denied by an offside call.
Having weathered increasing United pressure in the early moments after halftime, Cruz Azul scored against the run of play when Gerardo Lugo’s one-timer ricocheted off the back of Pablo Zeballos into the net in the 56th minute.
Boyzzz Khumalo’s shot off the post ten minutes later was United’s best second half chance.
Moreno suspended
Major League Soccer suspended D.C. United forward Jaime Moreno for one match and fined him $250 for elbowing Andre Rocha in last weekend’s 3-0 loss at FC Dallas. Moreno, who received a red card for the incident and thus was suspended for this weekend’s game against Chivas USA, now also misses United’s Oct. 12 match at Houston.
