Champions League game #6: DCU 2 - Marathon 4
10/29/2008 10:00 PM by Kyle Sheldon
Is it fair to say that CONCACAF referees just plain don't like us?
I honestly have no idea what happened when Santino got two yellow cards within a matter of about three seconds, but boy, it sure seemed questionable. So, United is forced to play down a man - yet again - for a good portion of the game and falls 4-2 to CD Marathon. The team didn't give up, though, and even managed to score a goal - courtesy of Greg Janicki - while down a man.
And thus ends D.C. United's 2008 campaign. It was certainly one of disappointment, but let's not forget the guys did manage to capture the club's 12th trophy by winning the U.S. Open Cup title (which also gives the team a shot at CONCACAF Champions League again next year).
UPDATE: Post-game quotes below and a few photos added to the Videos & Pics page.
D.C. UNITED HEAD COACH TOM SOEHN
On the red cards
You know we’ve had red cards probably against all of CONCACAF. I’m not sure but that’s probably our sixth red card. When you look at our league play we’ve probably had two or three.
On Santino Quaranta’s ejection
I don’t know. What we have to understand as a team is that when you have international refs they treat things differently. I’m not sure how far Santino [Quaranta] pushed it there. I think there was some aggravation on Francis [Doe’s] foot being kicked and they were obviously frustrated over that. He’s got to control himself. It was a good game up until that point; we were knocking [the ball] around pretty well. Any time you go shorthanded, obviously it makes it a heck of a lot harder.
On what he would do differently in the Champions League
I would time it at a time when we were healthy. That [question’s] a tough one. This tournament comes at a crucial time; it came at a time when we were pretty depleted. We were undermanned when it started. I think we’re going to take a long look at what we could do better to make sure we’re healthier. We’ve had a lot of soft tissue injuries this year, we have to refocus to make sure that we’re tracking and understanding what’s causing these injuries. You can’t afford to play through so many games that we had in that short [amount of time].
On D.C. United’s season
Well we’ve had to transition ourselves at several stages throughout the season. We made a lot of changes early. We started out slow and once we finally got to learn [about] each other, we started to play the brand of soccer that we like to play. [Then] we ran into a lot of injuries that took a long time to recover from so we had to change on the fly again and we went out and made a lot of changes halfway through the season. A lot of those changes helped us and we were able to find guys who I think can be [the] nucleus of the team, some young guys. So it was a great experience for some of them and it really showed what they’re made of. It showed some guys who had heart and guys that we want to build around.
On moving forward
We’re going to evaluate everything really hard. This year was a difficult year in so many ways. Obviously the amount of injuries we had, I don’t know the [amount of] games missed per man but this year was unbelievable from the so-called ‘starters’. It’s hard to overcome; you see it in New England, they lose one guy and the whole complexion of the team changes, but we’ve had six or seven [injured players] throughout the year. It’s also taught us that we can’t rely on one or two guys; you have to make sure that all 28 are ready to go on. I think we did a great job of getting some guys in that now we feel can be a very beneficial piece next year. So we’re going to have to evaluate and make sure that we don’t have as much turnover [as the end of last season] but we go in with the idea that we’re going to build on the progress we made towards the end of the season.
On tonight’s lineup
Today was all about progress. Like I said, in the first half we played some of our better soccer [by] knocking the ball around and exposing [Marathon’s] weaknesses and we created chances. It’s unfortunate we went down a man because the game obviously changes dramatically and now you have to get away from the things you just did so positive as far as opening them up and spreading the ball around.
On the defense
We held a flat line and we didn’t cover each other well enough, at least in the first half. In the second half we went with three backs and we were just pushing to get goals back so we opened ourselves up a little bit for the [counter-attack]. We just have to build an understanding of what it takes and to make sure our lines even higher or to cover each other defensively, so that if we do break down everyone’s got cover behind them. Like I’ve said, we’ve made so many changes to the back four [that they] haven’t consistently been together. I’m sure if you look at our line-ups they’ve been different each game. We’re going to have to make sure that when we start next year, that we have a set core and we can build off that and make sure that now defensively we’re a lot better. We let in way too many goals this year.
