In their SuperLiga opener last Wednesday, D.C. United scored an early goal and were given a man advantage, only to be pegged back by a heartbreaking equalizer. On Sunday at RFK Stadium the scenario repeated itself, but this time, after scoring the first-half opener and seeing a red card, United held out for a 1-0 victory against Club America.
Rod Dyachenko gave United the lead just 12 minutes in, and played the final 35 minutes a man up after America's Oscar Rojas was sent off with a straight red card. But the Mexican giant had no answer and D.C. went a long way toward securing one of the two semifinal berths out of Group B.
On a slick pitch well-watered by the day's steady rainfall, both teams came out at breakneck speed in front of a boisterous crowd representing plenty of fans from both clubs.
Just seconds after kickoff, United passed their way out of America's pressure and Marc Burch swung in a low cross that Armando Navarrete had to reach low to punch away with Luciano Emilio lurking. Christian Gomez tried to reach the rebound with a daring bicycle kick, but was whistled for a high boot.
In the fifth minute, some neat touches allowed Dyachenko to spin clear of his marker at the top of the box and unleash a low curler that brought out another sharp save from Navarrete, and on the followup Ben Olsen saw his hard left-footer blocked wide.
Dyachenko was offering his midfielders an inviting target, checking back to lay off passes and link play, and his selflessness was rewarded 12 minutes in when Olsen and Gomez combined to set him up with a beautiful chance that he buried with panache.
Gomez is not known for his aerial prowess but he knew exactly what to do when he got onto the end of Olsen's lofted cross to the far post, nodding it back into the goalmouth and wrongfooting the America back line as Dyachenko arrived to drive a crisp, low finish into the left corner of the net for a 1-0 United lead.
Burch roved forward again to good effect in the 15th minute, receiving Brian Carroll's through ball into the America box and despite a hard first touch, beat Navarrete with a chipped effort to the far post that floated just wide.
America were by no means out of the game, but they were showing signs of preseason rust at inopportune moments. A mistouch from Ismael Rodriguez gifted the ball to Olsen deep in the Mexican side's half and the U.S. international quickly found Gomez at the top of the box, but his shot spun marginally wide of Navarrete's left-hand post.
Bobby Boswell and Troy Perkins got their signals crossed in the 25th minute and nearly paid the price for conceding a soft corner kick, as German Villa served up a near-post delivery that Rodriguez headed just high of the target. Moments later, Gomez stung Navarrete's hands with a low drive but the America netminder was well-positioned to block, then smother, the effort on the wet grass.
Gomez was running rampant now and after running onto Dyachenko's delicate flick he came agonizingly close to doubling the home side's lead when he cranked a shot that took a slight deflection off Duilio Davino's boot before crashing off the top of the crossbar.
America's Alejandro Arguello earned a well-deserved yellow card from referee Carlos Batres in the 34th minute when he jabbed an elbow into the side of Gomez's head as Olsen won a header over both men. Hands to his temples, a disoriented-looking Gomez jogged to the D.C. bench for treatment but was able to continue.
United's playmaker, clearly wearing his shooting boots today, took another stab at goal shortly before halftime, holding off Ricardo Rojas before smacking a dipping half-volley from distance that bounced in front of Navarrete, but the 'keeper kept the ball in front of him and gloved it before expressing his frustration to his defenders.
America coach Luis Fernando Tena pulled off the ineffectual Juan Mosqueda at the break, handing Argentinean Lucas Castroman an extended run at the striker position. But United should have gone up by two less then three minutes into the second half on a sequence that began with a free kick given for Villa's wild challenge on Fred.
Gomez's delivery into the box was headed out, but only as far as Olsen, who lifted a cross to the far post that Gomez nodded back into danger. But with the goal at his mercy, Emilio ballooned his left-footed shot well high from close range.
But as play continued, a foolish mistake by Aguilas defender Rojas put his team in dire straits. Devon McTavish was well-placed to beat him to a loose ball in America's right channel, but Rojas launched himself at the United defender's legs with both feet and after allowing play to unfold for a brief moment, referee Batres brandished a red card at the Mexican international to send him to an early shower.
But if anyone had reason to dread a man advantage in this situation, it was United, who had failed to make the most of a similar opportunity against Morelia on Wednesday night. Coach Tom Soehn elected to hedge his bets this time around, pulling off Dyachenko and inserting defensive midfielder Clyde Simms to shore up the engine room.
For their part, America pushed up high to pressure D.C.'s defenders on the ball, a risky gambit that at times created mismatches deep in the United half but also left gaping holes behind their midfield. A few dodgy moments aside, the Black-and-Red back line held their nerve, but at the other end, their teammates' inability to punish America's recklessness kept the Mexico City side in the match.
A gutsy defensive play by Josh Gros bailed out his fellow defenders in the 52nd minute. Paraguayan international Salvador Cabanas had made Boswell and Burch look foolish with some savvy skill along the left side of United's penalty area, then lifted a cross to Federico Insua at the far post. But Gros leaped high to get the slightest touch of his head on the ball, then even as he fell to the turf, got a foot to it to foil the Argentinian on the doorstep.
Emilio wasted another great chance in the 59th minute when Burch's cross found him totally unmarked just four yards from the near post, heading wide of the target with only Navarrette to beat.
United's Brazilian hitman seemed snakebit on the night and his frustration continued in the 75th minute after he intercepted Davino's square pass at the top of the America box, only to see the golden chance disappear when a poor touch allowed Rodriguez to close in and block his shot.
With America looking far short of full fitness, United looked to use the full width of the RFK field and force the Mexicans to chase as they pinged the ball from side to side. But the visitors' hopes were kept alive by United's failure to build on their lead. Recognizing this, Soehn continued to make defensive substitutions, bringing on Bryan Namoff for Gomez, then Dominic Mediate for Olsen and essentially reverting to a 4-5-1.
America showed their frustration with several hard fouls but could do little else as the clock ticked away and United secured a 1-0 win that positions them well as they travel to Houston for Wednesday's Group B finale.
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
