D.C. United topped Florida International University 5-3 in a scrimmage on Tuesday evening in Sunshine, Fla., in a game made up of three 30-minute periods.
The Panthers notched the first tally of the match just three minutes after the opening whistle. United's first-teamers answered 10 minutes later when reigning Honda MLS MVP Christian Gomez played a clever lofted ball over the FIU defense to an onrushing Brian Carroll, who hit a first-time volley out of the air to the goalkeeper's left.
The 1-1 score line stood after the first 30-minutes and United made wholesale changes to their lineup, bringing in an entirely new 11, save for goalkeeper Jay Nolly.
Guy Kpene put United up by one after Rod Dyachenko carried the ball into the goal box, past two defenders and laid off a simple square ball to the forward for an easy finish.
FIU brought the score level in the 49th minute before Jamil Walker put away D.C.'s third goal after a clever pass from Devon McTavish found Jeff Carroll behind the defense. Jeff Carroll's first touch sent the ball across the goalmouth to Walker, who slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Despite United controlling the pace of the game, it was the Panther's who struck next as FIU went back on top with an impressive long-range goal just before the end of the second period.
The third period saw the Black-and-Red take full control of the game, and midway through the final 30-minutes, Jeff Carroll scored the team's fourth tally. Dyachenko carried the ball into the box and fed Kpene, who wheeled and played a sharp ball behind the defense to a waiting Jeff Carrol who had an easy put-away. The final tally game in the 78th minute when Kpene collected a loose corner kick and tucked the ball into the net for his second of the game.
Lineup: Jay Nolly (Shawn Crowe 47), Facundo Erpen (Devon McTavish 30), Bobby Boswell (John Wilson 30 [Jamil Fearington 60]), Bryan Namoff (Stephen deRoux 30), Ben Olsen (Jeff Carroll 30), Clyde Simms (Bryan Arguez 30), Brian Carroll (Justin Moose 30), Josh Gros (Kasali Yinka Casal 30), Luciano Emilio (Jamil Walker 30 [Welton Sliva 60]), Jaime Moreno (Guy Kpene 30)
