Champions League game #3: DCU 0 - Cruz Azul 1
10/01/2008 9:56 PM by Kyle Sheldon
With a side made up primarily of reserves, United fought extremely hard, created several decent scoring opportunities - including one shot that careened off the post - but in the end, lost on a (big time) fluke Cruz Azul goal. The team's determination and effort though could not be questioned tonight (dcunited.com recap here).
United will now turn its attention to its 26th League match at home against Chivas USA on Saturday. Following, they'll fly to Costa Rica where they'll face Deportivo Saprissa on Thursday, Oct. 9.
We'll be back with some post game quotes and a few photos shortly.
UPDATE: Post game quotes below and a few photos here.
D.C. UNITED HEAD COACH TOM SOEHN
On the team’s performance:
The effort and the energy that a lot of the young guys brought on the field mixed with some of the veteran guys, it was a good quality performance. Unfortunately the way the goal happened, it was well wide and it hit someone on the backside and we end up eating one, so you’re disappointed because we kept pushing. Obviously, at the end of the game we opened up but that’s because we’re pushing to get back into the game. But, overall, the energy we brought, the eagerness to go forward and the eagerness to defend was pretty good.
On the team’s eagerness:
Well, there were fresh guys on the field, that’s why you saw that eagerness. Obviously, we’re going to have some fresh guys on the field on Saturday as well.
On losing:
We’re disappointed. Obviously if we win this game we’re still in the [CONCACAF Champions League] but now its going to be very difficult. We have to focus on Saturday now.
D.C. UNITED GOALKEEPER ZACH WELLS
On Cruz Azul’s goal:
It stings that it would go that way. He drove it but he shanked it a little bit and [it was] just unlucky to hit it right on the back of his own player and trickle in. I have to blame myself for that one. The guys fought hard all night, to get a fluky goal like that is disappointing.
On D.C. United’s performance:
I thought we put in a heck of an effort tonight. I was really impressed, we were organized, we moved the ball, [and] we didn’t react poorly to mistakes. We just kept going so I was really proud to be on the field tonight.
On Greg Janicki:
I thought the guys were organized in the back. I thought that Greg [Janicki] did a great job. For his first game I thought that Greg was absolutely fantastic, he was winning balls in the air [and] breaking up plays. Overall I’d say a pretty darn good debut.
D.C. UNITED DEFENDER MARC BURCH
On the goal:
[It was] a bad goal. Just a deflection, completely unlucky - like a lot of the goals that have happened to us this year.
On whether he feels Cruz Azul outplayed them:
Yeah I did, I don’t think [it was Cruz Azul’s] best team. I thought we did well the first half, we created some of the better scoring opportunities. In the second half we had some nice ones too, [Tabiso Khumalo] hit the post. Maybe a couple of better crosses and we could have finished a few. It would have been nice to be 1-2 in a tournament and try and pick up a win down in Mexico.
On whether the team’s performance is encouraging:
Yeah, it was good. There was a lot of energy and everybody gave it 100% and it’s a lot of experience for the young guys. I saw what some of the young guys could do and they looked good out there.
CRUZ AZUL HEAD COACH BENJAMIN GALINDO
On winning:
Of course winning is important. Winning because Cruz Azul, this great institution, has always taken this very seriously. We’ve got two wins, against Saprissa and tonight, and a loss against Marathon but honestly we’re taking this Champions League very seriously.
On the team’s performance:
We really worked hard. We had two or three opportunities to make the lead bigger. That’s what we were missing but we’ll keep working on that. I think finishing is something you always think you could have done better, especially since we had chances.
CRUZ AZUL DEFENDER JAIME LOZANO
On D.C. United:
I think D.C. United is a good team, they are always in these type of tournaments and they always play well. They’re a good team and have really good players. Fortunately for us we got a goal and we got the opportunity to win three points but I think it was a really good team and they really fought throughout the whole game.
Comments
6 Comments
About This Blog | Contact Us | dcunited.com
© 2008 - 2009 D.C United & MacFarlane Chang DC Soccer, LLC - All Rights Reserved
10/01/2008 11:15 PM by Gina
A lot of heart out there tonite. Well done guys!
10/02/2008 1:01 AM by Juan-John
Posted this in the WaPo's Soccer Insider, but figured I might as well post it here, too:
The worst part was that immediately after the CU goal, a CU supporter threw a full cup of beer AT a DCU supporter a full TEN (empty) SEATS away from him in section 232. This wasn't a Barra Brava-type throwing a beer into the air -- this was an assault.
The DCU supporter, who was wearing a DCU jersey, was standing alone and not IN ANY WAY taunting anyone. It was a completely UNMITIGATED attack. The DCU supporter started walking toward the group of CU supporters from where the attack came. A scuffle ensued in which at least one punch was thrown.
The most pathetic part of this whole episode? It took place IN FRONT of an overweight female CSC security usher who did NOTHING to stop what clearly was a tense situation until I LITERALLY screamed at her to get her attention, by which time the scuffle had already begun. Moments later more security folks showed up and defused the situation, but quite frankly it SHOULD NEVER HAVE GOTTEN TO THAT POINT in the first place.
How hard could it have been for DCU (or whomever runs the stadium) to tell its ticketing folks to put the CU supporters in a specific area instead of allowing them to buy whatever seat was available? It made for an incredibly UNSAFE situation.
The rest of the soccer world has learned how to deal with supporters of the visiting team, it's time DCU/Stadium folks did so, too.
10/02/2008 1:58 AM by stewartdc8
I said all I wanted was for them to do their best and they did. They played great, and the pace of the game (especially in the second half) was AWESOME to watch. Zaher and Janicki impressed I thought. Doe did well too, but I guess he's still gaining fitness after his injury?
Anyone know why we took Vide out?
10/02/2008 1:58 AM by DeelovesDCU
Wow, I am definitely happy with the way these guys played last night. No goal but a lot of energy. I'm proud of you guys! Go DC United!! Bring us back to life on Saturday!
10/02/2008 11:53 AM by dogboy
I agree, DC played a lot better, with more life, passion and desire to be on the field.
Doe did well, though I do think he still needs work on his touch. Thompson did well on the outside, but tired near the end, when Cruz started pouring it on.
Janicki played real well as well. I was very impressed with him. A big, strong defender in the center. Pair him with Peralta.
I am extremely pleased with how DC played last night. It's a tough and unlucky loss but that's exactly what we needed. A strong performance to regain their confidence.
Good job DC.
10/02/2008 8:32 PM by hoyanick
I agree with Juan-John. I understand that it is difficult to isolate opposing fans in a specific section when there is not a great demand for tickets (because its hard to tell walk-up ticket buyers that because they look a certain way they have to sit in a certain section), but United must do something to rectify this situation.
While DCU matches are very family friendly during the MLS season, I would NEVER bring any young children to these international matches. Every time I have gone to a match versus a FMF squad, I have endured taunts, beer-throwing, and the like. I don't really mind, but perhaps all those DCU fans that did NOT show up last night DO mind.