D.C. United recorded a big road win in their bid for an Eastern Conference playoff spot, as they went to Crew Stadium and came away with a 2-0 victory Saturday night against the Columbus Crew. Fred scored his third goal of the year and 11 minutes later, league leader Luciano Emilio netted another for himself.
While D.C. United came into Columbus off a loss in the SuperLiga semifinals to a David Beckham-invigorated LA Galaxy squad, they had still won their last two league games, fueled by a string of goals by Emilio that has launched them into a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference.
The Crew entered the contest after suffering a tough 3-2 loss in their last game at Dallas, after twice holding the lead and even going a man up.
The Crew pushed the action in the first few minutes, with much of the play on their attacking end and forcing two corner kicks in the first five minutes, but with no goals resulting. But neither team created much beyond that over the first quarter of the match.
In the 28th minute United was called for another foul just outside the box and Guillermo Barros Schelotto stood over the ball, waiting for the free kick. Schelotto rolled a pass to the middle of the field to Ned Grabavoy, but his shot was off target and soared into the stands.
While there were only seven shots between the two teams in the opening 45 minutes, the start of the drive toward the postseason was certainly in evidence, as they combined for 16 fouls.
As the second half opened the Crew again pushed the attack. Ricardo Virtuoso was able to find space down the left wing and he played a ball across the field to Schelotto on the right wing. Schelotto dropped the ball to the top of the box for Danny Szetela, but his shot sailed right and high of the target.
United countered to the other end of the field, and midfielder Christian Gomez headed a cross on goal, but it bounced off the crossbar back and right back to him. After a touch to control the ball, his second effort was denied by defender Stefani Miglioranzi, who deflected the ball to the top of the penalty box.
Fred came racing in from behind and hammered a right-footed shot that rose past Crew 'keeper Will Hesmer and defender Ezra Hendrickson standing on the goal line and into the upper right corner of the net.
United doubled their lead in the 63rd minute. Fred held the ball on the right wing and sent a rolling through ball for Emilio, but the pass was errant and headed directly to Hendrickson. As Hendrickson dribbled toward his own goal in the area he attempted to turn the ball back up the field, but turned the wrong way, right into Emilio.
The Brazilian needed only one quick touch, slamming the ball through Hesmer's legs for his 14th goal on the season, to sit atop the Budweiser Golden Boot standings.
Sitting four points behind United in the East standings, the Crew started to press over the final half-hour. Schelotto had a free kick barely miss four teammates in the box in the 69th minute before being punched away by United 'keeper Troy Perkins.
Then three minutes later Perkins saved a goal again after Columbus midfielder Duncan Oughton hustled to the ball, colliding with the right post but pulling the ball back across the face of goal. Perkins scrambled to control the ball and nearly carried across the line before hurling it back out, but referee Richard Heron ruled that Alejandro Moreno fouled Perkins in the scuffle.
United packed their entire team in the final third over the last 10 minutes of the game and held their ground, escaping Crew Stadium with three valuable points on the road in the hotly contested Eastern Conference.
Nathan Linton is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
