D.C. stumbles, suffers 2-0 loss to Saprissa
With an injury-plagued roster and an ever-tightening domestic playoff race, D.C. United’s mere survival through six games in seven weeks in the inaugural CONCACAF Champions’ League was expected to be a massive challenge.
But after an abysmal 2-0 loss to Costa Rican champion Deportivo Saprissa in front of 6,105 at RFK Stadium, United’s new objective is simply avoiding utter embarrassment.
D.C.’s fate Tuesday was sealed in a four-minute first-half stretch, book-ended by Saprissa forward Walter Centeno’s 32nd-minute goal and United defender Devon McTavish’s 35th-minute red card for a harsh tackle on Saprissa’s Alexander Robinson, which reduced D.C. to ten men.
Jairo Arrieta added to the visitors’ lead seven minutes after halftime.
Marc Burch, Clyde Simms and Thabiso Khumalo each had second-half bids denied by Saprissa goalkeeper Keilor Navas.
After learning the day before that they would be without Marcelo Gallardo, whose lingering injuries will keep him out at least another two weeks, United also faced the Costa Ricans without forward Jaime Moreno. Luciano Emilio and Fred also were each limited to only one half.
As part of Group A play, United (0-1-0, 0 points) will meet Saprissa (1-0-0, 3 points) in Costa Rica on Oct. 9. The top two teams at the end of group phase — Group A also includes Cruz Azul (Mexico) and CD Marathon (Honduras) — advance to the tournament’s knockout stage in early 2009.
