which currently sits in 11th place in La Liga -- equalized before the break and recorded the victory with second-half goals from Daniel Güiza and Nano.
Filomeno was active from the opening kick, getting several of early chances to find the net. After being called offside to negate one opportunity and firing over the bar on another, the Argentina native found the back of the net on his third attempt, striking to put the Black-and-Red on top at the 10-minute mark.
The play was started with a beautiful pass from another Argentinean, playmaker Christian Gomez, who split a pair of defenders to find Josh Gros streaking down the right flank. The speedy winger struck a low ball across the face of the goal, which Filomeno easily put away at the back post.
United's third Argentinean starter, defender Facundo Erpen, made his presence known as well in the early going. The second-year player used some great positioning to close down a Getafe attack just before the half-hour mark. Valentín Pachón found space on United's left side and he tried to pick out strike-partner Jaja inside. Erpen, however, was perfectly placed to knock the ball out of danger for a corner kick. D.C. goalkeeper Troy Perkins was quick off his line to snatch the ensuing ball out of the air.
Five minutes later Erpen made a second defensive save on a similar play, but at the 35-minute mark, Jaja succeeded in putting the teams back on level terms. United left back John Wilson was caught upfield and a long ball over the D.C. defense was controlled by the Brazilian deep in United territory. Jaja's low, driven shot to the back post was perfectly placed and Perkins had no chance of keeping it out.
The Black-and-Red almost headed into the locker room with a 2-1 lead after Filomeno found the net again just before the half, but the referee's assistant correctly judged that Filomeno was offside when Gomez swung in a dangerous free kick. Instead the game reached the intermission at 1-1.
The sides agreed before the match to unlimited substitutions and D.C. United head coach Peter Nowak made several changes to start the second half. Clyde Simms and Santino Quaranta were inserted in the midfield in place of Freddy Adu and Ben Olsen, while Filomeno was withdrawn up top in favor of Jamil Walker. At the back, Brandon Prideaux replaced Wilson, while Nick Rimando stepped between the pipes in place of Perkins.
D.C.'s first good look of the second stanza came from a dead-ball situation after striker Jaime Moreno was brought down near the top of the box. Gomez took the shot and put it on frame, but the Getafe 'keeper was well placed to make the save.
Just a minute later though, Getafe took the lead. The club's leading scorer, Güiza, timed his run perfectly to get behind the Black-and-Red before beating Rimando with pure power from close range.
With 25 minutes to play Gomez gave way as United's top 2006 draft pick, Wake Forest product Justin Moose, entered the game.
Moreno tried to settle an unsure D.C. side in the second half and one of the Bolivian's trademark runs allowed United to set up further up top at the 65-minute mark. However, when he laid the ball off to Quaranta inside, the young veteran rushed the return pass and Getafe's 'keeper scooped up the ball before Moreno could catch up to it.
With 15 minutes to play Getafe just about put the game out of reach. A forward foray from the left flank this time resulted in a dangerous cross that Güiza headed goalward. Only Rimando's left post kept the ball out of the net. Moments later, though, Getafe broke through again.
Nano, who had just before provided the cross to Güiza, broke in on Rimando after a well-weighted layoff. Nano's finish was of the highest quality, as he calmly slipped the ball under Rimando to provide the final tally.
D.C. United continues their preseason training in Spain until March 10.
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
D.C. United v. Getafe CF
March 2, 2006 - Alfonso Perez Coliseum
Scoring Summary:
DCU - Lucio Filomeno 10 (Gros, Gomez)
GET - Jaja 35
GET - Guiza 59
GET - Nano 78
D.C. United: Troy Perkins (Nick Rimando 45), Facundo Erpen, Bobby Boswell, John Wilson (Brandon Prideaux 45), Josh Gros (Domenic Mediate 77), Brian Carroll (Devon McTavish 86), Ben Olsen (Clyde Simms 45), Christian Gomez (Justin Moose 66), Freddy Adu (Santino Quaranta 45), Jaime Moreno (Rod Dyachenko 77), Lucio Filomeno (Jamil Walker 45)
TOTAL SHOTS: 6; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 13; OFFSIDES: 7; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 4
Getafe CF: Luis Garcia (Calatayud 45), Paredes, Tena, Pachon, Cotelo, Celestini Nacho, Nano, Cubillo, Gica, Jaja
(Redondo, Guiza 45)
TOTAL SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8; FOULS: 11; OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 1
All stats in this boxscore are unofficial.
