D.C. UNITED v. CLUB AMERICA
D.C. UNITED HEAD COACH TOM SOEHN
On the start of the game and high energy level:
It was an important game to get the result at home, because we let the last one slip. And this situation was very similar. Each game we try to get better, and I thought the guys did really well. We adjusted our formation better, and the energy level was high and we closed them off. We dealt well with the ball.
On whether he was worried that the team did not convert its opportunities:
You always worry - we had enough chances to open it up and get two or three [goals], so on that side, you're disappointed. As a team you go through stretches, like I said. It would concern me if we weren't creating chances. When they come, they come in bundles, and we had a chance. Of course we're concerned, but I was really proud of the way the guys competed and the way they possessed the ball and they way they put it away.
On the younger player stepping in:
You know, we use these guys all through the season and we've had a touch stretch where we've lost six or seven guys [on injurty] and it's given other guys a chance to step up and build some minutes and show that they deserve to be out there.
On Marc Burch:
He gives us the ability to stretch the field a little bit. His passing is what really kept them on the field. It really opens the game up for us. He is very composed on the ball and he can fight, so he's earned his keep right now. We utilize everybody. I think he's done a good job and even tonight I thought he was a veteran.
On transitioning Murch from forward to defender:
We watched him in spring training and we had our eyes on him to draft him, and unfortunately we couldn't. So, when we had the chance to get him back, you know he's got a soccer brain and a good soccer mentality, and it showed. A guy like that you can convert into different things. You could even make a forward out of Rod Dyachenko [laughs].
On the importance of getting Bryan Namoff and Guy-Roland Kpene minutes:
It's real important. Even Namoff who has been in the league a long time. It's always hard to get your first minutes when you've been out for six or seven games. The situation that we brought him in, you know, it's tough, so it was important for him. We knew the situation with Guy was he was going to be able to hold the ball a little bit and have space. It's important to get those guys acclimated back in, because it's a long season and at some point we're going to need them all.
On managing the game:
We learned a lot from four days ago. Every situation we have to grow from and I think they did a good job of seeing it out. We were looking to stretch them out and let them work. You could see that they ran out of gas. When you are chasing the game and chasing the ball, it is a lot harder than when you have it.
On the early goal:
We talked about how the first fifteen minutes would impact the whole game. We scored that goal in the twelfth minute and that really took the wind out of them. I was hoping to get that second one and really kill it off, but overall, that first goal meant so much.
D.C. UNITED FORWARD ROD DYACHENKO
On his goal:
I thought, it was Benny [Olsen] who crossed the ball to the far post and at that point, I saw Christian [Gomez[ make the far post run, and from there I knew he was going tp knock the ball across the box and I did my best to get across and get inside the box. I was fortunate enough to make good contact with the ball. On the wet turf, you can slip.
On playing with his back to goal:
I have been looking at videos and making a point that I have to be stronger with my back to the goal. Because it is a different game for me, where you don't distribute as much,; it's more laying the balls off, holding the ball up. So, I am getting more comfortable because I am getting more minutes over there and I just am getting more and more comfortable as the season goes on.
On how big the goal was:
It was a huge relief, not only for me personally, but like we said, form the start, we made it a point to go out there with energy and pressure everything out of them. You know, just to get the goal early on was a huge relief and a confidence builder for the team and me personally.
D.C. UNITED DEFENDER BOBBY BOSWELL
On the win:
I think we're starting to get our fight back, our bite. It feels a lot better. It's good to finally get an early goal and not let them score one. It shows us, and everyone, that we can get it done with just scoring one.
On playing against Salvador Cabanas:
I had a bit of an advantage. I just watched him play against the U.S. down at the Copa [America]. I watched some video on him. Tonight, it was more just about the team. He thrives off service and knit picks and cherry picks in there. And tonight we weren't even giving him service, so it was more the guys in front of us doing their job and making the defenders and goalie's jobs a lot easier.
On the play of Marc Burch:
I don't know if you guys have been listening to me say it all year. He's a big boy and ever since he came here, he's had that fire in him - in tackles. You saw tonight when he got his card: he's just a fire-y guy. Big, big boy and he's got a bomb, someone you want playing in the back. So, it's not a shocker to me, I've been saying it all along.
D.C. UNITED DEFEDNER MARC BURCH
On playing in the back:
Since I've been out there, I've been doing fine. I have been playing reserve games at left back and been doing OK. It prepared me a little bit, but just being out there with some of the older guys and the veterans out there, its pretty easy to play with those guys. I am definitely starting to feel it out there and move with the team.
D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER CHRISTIAN GOMEZ [Via translation]:
On the game:
We got an early goal and we were able to establish control of the ball and I think that is the way D.C. United plays, and I hope we can continue to play that way.
On shutting down América:
It was important because they have very dangerous players up top, and we were able to keep constant control throughout the match, unlike Wednesday against Morelia when we couldn't hold on to the result even though we had a man advantage. Tonight we controlled the ball and that was important for us being able to get the win.
On the importance of stretching the field:
We know that they are in preseason, so you have to be intelligent during a match. It was important for us to play to all of the spaces within the field, and especially with a man advantage, we were able to do that, and obviously, they were unable to keep control of the ball.
