Washington, DC - The D.C. United reserves fell by a 1-0 score for the second time in five days, as the visiting Colorado Rapids reserves escaped D.C. with a 1-0 victory on the strength of a goal by defender Stephen Keel. Colorado withstood a second half barrage from the home team, as substitute goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul made several game-saving stops to preserve the victory.
United controlled play in the early going and in the fifth minute Rod Dyachenko collected the ball outside the left corner of the goal box and sent in a well-driven cross. Forward Andy Metcalf rose to meet the ball, but his glancing header slid about a foot wide of the right post.
In the 16th minute, Luchi Gonzalez moved towards the end line after corralling a D.C. turnover. His ensuing cross from the right side of the field was sent wide by forward Melvin Tarley, recently signed from the USL-1 Minnesota Thunder.
D.C.'s Matt Nickel and Andy Metcalf each had decent chances midway through the half, but Nickell's blast from 25-yards was wide right and Metcalf's bid from just outside the right corner of the six-yard box was inches wide.
Keel provided the game's only goal in the 43rd minute after Tarley collected a loose ball in United's goal box, turned his defender and sent in a low cross. Keel, surrounded by two United defenders threw his body towards the ball and was able to deflect a low shot past goalkeeper Ryan McIntosh.
The second half saw United come out with a renewed energy, as the home team spent most of the half in Colorado's end, peppering Coundoul with ten shots.
Colorado had the opportunity to go up by two goals early in the second half, but Gonzalez missed a penalty kick wide right in the 50th minute after David Stokes was deemed to have handled the ball in the goal box.
Second half substitute Jamil Walker had back-to-back chances in the 56th and 58th minutes - one from 22 yards, the other from eight - but Coundoul made saves on each attempt.
In the 66th, Colorado made a foray out of their own end when Fabrice Noel received the ball just inside United's goal box. The speedy 21-year old made an impressive turn and struck the ball towards goal, beating McIntosh, but not the post, as the ball caromed off the woodwork and across the goalmouth before it was cleared out of harm's way.
After a corner kick in the 72nd minute, a bouncing rebound fell directly in the path of United midfielder Justin Moose who smashed a screaming volley towards goal that was pushed over the net by Coundoul.
Three minutes later, Nickell found Domenic Mediate eight yards from goal. The midfielder cut back one defender and hit a left-footed shot that slid past Coundoul, but not the goal post. Colorado's final depredation came with ten minutes remaining when Gonzalez's impressive run past Stephen deRoux allowed the midfielder to get a shot off. Unfortunately for the captain, the ball much preferred the goal post to the back of the net, as his bid became the fourth shot to crack the woodwork.
Neither team created scoring opportunities in the final minutes and the 1-0 score line stood at the final whistle.
With the loss, United falls to 5-3-1, while Colorado improves to 7-1. The D.C. reserve squad is next in action on September 10 versus Real Salt Lake. The Sunday morning game will be played at United's Training Complex on the north side of RFK Stadium. Kickoff is set for 10 a.m. and admission is free-of-charge.
Scoring summary:
COL - Stephen Keel (Melvin Tarley) 17
D.C. United: Ryan McIntosh, Bryan Namoff, Brandon Prideaux (David Stokes 46), John Wilson (Idris Ughiovhe 69), Domenic Mediate, Clyde Simms, Jeff Carroll (Jamil Walker 46), Rod Dyachenko (Stephen deRoux 50), Justin Moose, Andy Metcalf, Matt Nickell Substitutes not used: Nick Rimando
Colorado Rapids: Matt Jordan (Bouna Coundoul 46), Aaron King, Stephen Keel, Jordan Harvey, Colin Clark, Luchi Gonzalez, Sasha Gotsmanov, Jovan Kirvoski (Matt Crawford 77), Fabrice Noel, Clint Mathis (Leo Cullen 59), Melvin Tarley (Dan Wasson 90) Substitutes not used: Dan Gargan, Hunter Freeman
D.C. United - Shots: 18, Saves: 1, Fouls: 9, Offsides: 1, Corner Kicks: 12
Colorado Rapids - Shots: 9, Saves: 7, Fouls: 14, Offsides: 2, Corner Kicks: 6
Misconduct Summary:
COL - Melvin Tarley 18
COL - Leo Cullen 83
COL - Luchi Gonzalez 90
