D.C. United took one step forward and one step backward injury-wise, and squandered a late opportunity to give itself an advantage in the race for the Major League Soccer postseason, playing to a 0-0 draw with New York in front of 15,616 at RFK Stadium.
United forward Jaime Moreno, who leads MLS all-time with 37 penalty kick goals, missed wide left from the spot in the 81st minute after being taken down in the box by Andrew Boyens. It was Moreno’s second failed attempt of the summer, as he had a penalty saved against CD Guadalajara in SuperLiga last month.
“I powered it – I usually don’t power it that much – and put a little more spin than usual,” said Moreno. “The keeper didn’t move so, it wasn’t a good penalty kick.”
With the draw, United (10-10-2, 32 points) stayed even with the Red Bulls (8-6-8, 32) and missed a chance to take sole possession of fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
D.C. leading scorer Luciano Emilio removed himself just prior to halftime with a groin injury, but his departure was made up for by a late boost from playmaker Marcelo Gallardo, who played the final twenty minutes after missing the last two months following double sports hernia surgery.
“Soccer fitness is a key to playing, and he’s not there yet,” said United head coach Tom Soehn of Gallardo, who last played June 29 against Los Angeles. “You can see he’s still got special qualities when he plays, and he injected some life.”
Goalkeeper Louis Crayton picked up his third shutout in four matches since joining United’s roster two weeks ago, making key saves on headers by Juan Pablo Angel and Boyens in the first and second halves, respectively. Crayton also raced off his line and dangerously far out of the box on a couple of occasions to neutralize speedy New York forward Dane Richards.
“He’s got to learn once is okay,” said Soehn of Crayton. “Twice is pushing it, and three times is too many.”
Angel’s fake sent Crayton sprawling in the 86th minute, but the Colombian’s open shot from a narrow angle rolled harmlessly across the goalmouth.
“‘Man, you almost caught me,’” Crayton said he told Angel afterward. “That was something that would’ve cost us the game tonight, but thank god it didn’t happen.”
United notes
» Defender Bryan Namoff will miss D.C. United’s next match after picking up a yellow card in the 41st minute.
» D.C. United midfielder Domenic Mediate said he’s been put on the season-ending injury list after failing to recover from symptoms of a concussion. Mediate has not played since July 1.
» Francis Doe played for the first time in a month, having missed United’s last five league matches with a foot infection.
