Copa Nissan Sudamericana 2007 Match 1.1a The Result: DCU v. Chivas de Guadalajara 9-26-07 First Leg

DCU 2 Chivas 1

Pace:
It took DC United about 25 minutes to get adjusted to the pace of the Chivas game. Namoff had a particularly difficult time adjusting, but once he did, he hung in there just fine until the injury. Gros and Carroll came on as subs and also found difficulty keeping up with the speed and flow of Chivas.

Goals:
Great blind strike by Olsen and beautiful dummy by Emilio. Simms earned his goal in a very Ben Olsen fashion by cleaning up a deflection.

Defense:
As previously noted it took DC awhile to get used to the speed and once we did we went down a man. With all the shots Chivas had we did a good job to only let one in. The one goal we did let in was a collective breakdown from the cross to the box to the net.

Chivas:
Quick and creative. They really use the whole field, but their crosses and finishing leave something to be desired... and I'm ok with that.

Atmosphere:
A lot of fun, lots of fans from both clubs and lots of beer in the air on the second goal.

We will be out Burch for the next leg and we will be in their house. It will be hostile, but I think that, considering their weaknesses in the attack, we can bring it to them. We know their pace so our time needed to acclimate ourselves to their game should reduce dramatically in the next leg. Hopefully we won't be playing a man down again either.

Facts and Reality for Copa Nissan Sudamericana 2007 Match 1.1a
1. 2 goals on 5 attempts, not as many as I would have liked, but we won. At least we are efficient... right?
2. Possible injury to Namoff, but I don't think it was serious.
3. Considering the number of people at the game the the traffic was very light on the way to RFK. We cheated and went through Alexandria though.
4. Simms and Olsen both from a bit of distance, but no Burch from distance. Burch got a first yellow that I never saw and a second yellow that was soft, especially for a second yellow, but I guess I can see it.