Match Reports

United thrash wilted Galaxy 4-1

It's not often that a regular season MLS match is a must-see opportunity. Today was no exception as league heavyweights DC United and the Los Angeles Galaxy clashed in hot and humid conditions at RFK Stadium on national television. It didn't take long for fireworks to start. A 5th minute penalty conversion from Jaime Moreno got the hosts off to a dream start.

United midfielder Clyde Simms picked up a loose ball at midfield and set off a United counterattack. Simms slid the ball to Moreno on the right wing who feathered a pass across the penalty box to Santino Quaranta. Just as Quaranta was winding up to shoot, Galaxy defender Ante Jazic barrelled into Quaranta from behind and referee Jair Marrufo had no choice but to point to the spot. Moreno easily converted for his sixth goal of the season and 118th of his MLS career.

United nearly doubled it's lead in the 10th minute when Marcelo Gallardo sent Luciano Emilio in clear on Galaxy keeper Steve Cronin. The second year man was up to the task as he saved the shot from the in-form Brazilian to keep the scoreline at 1-0. United continued their pressure and had near misses from both Quaranta and Bryan Namoff. The Galaxy however were starting to see more of the ball and thought they had the equalizer in the 21st minute. David Beckham sent in a curling ball past the United backline that Landon Donovan tapped past Zach Wells. However, the offside flag came up and the goal was called back. Replays showed Donovan fractionally offside on the play.

United gave up the lead just five minutes later when Keystone Cops defending from United's back four gifted Edson Buddle his 10th goal of the season. United seemed to have the situation under control but a botched clearance between numerous United defenders ended up on the grateful foot of Buddle who slipped it past a stunned Zach Wells. United nearly regained the lead a minute later when a Gallardo free kick was well saved by Cronin.

United did indeed regain the lead in the 37th minute with Emilio's 9th goal of the season. Gallardo's brilliance in ball control in the middle of the field factored into a ball that eventually found it's way through the box to the left side where substitute Marc Burch, on for the injured Quaranta, lofted a cross to Emilio who headed back across goal past the diving Cronin for a 2-1 lead. United nearly scored a few minutes later but Fred hesitated when sent through by Gallardo and a three v one situation quickly deflated.

Temperatures flared on the field in the 42nd minute when Gallardo and Donovan clashed right in front of the Galaxy bench. A foul was called on Donovan but Gallardo was lucky only to see yellow with his backhanded slap at Donovan, who also received a yellow on the play. United had one more chance to increase their lead when Burch lofted a pin point perfect cross onto the head of Gallardo who only got a glancing blow on it as it drifted wide of the goal and the teams went into halftime with United leading 2-1.

The second half saw a noticable change in the flow of the match from the frantic first 45 minutes as the early afternoon heat and humidity were starting to take it's toll on the visitors. It wasn't until the 55th minute that saw any credible chances for United at the Galaxy goal. Gallardo was the point on a three on one counter only to see his shot go wide left. Just seconds later Fred was alone on an angled breakaway down the left flank and sent the shot right into Cronin. United continued to pile on the pressure and Emilio passed back to Gallardo who sent it over the goal.

Finally the pressure paid off in the 60th minute when Gallardo finished off another counter with a well taken goal to give United a 3-1 lead. Gonzalo Martinez pushed up through midfield and weaved his way to the left flank and his perfect cross was feathered by Gallardo as he pushed the ball past rookie Sean Franklin and volleyed it perfectly into the left side netting.

The Galaxy nearly scored though in 63rd minute but a great save from Zach Wells kept the lead at 3-1. Donovan made his way through the box and Wells came out and smothered his attempt deflecting it over the bar. Donovan's claims for a penalty went unnoticed. Just a minute later United nearly scored again when a Marc Burch free kick from 30 yards stung the crossbar and went out of play.

At this point the game really started to open up and both teams were trading chances at goal. However it was the in-form home team that stretched the lead to 4-1 with an absolutely stunning counter in the 68th minute. Gallardo, easily the best player on the field, patiently waited for Fred's overlapping run down the right flank and sent him in on goal. Fred waited for Cronin to commit before slotting across the box for Emilio to tap in his second goal of the game.

The Galaxy seemed a defeated team as United continued to pour forward. The best part of the day however was the return of club legend Ben Olsen to the lineup. Olsen subbed in to a thunderous applause coming on for captain Jaime Moreno in the 75th minute. Olsen, who many thought would be out for the season with trouble from his surgically repaired ankle over the winter, made a suprise return to the first team and gave the crowd of 35,979 it's biggest thrill of the day.

United continued their assault on the Galaxy goal but Cronin had a number of point blank saves on Burch, Emilio and substitute Rod Dyachenko to keep the scoreline somewhat respectable.

United has won all four of their league matches during the month of June and now they take a break from MLS action to partake in both the US Open Cup and SuperLiga competitions during the month of July. United does have their makeup game with the Houston Dynamo on July 22nd still to play, but other than that, they are without league obligations for the next five weeks.

United starts their Open Cup competition this Tuesday evening at Germantown Recreational Park and take on USL-1 side Rochester Raging Rhino's at 7:30pm. Get there early as a crowd of over 4,000 is expected.

Scoring Summary:

DCU - Moreno 6 (penalty kick) 5
LA - Buddle 10 (Donovan 7) 26
DCU - Emilio 9 (Burch 2, Moreno 7) 37
DCU - Gallardo 4 (Emilio 2, Martinez 1) 60
DCU - Emilio 10 (Fred 3, Gallardo 3) 68

Lineups:

DCU: Zach Wells, Bryan Namoff, Devon McTavish, Gonzalo Peralta, Gonzalo Martinez, Santino Quaranta (Burch 27), Marcelo Gallardo, Clyde Simms, Fred (Dyachenko 77), Jaime Moreno (c) (Olsen 75), Luciano Emilio

Subs: Jose Carvallo, Marc Burch, Ryan Cordeiro, Ben Olsen, Francis Doe, Rod Dyachenko, Quavas Kirk

LA: Steve Cronin, Chris Klein, Sean Franklin, Abel Xavier, Mike Randolph, David Beckham (c), Ely Allen (Tudela 45), Alvaro Pires (Gordon 64), Ante Jazic (Franchino 61), Edson Buddle, Landon Donovan

Subs: Vito Higgins, Brandon McDonald, Troy Roberts, Greg Vanney, Joe Franchino, Josh Tudela, Alan Gordon

Referee: Jair Marrufo
Referee's Assistant: George Ganser
Referee's Assistant: Kermit Quisenberry
4th Official: Hiliario Grajeda

Weather: Partly Cloudy and 82 degrees
Attendance: 35,979

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