D.C. UNITED 1, MONARCAS MORELIA 1
D.C. UNITED HEAD COACH TOM SOEHNOn the game:
It's very disappointing. Obviously, we played a pretty solid game over all. [Diego] Martinez scored a great goal. If you're going to go down like that, at least it's going to be a play like that that's going to beat you. But, we had plenty of chances to put the game away. I think the one that frustrated me the most was the play Rod [Dyachenko] made to Luciano [Emilio] and we finally got bit by the infield. That's a big goal; that's two-zero, and that really puts them on their heels - so, that's disappointing.
On his decision to sub Dyachenko:
He was [having a good game]. He was cramping; he asked to come out. I thought he did a good job today.
On the game not being an exhibition:
No, they never are. There is a lot of pride and I think the rivalries now between Mexican clubs and American clubs is a good one. I think you could see that both clubs were hungry to win the game.
On whether Morelia looked fresh at the end of the game:
I wouldn't say that. They had a lot of opportunities at the end.
D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER BEN OLSEN
On the game:
When you play against a good team they have the ability to score. Even though it wasn't many opportunities for them, they did very well with the one they had. Soccer's a cool game like that sometimes. Luciano [Emilio] hits the baseball field and it pops up on him - it's pretty obvious we were a little unlucky. But give them credit for taking their one chance and doing very well with it. But, overall, as disappointing as a tie is, it was a pretty good performance. We still could do better managing the game when they're down a man - can we keep the ball? And can we make them work a little bit harder? But they pressed and it's disappointing; we're disappointed. But we've got to put this one behind us and move on because there's a very good [Club] America team waiting for us Sunday.
On the intensity of the game:
Our intensity was better from the start and that's what was missing the last couple of days. We came out with the right bite and we got the goal and we got the red card and everything was going good, then we need to manage the game better.
On the "bite" of the team":
Maybe it was something new; maybe it was SuperLiga or the Mexican team. Or maybe we were just tired of playing soft and tired of being an easy team to play against. And today we weren't an easy team to play against. We're very disappointed but we've got to put it behind us.
D.C. UNITED FORWARD LUCIANO EMILIO
On the outcome:
We had an advantage and we didn't take advantage of the opportunity, so yes we definitely should have won the game.
On his feelings about the game:
We're obviously sad because we had the opportunity to win the game and we couldn't do that, and a tie was the result but we're not happy with that.
On his near-miss in the first half:
The ball bounced in front of me and it hit my shin guard so I wasn't able to control it, because it hit where the baseball configuration was - so that had an affect on the play.
On the play of Morelia:
They play hard but they play clean; it was a clean match. I think the red card was a correct call by the referee.
On the officiating:
I don't think the refs had anything to do with the result. We definitely had our opportunities but we couldn't put it in the back of the net so we just have to work hard for the next game.
D.C. UNITED DEFENDER MARC BURCH
On the second half:
We came out knowing we had to get fired up and we had to make some plays to win the game. We just missed a few opportunities.
On giving away the lead:
It's disappointing, but I think we worked hard and we put ourselves in a position to win - but theIR guy had a great shot and tied the game.
On differences between Mexican and MLS styles:
I think they're a little bit more composed, the Mexican teams. But, I mean, it's the same athleticism.
On the first half:
We were up one to nothing and you've got to defend the lead, so I trid not to attack as much until we needed to get another goal
On completing crosses:
I feel like some of the flank players have been lacking a little bit so it's like when we get crosses in we don't expect it. Like right now, Fred's getting crosses in, Josh [Gros] is getting crosses in, Ben [Olsen] is getting crosses in. But at some point during the year we weren't getting crosses so we're not expecting them right now.
On Boswell's yellow and Luis Landin's red:
Bobby fouled him. He definitely fouled him a little bit after the play but the guy came back up and pushed him so he deserved the red card.
D.C. UNITED GOALKEEPER TROY PERKINS
On the comeback after the one goal lead:
You just sit there and hold your hand up. It was a world class strike and a world class goal and that's a highlight around the world right now.
On the game:
We've got to finish our chances early on. Luciano gets unlucky a little bit with that bounce in the first half, and we had our chances in the second half, but we couldn't put them away. And they go down to ten men and we've just got to do better and take care of the ball a little bit and maybe run them a little bit more. We need to keep the ball and possess it and make them work to get it back.