On whether the international games took priority over MLS
Don’t think we’re ever not taking pride in the MLS, that obviously is first and foremost. I think you treat every game with the same amount of respect and obviously playing in an international tournament, we did that [during] the course of MLS games but at no point did we think ‘this game is more important than that’. MLS Cup is obviously our first priority. I’m sure the League is going to look into it. A team playing three tournaments is just too much. I think we played 47 games and there’s teams that played 31 or 32. That’s a big difference, that’s a whole half a season or more. They’re going to have to look at it and make sure that no MLS team is playing three tournaments; it’s just too much.
D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER SANTINO QUARANTA
On the red card
I said it was a joke. I just lost my head I guess but still I didn’t get a yellow card for the tackle. He gave me two yellow cards. He doesn’t understand English either. So I don’t know. I was angry about the call but I didn’t touch the guy. I didn’t touch [the referee] or anything like that. I mean that has happened a thousand times but this time he gave me a red card. I feel bad for [my team], that’s the biggest thing.
On whether the team was playing well before the red card
Yeah, we were working hard and I let the guys down. I feel bad, I really do. When you have to watch a second half like that, with ten men, it hurts. If I could take it back obviously I would but that’s soccer. We’ve been unlucky in this [tournament].
On the many cards issued
It was an intense game. With what happened this weekend, everybody was a little on edge. I guess it was the whole build-up, this whole year. You go into a game like that, with the referee calling fouls like he was, you get to a point where you just can’t take it anymore. I lost my head a little bit and the biggest thing for me is not the red card, it’s letting the guys down and watching them have to play with ten and run around because of my stupidity.
D.C. UNITED DEFENDER GREG JANICKI
On his first season with United
You know it all came pretty fast for me. I enjoyed my three or four games I think I played. Today was tough. It would have been nice to go out with a win. It didn’t mean much but I think it would have been nice to get a victory going out. But what can you do? It’s a tough game. It’s tough to play down to ten men in the last half.
On his goal
Yeah it was nice to get on the board, get your first goal. It would have been nice if the goal actually meant something. I’d be happier with a win but it was a big step up for me this year, a step in the right direction. Hopefully I can keep it going but overall this year was good for me, the goal caps it off but it would have been nice to get the win.
On his future
D.C. is one of the better clubs in the League. I would love to stay here, no question about it. I guess we’ll see in the off-season what the plans are. I know that there’s a lot of good talent here. I think we have the players to win games; just the ball didn’t bounce our way. And the injuries this year, all the stuff you hear about, it was a rough season overall. But I think we have enough players to keep it going and have a stronger season next year. And if I’m a part of it, I would love to be.
D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER FRED
On whether it was a tough loss
Yes, it was very tough because we were up 1-0 and then they got the tying goal and we started to play badly. That’s what has happened during this whole tournament.
Message to the fans
We haven’t been able to give them a good championship run this year in the CONCACAF Champions League or the MLS so we really appreciate all the fans who always come out and support us.
Comments
12 Comments
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10/29/2008 10:16 PM by alga460
I will be the first to say that DC United needs to fire Coach Tom Soehn because he has great players but doesn't know where to put them he needs to think of tactics oh how to win the game because at the start of the season no one was injured that was when everybody was healthy and we were still losing matches so i say lets fire Coach Tom Soehn.
10/29/2008 10:36 PM by PConner
No way, man. Tommy should get another crack next year because of the injuries. The first few weeks everyone was getting used to each other, and then the boys rattled off 6 straight until the injuries started to tally. He was in a difficult position but don't forget we're still Open Cup Champions. Let's regroup in the offseason, add some defense, and get some guys healthy, but don't make a knee-jerk reaction that will make things worse.
10/29/2008 11:20 PM by ArlingtonUnited
It is too risky to take an another chance. I have said enough already about the coach.
I am again here to point out how HORRIBLE the concacaf refs are. They clearly lake knowledge and understanding about the game. And plus yes, Kyle, I would say something about they are liking MLS teams. But basically they are a poor poor bunch who tries to collect some paycheck and display horrible image around the world.
concacaf and mls again I back you to look over these stupid refs.
10/29/2008 11:53 PM by Bootsy Collins
Tino's red was as predictable as the tides. When you've been repeatedly yelling at the referee for an extended period,from close range and with obvious venom, and the referee shows you a yellow, and your response is to *ramp up* your language for another 10 seconds, you'd have to be brain dead to imagine it could turn out any other way.
Tino may have had every right to be pissed; yes, the ref sucked, and yes, the ref blew a horrendous foul. But you just can't do what he did, right in front of the ref, literally begging for the red. It was as if he wanted to be carded out of the game. I'm stunned, frankly, that he didn't see the straight red for "Abusive Language" that the Laws of the Game explicitly dictate for such situations, and that DCU has benefited from twice in the last four years.
