D.C. United and Toronto FC played to a 1-1 draw Tuesday afternoon in Bradenton, FL in what was a 60 -minute match between the two teams. Domenic Mediate tallied in the first stanza for United, while Toronto's Danny Dichio scored the equalizer in the second half.
Toronto had the first good chance to score 10 minutes in when Andrea Lombardo collected the ball deep in United's half. The outside midfielder fed a cross centrally that found Joey Melo, but his ensuing header fell well wide of the goal.
Five minutes later, United's Brandon Owens collected the ball and slid up the right sideline. The UCLA product played a ball over the top of the defense to an onrushing Mediate, who snuck past the Toronto defense as they attempted to hold their defensive line. Mediate easily collected the ball and carried it in alone towards goal. Toronto's goalkeeper was attempting to retreat, but Mediate tucked the ball in the far left corner of the net for the 1-0 lead.
Toronto created a handful of half-decent chances in the final minutes, but goalkeeper Zach Wells made two nice saves - one on a Jeff Cunningham shot from a tough angle and another on a knuckling Ronnie O'Brien freekick from 22 yards - to secure the 1-0 advantage at the hafltime whistle.
As has been the routine this pre-season, Head Coach Tom Soehn put out an entirely different lineup for the second half.
Neither team created a true scoring chance until midway through the half, when Jaime Moreno carried the ball down the right side of Toronto's half. The Bolivian played a ball back to Marcelo Gallardo who hit a first time ball through to a streaking Fred. Fred's cross found the foot of Franco Niell who struck a first time ball from 18 yards that drifted wide of goal.
In the 54th minute, Toronto would knot the score at a goal apiece after a string of D.C. passes caught a number of United players forward. The quick Toronto counterattack ended with a low cross into the middle of United's goal box that found Dichio alone for an easy tap in as D.C,'s defenders did their best to recover.
United had one final chance to go back on top when Gallardo sent a beautiful diagonal ball all the way across the field to Moreno, who then put Fred behind the defense with a quick through ball. Fred, with his first touch, sent a back heel to Moreno who struck a well-hit ball from 16 yards that required a diving save from the goalkeeper.
Scoring Summary:
DCU - Domenic Mediate (Dan Stratford, Jamil Walker) 15
TFC - Danny Dichio (Mike Zaher, Jarrod Smith) 54
Lineup:DCU: Zach Wells; Brandon Owens (Bryan Namoff 30), Pat Carroll (Gonzalo Martinez 30), Jeff Carroll (Gonzalo Peralta 30), Grady Renfrow (Marc Burch 30); Domenic Mediate (Devon McTavish 30), Dan Stratford (Clyde Simms 30), Justin Moose (Marcelo Gallardo 30), Ryan Cordeiro (Fred 30); Jerson Monteiro (Franco Niell 30), Jamil Walker (Jaime Moreno 30).
TFC: Greg Sutton (Brian Edwards), Mike Zaher, Tyler Hemming, Andrew Boyens, Marvell Wynne, Xavier Balc (Jarrod Smith), Ronnie O'Brien, Joey Melo (Tyler Rosenlund), Andrea Lombardo, Danny Dichio, Jeff Cunningham
Intra-squad scrimmage
Following the scrimmage with Toronto FC, United played an additional thirty minute intra-squad game. Team Red beat Team White on the strength of two Jerson Monteiro goals - both via headers.
Team Red: Jose Carvallo; Brandon Owens, Domenic Mediate, Gonzalo Peralta, Marc Burch, Devon McTavish; Clyde Simms, Justin Moose, Fred (Grady Renfrow 15), Jerson Monteiro, Jaime Moreno
Team White: James Thorpe; Tony Schmitz, Jeff Carroll, Gonzalo Martinez (Pat Carroll 15), Bryan Namoff,, Ryan Cordeiro, Dan Stratford, Marcelo Gallardo, Devon McTavish, Jamil Walker, Franco Niell.
Students of the game
Not only are United's newest South American players - Jose Carvallo, Marcelo Gallardo, Gonzalo Martinez, Fracno Niell and Gonzalo Peralta - having to adjust to new teammates and new coaches, but also to a new language. Beginning last week, the five players began taking English lessons on the campus of IMG Academy. Brazilians Luciano Emilio and Fred have also taken part in the nightly lessons, while team captain Jaime Moreno has provided additional help.
Respectful rivals
Following dinner Saturday night at IMG Academy, many players gathered around a TV on campus to watch a friendly match between two of Argentina's most storied clubs - Boca Juniors and River Plate. The two clubs are considered to have one of the fiercest rivalries in the world - in any sport. Two players who now ply their trade in MLS are considered to be legends at each of the clubs - Guillermo Barros Schelotto spent ten seasons at Boca Juniors and now plays for the Columbus Crew, while United's newest member, Marcelo Gallardo spent a total of ten years playing for River Plate. Each brought their Argentine team numerous championships and honors and on Saturday night both could be found taking in the River-Boca game... side-by-side. In the end, Gallardo had reason to smile, as River topped Boca 3-2.
