Sports Talk: United's Dangerous Game

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A YEAR AGO, A HEARTBREAKING SEMIFINAL LOSS in the CONCACAF Champions Cup sent D.C. United on a three-game MLS losing streak, its longest of the season. On the surface, Wednesday's elimination by Pachuca had all the right ingredients to knock United for a similar loop — a late comeback falling just short, controversial refereeing, an angry coach and little time to get ready before Saturday's game in Salt Lake City.

"You have to fight through these. It's disappointing, but tomorrow's another day. Saturday is another game," coach Tom Soehn said. "We have to move on, and we have to move on in a hurry."

The 2-1 win over the reigning regional champs wasn't enough to overturn a 2-0 loss in Mexico. Luciano Emilio missed a couple of sitters, an obvious penalty kick foul on Fred went uncalled, and, after blasting the ref in his postgame comments, Soehn took a shot at MLS Commissioner Don Garber, who had lamented United's first- leg performance.

"I want to thank our commissioner for motivating us [with] some slighted comments he had against us," Soehn said, adding that he "appreciate[d] Garber's analysis."

But it isn't all bad. In fact, United (1-1-0 in MLS) played very well against the continent's best club and easily could have advanced. A newly organized three-man back line featuring newcomers Gonzalo Martinez and Gonzalo Peralta was brilliant, demonstrating D.C.'s early season versatility, and midfielder Marcelo Gallardo seemed more comfortable than ever directing a United attack that showed it could create chances against a good team, even if it couldn't finish them.

And, that night, they won.

"We're still winning," Jaime Moreno said. "We didn't get enough goals to get to the final, but we just continue, and we have to keep working hard because it's a long season. ... I think we have a good team. We have to try to concentrate on MLS and get good results."

Written by Express contributor Brian Straus
Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post