MIAMI - On a warm evening in Miami, D.C. United topped CD Motagua 4-2 in a friendly at Tropical Park, home of United Soccer League's Miami FC. Four different players scored for the Black-and-Red as Josh Gros, Christian Gomez, Luciano Emilio and Stephen deRoux all found the back of the net. The evening's match served as preparation for United's CONCACAF Champions' Cup semifinal match-up with CD Guadalajara on Thursday at RFK Stadium.
D.C. United struck first after Gros won a tackle 30 yards from Motagua's goal in the sixth minute. The midfielder collected the ball and fed Gomez just outside the 18-yard box. The reigning Honda MLS MVP slid a first-time ball behind the defense to Gros, who calmly struck his second touch to the far post and past Motagua's Donaldo Morales.
Motagua's first real chance came in the 21st minute when center back Javier Martinez got on the end of a Fernando Castillo corner and sent a strong header towards goal. United's Jay Nolly was up to the challenge, however, and made a chest-level save.
Just two minutes later, the Hondurans evened the score after being awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal. Defender Victor Bernardez stepped up and struck a ball over the United wall and past Nolly into the bottom left corner of the goal.
In the 34th minute, D.C. recaptured the one-goal advantage after the team was awarded a corner kick. Gomez stepped up and fed a short ball to Jaime Moreno, who sent his first touch back to Gomez just outside the corner of the 18-yard box. Gomez struck a dipping, bending ball towards goal that found its way past an unsuspecting Morales.
Motagua almost evened the score in the 42nd minute when Pedro Santana got on the end of a cross and sent a header towards goal. Nolly, who had snuck off his goal line, dove backwards and managed to touch the lofted ball over the crossbar. The 2-1 score line would stand at the halftime whistle.
D.C. and Motagua traded possession in the early going of the second half before Gomez stepped up to a free kick 28 yards from goal on the far left side of the field. The midfielder sent a bending ball over newly-subbed Ricardo Canales and off the crossbar.
In the 63rd minute, Pedro Fernandez collected a loose ball 25 yards from goal and sent a low, driven ball directly at Nolly, who made an easy save.
Two minutes later, Emilio collected a ball 25 yards from goal, skirted two defenders and sent the ball to the far post past a diving Canales for D.C.'s third tally of the game.
In the 74th minute, United went up by three after Jeff Carroll sent a high cross from the right side of the field to the far post, where deRoux ran in unchallenged and struck a first-time shot into the back of the net from just five yards away.
Motagua managed to get one goal back in the last minute of play when Pedro Fernandez sent a low, driving ball from the left endline past Nolly to Jefferson Bernardez, who scored easily from inside the six-yard box. His tally would be the last of the match.
D.C. United return home on Saturday and will spend the week training in D.C., in advance of their Champions' Cup match with Chivas. Kickoff for the first leg of the semifinalss is set for 8 p.m. ET.
Scoring Summary:
United - Josh Gros (Christian Gomez) 6
Motagua - Victor Bernandez 23
United - Christian Gomez (Jaime Moreno) 34
United - Luciano Emilio (Justin Moose) 65
United - Stephen deRoux (Jeff Carroll) 74
Motagua - Jefferson Bernandez (Pedro Fernandez) 90
D.C. United: Jay Nolly, Bryan Namoff (Kasali Yinka Casal 69), Bobby Boswell, Facundo Erpen (John Wilson 60), Ben Olsen (Devon McTavish 60), Brian Carroll (Justin Moose 45), Clyde Simms (Bryan Arguez 69), Josh Gros (Stephen deRoux 69), Christian Gomez (Jeff Carroll 60), Jaime Moreno (Jamil Walker 60), Luciano Emilio (Guy Kpene 69)
Subs not used: Shawn Crowe
Motagua: Donaldo Morales (Ricardo Canales 45), Javier Martinez (Oscar Benardez 75), Emilio Izaovina (Luis Guzman 45), Victor Bernardez, Samir Garcia (Ruben Matamoros 45), Milton Reyes (Jose Luis Grant 60), Victor Mena (Jefferson Bernandez 85), Fernado Castillo, Pedro Santana (Jociman Naciamento, 67), Jorge Claros (Pedro Fernandez 45), Saul Martinez (Oscar Torlacoff 45)
Misconduct summary:
United - Facundo Erpen 28 (caution)
United - Justin Moose 53 (caution)
Motagua - Oscar Bernandez 79 (caution)
Notes: Rod Dyachenko did not dress for Friday's game do to a slight knee sprain.
All statistics are unofficial.