On the intensity in the second half:
You kind of expect that. It's a wakeup call; obviously they're coming off of a break and they didn't expect that I'm sure, and you come in and they want to get a result here as well.
On the referee:
I think he wanted to let the game play a little bit and obviously everyone is going to get little knocks here and there and you let that go. Obviously, if you're calling everything the game gets no rhythm and it's no fun to play. I think he handled it pretty well and let the diving go, especially from them, obviously we knew that's what they were going to do. There are some little things that he didn't see, and you got the result there with Bobby and the other player.
On the international feel:
It definitely felt like a mid-week game. There were not too many fans out but the ones that were made themselves heard, so that was good. But obviously it lacks a little bit, obviously for them coming back from vacation and coming into preseason it's different.
On the difference from MLS:
It definitely is different. It's a little more in a line as far as points, but right now it's different. This is the first year for this, so there's a different feeling about it.
On the rhythm:
Something like this where the quality is world class, you're playing against great clubs and it's a little bit of a pride issue now. You're not out there banging shins with people and whacking lumps out of the other team. It's quality play and I think it's a good break for us to get away from playing MLS teams every week. I think it's going to help us.
D.C. UNITED DEFENDER BOBBY BOSWELL
On his yellow card:
I just stepped in to win the ball and he got a hold of me, in a spot that no man likes to be gotten a hold of. And maybe I overreacted a bit but the ref didn't' call it and he was going to be going the other way so I did my best to stop him and maybe I kicked him a little harder than people would have liked. But, I didn't see him coming behind me and he just pushed me and I knew I wanted to stay out of that mix because I knew a card was already coming my way. He was holding me pretty well and the ref was right there and I was surprised the ref didn't call it. It looked to me like he wasn't going to call it and he let it keep going so I didn't want to give up a breakaway going the other way.
On losing the lead while a man up:
It's very disappointing. Once again, we did what we wanted to do; we got the early goal and I thought we played pretty strong defensively. You've got to give them a lot of credit for fighting and scoring that world class goal. But we had chances to put the game away well before that ever happened and we just didn't do it. One goal is good enough to win a game, so we've got watch the video again and keep working. I know I say that a lot but it's a work in progress; you've got to keep going.
On the non-call on Fred in the first half:
Yeah, I saw that. That kind of stuff happens all game - guys get hit. What you don't want is what happened with me: a guy retaliating off the ball after the ball's dead and things like that. Those kind of plays happen all game and a lot of it you don't see. Sometimes people do see it but there's so much contact that goes on off the ball that on the ball, it's just part of the game. Whenever you play, especially in these tournaments and especially against Mexican teams, that's a big rivalry. They don't want to lose; they don't want to trade jerseys. There's a lot that goes into these games and I guess you see a little more of that than usual but it's part of the game. You've got to expect it when you go into it - it's a battle. And tonight was a key example; you've got to finish your chances and not give up any because they can cost you a couple of points.
MORELIA MIDFIELDER WILSON TIAGO
On the referee's decisions:
Certainly, the referee should have given both players red cards. If he is one-sided, it affects the play of the game.
On his shot that hit the post:
It was an individual play, I was zigzagging and I came into the area, and the shot was there. But, the shape of the field [was poor] and I was unhappy with that.
On whether or not the team is happy with the result: Yes, we're happy with it because we could have become desperate playing with ten men, but we handled it.
MORELIA DEFENDER DIEGO MARTINEZ
On his goal:
It was a play we basically had practiced where we change the point of view of the attack and find the person who is open.
On whether or not it was an easy goal:
Honestly, it wasn't easy, but thankfully there was enough space to get the shot off.
On how players dream of scoring a goal like his:
Yes, it was a good goal and a pretty goal. Like you said, all players dream to score a goal like that, but in reality, the result was the work of the whole team and it was just thanks to God that the goal fell to me.
On the result:
Obviously, it was a good result since we were down to ten men, but we weren't really in agreement with the call. But, we are used to that officiating, but we still thought it was unfair.
On whether or not the officiating was bad: Just that particular call was unfair
On the physicality of the game:
The games are usually like that for teams from North American teams. We expect a similar game against Houston.
On whether or not he felt national pride:
It's not something you throw out, but we are here primarily for Morelia. That becomes an aspect whenever you have an international competition, but our first loyalty is to Morelia.
