Chivas USA kill DC United’s streak
By: Alex | September 7th, 2007The Chivas USA came from a 2 - 0 deficit to tie DC United. Walking away with a point against the best team in MLS shows how hard this team works. However, the scoreboard doesn’t tell the whole story.
DC opened up the scoring early in the game. Somewhere around minute three there was a goal, but ESPN is unable to start a game on time, so everyone missed it except for the Legion.
DC dominated the first 15 minutes, challenging every ball and pressuring our midfield. Emilio put another in the goal around the 26 minute. Moreno rocketed a shot on target. Guzan blocked it, but Emilio picked up the deflection and placed it in the net. Brad was left helpless.
In minute 33, Perkins tried to clear the ball and found Ravoz. The ball hit Ante and bounced into goal. A few called it a lucky goal. I think that this goal and others like it emphasize the value of putting pressure on the goalie. This was the turning point in the game.
By the end of the half, Chivas USA were winning more balls in the midfield than they were losing. It seemed that DCU used all their energy in the first 15 minutes and were out of gas. The DC back line started to get physical with Galindo and Mendoza because they couldn’t keep up with their speed or skill. In the end three yellows came out on them.
The second half continued with Chivas USA’s style. Jesse Marsch must have won at least 100 balls for us in the midfield. He worked very hard. Razov and Galindo were creating opportunities for each other. By this time, CUSA had more shots on goal than DC and were about to score.
Sacha created the next goal around the 60th minute. He worked the ball into the box, beat a DC defender and placed it on a silver platter for Vaughn. Lawson hit it hard and low and a deflection placed it into goal.
Shortly after, Preki took off Razov and put in Nunez. While we all hoped Ramon would be a spark for the team, he didn’t produce much. He hurt the chemistry of the front line and eliminated any attacking threat. His style did not mix with Galindo. He couldn’t connect with Panchito and he showed his frustration on the pitch. While we all expect good things from this kid, he might need a bit more time with the team.
Defense was solid. Bornstein’s speed kept the attack from DC down to a minimum. Very few shots on Guzan in the second half. Suarez was subbed for Hernandez in the 85th, who also did a great job. The second half was “Emilio who?”
Eventually Laurent Merlin came in for Galindo and this created a better spark for the front line. He brought Nunez and Panchito back in the match and created a few more chances before the match was over.
It was very frustrating to have a match determined by bad officiating. In extra time, a through ball put Panchito one on one with Perkins. It was called off sides by the linesman. Repays show Panchito onside by a yard.
In the end we walked away with one point. Not bad considering we came back from two down. When looking at the rest of the season, this was an important point for the team. In two days we play the Red Bulls, the Super Classico a few days after and then the Rapids shortly after. If we can walk away with 8 or 9 points from the group of games, we will be on top of the west.
Category: Team News
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Comments
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I’m surprised Marsch wasn’t suspended for his kick on Beckham… That’s all I have to say about this game, really.
Posted from
France
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I think you might be refering to the last game where we played Galaxy.
Posted from
United States -
Nunez is a very skilled player, but he’s a headcase. I’ve been watching him in Dallas for years, with flashes of brilliance, and long stretches of incompetance. Thanks for taking him
Posted from
United States -
yay. dc stinks.
Posted from
United States -
Alex, no, I mean : I’m surprised that a post-game commision didn’t hand him a suspension.
That the ref didn’t red-card him was strange enough, but that he hasn’t recieved any disciplinary hearing is just as troublesome for me.
So I was surprised to see him on the starting line-up, that’s all…
Posted from
France -
My bad. My opinion. I think the fact that Jesse and Becks were physical all game and the fact that Becks really challenged Jesse hard seconds before the kick right in front of the ref had something to do with the yellow.
Posted from
United States -
I didn’t see the game, so I can’t say anything about anything but the foul. And it was pretty bad. Beckham is much faster than Marsch, and he kicks him waist-hight, whilst the ball has already been played by Beckham with his shoulder… So if Marsch was going for the ball, it’s a massive failure. Even I haven’t seen (or made) a tackle like that in years, and that’s with my attempts to follow Woking (English conference (4th tier)), Antony (French 2nd Departemental Division (7th tier)) and play in my uni squad… What’s more, Marsch bodychecks Beckham just before the “main” foul… Right at the beginning of the video in your other post, Beckham plays the ball forwards, and then, he changes his course to avoid Marsch, who is incoming, but Marsch changes his own course to run into Beckham… Most referees would intervene pretty swiftly if something like that happened repeatedly in a match, and could after 2 or 3 body-checks call a free kick.
However, if they were physical all game long, then I wonder why the ref didn’t sort them out earlier… 46 minutes can be a long time, and I understand a “rough” midfielder would want to impose himself on the player he’s marking with… let’s say “not orthodox” play.
But really, the groin-level kick was bad. At least it wasn’t strong, because had it been strong, then Beckham could have a fractured wrist or something, and with his bad ankle, the last thing he needs is another injury.
I just find it a pity that a player who is probably not bad at football (Marsch) is so far behind Beckham in terms of pace that he has to resort to body-checking and bad tackling to stop him…
Posted from
France -
Funny you ask why this wasn’t sorted out earlier. This was the subject of an earlier blog of mine. Again the humble opinion of a biased Chivas Supporter. This is from my “Beckham meets the Chivas USA”.
“Beckham has one major flaw being over here in MLS, and it is not his own doing. He is bigger than the league. Referees all over the world have trouble with stars, what to call, what not. I think it will be a while before the whistle is blown on him. Not his fault, but this is what resulted.”
I think this is a blow up due to Becks being allowed to get away with a little more than the next guy.
Posted from
United States
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