Old friends meant bad news and a 2-0 loss for D.C. United against the Colorado Rapids on Sunday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Former United midfielder Christian Gomez set up Jacob Peterson for the Rapids' first goal and former D.C. defender Facundo Erpen scored the insurance goal, with Gomez again providing an assist, as United remained winless in Colorado since the 2000 season.
Although United at times had good possession in the midfield, their defense could not keep up with Colorado's speed and their forwards saw little good service or were able to break down Colorado's defense on their own. United's third loss in four games does them no favors in the competitive Eastern Conference, where they languish at the bottom of the table.
With the victory, which snapped a two-game losing skid, the Rapids moved into a tie with FC Dallas atop the Western Conference, both teams with nine points. It was the Rapids' fifth consecutive victory against United at home, and extended their unbeaten to nine games against D.C. in games in Colorado.
The Rapids had the better of the possession throughout the game, but had few chances to show for it early on. Christian Gomez was very active early against his former team, sending in a curving cross in the third minute that was too far from the head of Omar Cummings. Cummings was involved again two minutes later, diving to head a Kosuke Kimura cross that was well struck far right of the post.
Gomez again sent in a nice cross in the ninth minute. Playing a quick one-two with Peterson off of a Rapids corner, his ball to the back post went straight to an unmarked Tom McManus, but the Scottish striker put his header over the bar.
United had their first chance of the match in the 13th minute, when Gonzalo Martinez played a nice ball to the top of the box for Luciano Emilio, whose spinning shot went well wide of the goal.
The speed of the Rapids up front was causing problems for the United defense, leading to several footraces such as the one in the 16th minute where Peterson ran on to a Gomez through ball at the top of the penalty area. Peterson was able to outrun Rod Dyachenko to the ball, but Dyachenko timed his dive right to deflect the shot out for a corner.
In the 28th minute, Dyachenko sent in a nice cross to Franco Niell, but Ugo Ihemelu was able to out-jump the United forward to head the ball out.
Cummings again was able to showcase his speed in the 31st minute, bursting past the United defense to get into the box, but his soft shot was easily saved by United 'keeper Zach Wells.
D.C. was trying to keep possession, but was having a hard time getting the ball to their forwards with anything but long balls that the Rapids defense easily cleaned up. Emilio looked like he could be dangerous down the left flank, but he could not get the ball consistently, and when he did he as shut down quickly by the Rapids physical defense.
United saw a rare chance in the 33rd minute, as a free kick rebound fell to Marcelo Gallardo. His half-volley, however, went well over the bar.
The United defense continued to weather the storm of Rapids balls sent into the box, managing through their efforts (and the Rapids off-target shooting) to keep the game tied. In the 35th minute, Nick LaBrocca's cross was well settled by McManus back to Cummings, who took a touch to settle the ball. That moment was enough to allow Gonzolo Peralta to poke the ball away to Gonzalo Martinez, who cleared it out of danger.
In first-half stoppage time, United were lucky again as the Rapids wasted a fine chance. Peterson sprung Cummings through the defense with a nice pass into the box. Cummings was able to beat Wells, but Peralta was able to dive and prevent Cummings from shooting until he dribbled to the end line. A Cummings cross from there looked well placed for Peterson, but by that time the United defense had recovered, and Marc Burch was able to head it out of danger.
United tried to elevate its attack with a halftime substitution, bringing in the league's all-time goalscoring leader, Jaime Moreno for Franco Niell.
Cummings earned the first chance of the second half in the 47th minute, doing well to not give up on a ball that everyone thought was going out for a goal kick. Wells did a nice job recovering however, and cut off the angle sufficiently that Cummings' chip went into the side netting.
The Rapids finally converted on one of their numerous chances in the 53nd minute. Christian Gomez was under great pressure dribbling into the United midfield, but he sent a nice ball to a streaking Peterson, whose first time shot from just outside the box had enough spin to beat Wells into the upper right corner. It was Peterson's first goal of the MLS season.
Christian Gomez nearly extended Colorado's lead in the second half. Receiving the ball at midfield from Pablo Mastroeni, he took off on a long run with Peterson and Cummings. Opting to keep the ball himself, he dribbled into the box, where his chip went over Wells but bounced harmlessly outside of the posts.
With a lead in hand, head coach Fernando Clavijo pulled Cummings for Herculez Gomez in the 61st minute and brought in Terry Cooke for Peterson in the 72nd minute.
United began throwing everyone forward, hoping to tie the game. In the 65th minute, Dyachenko took a hard shot from the top of the box that looked well struck, but it bounced harmlessly to the right of the post.
United then had a great opportunity in the 69th minute from a free kick taken from the upper right corner of the box, but Gallardo's effort went straight into the wall.
In the 72nd minute, the Rapids put United down 2-0 through former D.C. defender Erpen. Christian Gomez won the rebound off a corner near the end line and finding his way stymied by the United defense, passed back to Terry Cooke, who had just come into the game. Cooke curled a quick cross back into the fray, and Erpen was able to out-jump Namoff and redirect the ball away from Wells into the far corner of the net.
Christian Gomez finished his day shortly thereafter, but Cooke still nearly got a goal of his own in the 75th minute. After receiving a pass from Herculez Gomez, he struck a low shot that beat the diving Wells but skipped wide of the post.
Cooke continued to look dangerous in the 80th minute. His free kick from 20 yards out was so close to going in that it grazed the side netting.
Geoffrey Urland is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
