Match 2.23 The Result: DCU v. Chivas USA 9-6-07

DCU 2 Chivas USA 2

MLS Primetime Thursday started at 11:15 PM this evening. Who knew 11:15 PM was considered "prime time"? I was starting to have a nervous breakdown as I frantically refreshed Soccer Insider for updates, refreshed the match tracker on MLSnet, and listened to an endless loop of adds on WMET 1160 AM in hopes of hearing something... anything. Goff came through with the first report of the 3rd minute strike by Luciano "It's in the net" Emilio.

First Half (starting in the 9th minute due to above debacle): DC controlled most of the first half although they looked a little disorganized. Moreno was able to send a nice ball to Emilio for his first goal. Moreno also contributed to Emilio's second strike, as it was Moreno's blocked shot that got away from Guzan that Emilio put in the back of the net.

The turning point in the game was the odd Perkins clearance turn Razov deflection and subsequent goal. Before this goal Chivas looked somewhat lost and uninspired. The goal gave them new life at the end of the first and into the second half. DC seemed content to allow the new found inspiration by not winning 50/50 balls, making bad passes, and giving way too much space to the attack. Chivas' goal in the 60th was the result of a 10 minute complete loss of form and team defense. From that point, our offensive attempts consisted of short fallen crosses from the back which created one chance, a Burch to Olsen to Emilio string of passes. Soehn was obviously looking for the draw when he added Brian Carroll in the 76th. With a defensive sub we should have shut down the match, but we insisted on letting them have space and time with no counter of our own.

Just a few final thoughts. Our team speed is slow, or our team is slow, however you put it, in comparison to Chivas USA we lack speed. Chivas exploited our slow defense and never allowed us time to recover between attacks, credit goes to them for that. I'm not sure if it was the speed issue again, but we were not winning balls. DC did not get to the ball fast enough and when they did they got muscled off. We also took a few steps back with our team passing, a lot of bad passing from everyone, not hard enough, too hard, no previous thought before passing, we saw it all tonight.

There are a few good things to take from this. We saw what the other hot team in the MLS looks like. We might need to prepare for them in the playoffs. A draw like this should motivate us to remember the important, basic things like team defense, passing, and winning balls.

Bring on New England.

Facts and Reality for Match 2.23

1. 1 point, from the way we played, I'll take it.
2. Both goals from Emilio and it is good to see him get the goals he so badly wants. What's this talk of him leaving in December and being the highest paid DC player?
3. A hard match I wanted, a hard match I got. We started as the dominant team and ended as that inconsistent team from 6 games ago.
4. Burch's left footed crosses have officially been added to the DCU repertoire.

ESPN sucks (See: late start, feed going out, too many shots of players/coaches/allen hopkins instead of the match).

Match 2.23 The Setup: DCU v. Chivas USA 9-6-07

DC goes up against, the undefeated at home (7 wins, 1 draw), Chivas USA in a match that has Supporter's Shield written all over it. DCU stands at the top of the league with 1.91 points per game while Chivas sits well within striking distance at 1.80 with two games in hand on DC. Both DC and Chivas have been playing good soccer in the last month, I expect this to be a continuation of form and an entertaining match.

With Maykel Galindo up top for Chivas, DC's back line will have to be careful not to get caught up too high because he likes to burn people with his speed. Galindo, Razov, and Kljestan are all scoring threats but also know how to distribute the ball with 17 of the team's 34 assists coming from the trio. I believe that Clyde Simms will have the most important defensive role in tonight's match. In the last few Chivas' games most of the scoring threats have come right down the middle of the field. Clyde will need to frustrate the Chivas' attack early and the back line will have to continue to play the smart, team defense they have been playing.

On the offensive side of things, we need Fred to keep hassling defenses allowing Christian more space to distribute and taking the focus of Benny so he can play cleanup. I'll be looking for Luci to score so I can see him smile again. A win tonight puts us in the Supporter's Shield driver's seat.

Hopes and Dreams for Match 2.23


1. 3 points=Supporter's Shield is ours to lose.
2. Fred and Benny keep the goals coming.
3. This is going to sound weird, but I'd like us to have a harder time winning this match to get us back to reality. What if reality is complete domination?
4. Burch from distance.