one a shootout -- and one loss. Two of those Friday matches are among the most memorable in the history of the club. On July 12, 1996, D.C. United defeated the Eastern Conference leading Tampa Bay Mutiny 1-0 in the midst of Hurricane "Big Bertha." Marco Etcheverry scored the game-winning goal in the 72nd minute, and that match is widely considered to be one of the critical moments in the long-term success of Major League Soccer. In the 1996 playoffs, United hosted Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the MetroStars and Etcheverry worked his magic once again in the 72nd minute, winning the game, tying the series, and putting United on their way to their first league title.
Only time will tell if this past Friday's 3-0 victory over the surging San Jose Earthquakes will be as significant as the wins over Tampa Bay and the MetroStars nine years ago, but the victory did seem to have elements of a classic mid-season turning point. Christian Gomez was sensational. He made an immediate impact when he came to United near the end of last season, and this year he has been just as important. His two goals against San Jose moved him into a tie for second place among the league's scoring leaders with 8 goals on the year. It was the fourth time in his short career with D.C. that Gomez has scored two goals in a game.
Jaime Moreno was also instrumental in the victory on Friday. Moreno had missed the previous match against Kansas City and the offense suffered. In that loss, United's attack lacked the interplay that has long been a trademark of D.C.'s offense. With Moreno back, the new free-flowing attack returned and the offense put together their fifth three-goal performance of the year at RFK.
Critics still refuse to admit how important Moreno is to D.C. and the league. He has aged better than any player in MLS, including Preki, and what he has done for United is undeniable. His creativity helps the entire team and his individual brilliance still shines. At the start of the second half, Josh Gros sent a cross into the penalty area. Moreno was waiting about 16 yards away from the goal. Moreno thighed the ball with one touch, and volleyed it with his second touch into the goal for the 2-0 lead. Of the 98 goals Moreno has scored throughout his career (including the playoffs) perhaps his two most recent goals, this week's and his goal against New England last month, have been his most beautiful yet. Moreno may be getting older, but he isn't aging.
Another United player who is continually being scrutinized, except when he does something positive, is Freddy Adu. Then people don't mention him at all. Against San Jose, the goal that put D.C. up 3-0 was scored by Gomez, assisted by Moreno, but created by Adu. After intercepting a pass near midfield, Moreno was leading a quick counteraattack for United. Adu was in front of Moreno and suddenly sprinted diagonally towards the near post. One defender tried to keep up with Adu, and the central defender (who must have know his teammate couldn't run with Freddy) started moving far to his right to add defensive support. The result was similar to the scene in The Ten Commandments when Moses parts the Red Sea. The opening made it an easy pass for Moreno and a simple finish for Gomez. Adu made a critical albeit somewhat unnoticed play.
The offense needed to be good against San Jose and it was. Anytime United can climb the standings without the services of Santino Quaranta, Ben Olsen, or Alecko Eskandarian the results mean even more. Soon, those big pieces of United's attack will return, and then D.C. will once again have the depth that made the team so formidable at the end of last season. In addition to the brilliance of the offense, the defense also earned a shutout on Friday, and stifled a talented attack. The chances were few and far between for the Earthquakes, and Nick Rimando and the defenders who had been under a lot of scrutiny lately deserve credit for continually frustrating San Jose.
The schedule now gets serious for D.C. United with road games this week at Kansas City and at the L.A. Galaxy. If the San Jose match was a turning point for United, it will show over the next week. If not, United will continue to battle their opponents and their own inconsistency. D.C. is still the defending champions of the league, and they know the importance of the second half of the season. If the results don't go their way during this road trip, maybe the club can reschedule the next home match to Friday.
Tony Limarzi is a contributor to dcunited.com. He is also the voice of D.C. United soccer, calling all of the Black-and-Red's games live on WMET.
