Gomez Gone for Good
DC United trades Christian Gomez to Colorado Rapids. read more...
Gomez Gone for Good
Mike Martin
February 09, 2008
Christian Gomez slots the ball past a Rayados defender
Photo: Martin Fernandez
DC United lost a fan favorite as well as its most consistent and effective player of the past four years as the team traded away the rights to out of contract playmaker Christian Gomez to the Colorado Rapids for first round pick and future considerations.
Washington, D.C.
DC United has now lost its number 10 for only the second time in the team’s 12 years of existence, and as with the wrenching loss of Marco after 2003, this is certainly a bittersweet moment in the club’s history. While on one hand, losing Christian Gomez has allowed the signing of United’s first truly elite world class player, Marcelo Gallardo. Yet conversely, DC has lost a player that literally drummed for the Black and Red and whose heroic contributions in his brief time here were as crucial to United’s future as they were to the past four seasons.
Think about it. A dozen or so years from now, if all goes according to United’s bold new plans, the Black and Red will be celebrating their 25th year with their emergence as one of the elite clubs in this hemisphere. They will have become a serious contender that is regularly in the hunt for the biggest club trophies in Concacaf and South America. Maybe even a regular at the World Club Cup God willing.
At that time, no doubt the faithful will reflect back on the great players that laid the foundation that those future teams were able to use as a stepping stone. Marco, Moreno, and Pope, etc. who set the standard in those early dynasties, and helped the team win everything contested in America at that time.
Then, as this dream evolves, there will be this current generation of South American gunslingers, Gallardo, Emilio, Fred, etc. who will be instrumental in leading the team to new heights by winning the Concacaf Club Cup, the Concacaf Champions league, maybe even making a thrilling run at a South American title. All of which raises United’s profile to such a level that the very best players in the hemisphere begin flowing into United’s roster which continues raising the bar for success ever higher in the years beyond that.
Yet, as this tantalizing future plays out, it might be far too easy to forget about these past few years of relatively meager successes, especially as they have been coupled with some absolutely hideous failures. One fluky MLS Cup win and two Supporter’ Shields are certainly nothing to sneeze at, but the ignoble collapses in international tournaments as well as horrific exits from the playoffs three years running have certainly mitigated those successes a bit.
However, Christian Gomez is quite likely the biggest reason United has won any trophies at all lately, and he is without a doubt the one player who regularly showed up in big games to prevent those losses from becoming even worse disasters. It’s maybe those unsung efforts in losing games that might well end up being his greatest legacy.
It was Gomez that burst on the scene in late 2004 to galvanize a .500 team into a win streak that led to that lone MLS Cup. It was Gomez who scored one of the most incredible goals in United history in that 2004 East final to help secure that penalty kick win over NE. He was exhausted late in the match with the score tied 2-2, yet summoned the guts and skill to loft an amazing long blooping header over the hated Heaps and Reis that sealed NE’s fate.
In the heinous playoff debacle in 2005, Chicago knew Gomez was the key man for DC and mercilessly marked him out of the game, yet he was still the most determined and dangerous player on the field for DC. In some ways, his spitting at CJ the Brown was a low point in his United career, but a least he put up a fight which is more than can be said for many United players in that hideous series.
In his 2006 league MVP season, he led the Supporter’s Shield winning team in goals and assists, and he didn't just pad his stats in blowout games. He scored most of his goals in 1-0 wins, or as the tying goal in 1-1 matches. In the playoffs, he single handedly beat the hated Metros in the first round with both United goals as DC advanced 2-1 on aggregate.
Even up to his last moments on the field for United last season, he was a force of nature in his desire to help the team win. He chipped in 10 more goals for the best offense in the league and another SS in 2007. Even in that last playoff game last year, with United down two goals and barely 20 minutes to play against their playoff kryptonite, the Fire, it was Gomez who refused to let the team go down in flames. He set up the play that led to Simms’ goal, and scored the tying goal himself five minutes later. He damn near won the game and the series himself with a last minute goal, but the bouncing ball glanced off an arm and was called off.
As indisputably important he was to United’s MLS games, he was arguably even more important to DC’s international aspirations. He assisted on both game winning goals against Harbour View in 2005 and got the lone goal scored in the 1-1 tie with Pumas. He scored both goals in Chile against Catolica that briefly gave United a two goal advantage in that series. He got the assist on Boswell’s goal against Chelsea.
In 2006, he got two assists in the win over Celtic, and was instrumental in the goal against Real Madrid that tied the game. In 2007, he scored the three backbreaking goals against Olimpia, and Emilio nodded home his free kick to tie Chivas of Guadalajara in RFK. He buried a brilliant free kick to tie Morelia and assisted on the goal that beat Club America as the only two goals DC scored in Superliga. He earned and took the free kick that led to Simms’ winning goal against Chivas in Copa Sudamericana.
While DC went on to lose those tournaments, Gomez alone brought the most class and consistent effort to those matches. He was crucial to United’s effectiveness and don’t think for a minute that those goals he scored or set up against big time competition didn’t help raise the awareness of DC United around the region and in South America, which helped sign players like Emilio and Fred, and now Gallardo and the other South Americans.
His personal achievements speak for themselves. 2006 league MVP, three time Best XI, three time All-Star on teams that beat Fulham, Chelsea, and Celtic, 2004 MLS Cup winner, 2006-7 Supporter’s Shield winner. 44 goals, 29 assists in 3.5 MLS seasons. 51 goals in 115 games in all competitions.
Christian Gomez was never the classic playmaker, nor did he always bring the team up to his level, but there’s no question about his importance to United’s evolution as a club. He could easily be considered the biggest reason that DC was able to claw itself out of those dark years from 2000-03. He, more than any other player, put United back on the international stage. He was the bridge that will span the years from that stunning early success to whatever success (or lack thereof) that will come to pass in the next few years.
It’ll be tough whenever Colorado comes to town the next few years. No doubt he will have success even at that festering pool of mediocrity Clavijo has created, and he will certainly look to shred United’s defense as much as he did when he played for us. But, as long as we don’t face him in the playoffs, I don’t think we’ll mind a goal or two as he will always be a legend to for that glorious day he drummed with the Barra in the Meadowlands, he will always have a place in the hearts of the faithful for his emotional goal celebrations pulling the badge of the jersey he loved as much as we do.
Visitor Comments
I think all of the talk (mostly by Ives) of Colorado overpaying for Gomez is way overblown. To get one of the best players in the league for two-years of a DP slot they weren't going to use and a first round draft pick that more often than not doesn't pan out is a good deal. I am not a betting man, but I believe Gomez will go down as the best player in Colorado Rapids history
Thanks for the comments!
As for Gomez, I think he will do very well in Colorado despite Clavijo's efforts to screw things up! They have outstanding wingers that will give him plenty of room to work with, and they don't have any real decent forwards, his attacking runs will be twice as effective.
Yea - it was always a pleasure to see Gomito leave it all on the field, hopefully Clavijo will know what do do with that talent, otherwise he'll go wasted in CO. Sad to see him go, but as es la vida - y el futbol. Suerte Gomito!
Christian will be well missed, on the field and off the field. He has set a different standard for United's players and showed the fans a little of dedication and fanaticism that is evident in South American football.
Buenos suerte, Christian. Thank you.
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