He owes an apology to the ten players that had to finish out the game a man down.
10/30/2008 2:01 AM by stewartdc8
2 years, 2 trophies is fine with me, let Tommy stay.
It's as if the refs have a vendetta for us. If Tino was sent off for that, why wasn't Torrado, Classless Cruz Azul's diving captain who was repeatedly in the ref's face asking for cards (when we had our goalie sent off and they were up a goal), also sent off? And Tino said the ref didn't even speak english??? Are you kidding me?? How does he expect to communicate with the players???
Take it and learn from it, CONCACAF.
I'm proud of our Open Cup this year and didn't think this season was "disaster" and total loss like some people think. Just wish we could have seen those games on tv.
I actually think we'll be great next year, we have much more depth, our players will be rested and motivated, no Champions Cup, no Superliga, we might even have Ben back... I think we'll be pretty dang good.
Sorry for writing War and Peace here, just had something to say. peace
10/30/2008 7:26 AM by Brokefoot
I am not 100% sold on Soehn yet, but he should be given a pass. Injuries, scheduling and completely redunkamus red cards in CONCACAF CL have killed DC. Maybe the training regime could be looked at with regard to all of the injuries, but it's probably just bad luck. Gomez leaving was unavoidable. The acquisitions this season have been quite good. Soehn has had to field a makeshift/second string team spattered with not-quite-fit starters all season. DC's mid-season reinforcements and all of the playing time for the second tier players have vastly improved DC's depth for next season (Doe, Burch, McTavish, Vide, Khumalo, Janicki, Guerrero). Get the whole team healthy, and they have strength & depth as good or better than any team in the league. I think Soehn deserves at least the beginning of next season to use his whole squad. Moreover, DC got their first trophy in years, and we're in the CONCACAF CL next year. For me that 4-2 loss at home is not an indictment of Soehn. We go a man down to a terrible mystery double-yellow card call. Then they go a goal up on a once in a lifetime strike. DC had to take the game to them with 10 men to try to get something, and they did. Ball didn't bounce for us, and the situation spirals. Look at the big picture. DC will be re-emerge next season. Changing managers would be a mistake at this point.
10/30/2008 7:57 AM by CHICO13
I'd like to say I'm not very happy with the team hightailing it out of there last night after the final whistle blew. The hardcore fans that come out on a freezing cold night to watch a subpar team and still give them all out support for 90 minutes deserved better. These same fans have travelled all over the country at their own expense in support of United. I don't say it for myself personally but for the legions of Barra Brava, Screaming Eagles, La Norte and all the fans in the stadium. Last night was cold in more ways than one. Kyle, please feel free to pass this post onto Kevin Payne.
10/30/2008 9:04 AM by La Barra Blonde
I should add that props go to Boyzzz and Zach Wells for sticking around and thanking the fans. It was much appreciated.
10/30/2008 5:16 PM by alga460
i still stand that we should fire Coach Tom Soehn because he needs to place players that where they feel comfortable in. There are so many good players out there that many people don't know about like Abdon Reyes from Bolivar en Bolivia.
10/30/2008 7:42 PM by ArlingtonUnited
Marc Burch came over too.
Every time DC plays against south American team, it makes it look like in south America. The whole stadium - a majority of the fans are for them. What the hell?
10/31/2008 6:32 AM by La Barra Blonde
Oh drat it wasn't Burch it was McTavish. Sorry about that Devon!!
10/31/2008 7:42 PM by Marvin
I Do Think the refs had it for DC United in this tournament, there were some horrible calls, I wonder if FIFA looks at this games, and if they do They have to do something about it, I don't think US soccer is respected enough in central and south america.
Another thing that was mentioned was that the vast quantities of fans in the stands for the away team is sickening. At the end of the game it sounded like id DC was the away team.
I am glad the season is over, injured players can now begin to get healthy, I have been a loyal fan since the league began and the 2008 season was one that I'm trying to rapidly forget, I do think the team has to do something about the coach, there's so much talent in this team and not even make the playoffs? I guess my only comfort is that the Galaxy with the most expensive payroll has missed the playoffs for the 3rd streight season, I think MLS is trying too hard to make LA the face of the league, when there's so much talent in the league. and by the way we are back in the champions league next year by winning the open cup.