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United gets pounded 3-0 in Colorado

D.C. United easily had their worst performance in the season as they got steamrolled 3-0 tonight by the Colorado Rapids in Commerce City, Colorado in front of 11,416 fans at Dicks Sporting Goods Park. United is now 0-3 at Dicks since it opened in 2007 and is winless in Colorado since the turn of the century. It seemed pretty obvious that though United played with energy, it just didn’t seem to have their legs tonight. “I think I underestimated how much of a toll that last game took on us. If I were to do it again, I’d probably make wholesale changes and get some of the other guys out,” said Head coach Tom Soehn after the match.

Omar Cummings was the man of the match with two goals and an assist as he was the thorn in the side of a United defense that now all of a sudden is showing signs of their 2008 form when they were the second worst defense in MLS. United has given up six goals in their past two road matches and must find a way to stop the goals from leaking.  Tom Soehn didn’t hold back on his feelings towards his defense tonight, “They were just straight giveaways. That part was disappointing because those guys who made those mistakes were fresh.”

Cummings got the goalfest started in the 11th minute when he beat Greg Janicki for pace down the left flank and when Janicki slid to try and tackle the ball away, the Jamaican easily hopped over the defender and curled a beautiful shot past the helpless Josh Wicks in goal. Janicki got his first start for United since the opening match of the season at Los Angeles. Another playing making his first start since joining D.C. United was left back Avery John. He was the goat on the second goal that came right at the stroke of halftime. John played a backpass into United’s half of the field. The problem was there were no United defenders in sight and Cummings ghosted in and rounded Wicks and sent it just past the retreating Dejan Jakovic to give the Rapids a 2-0 lead at the break.

Coming out of the locker room Tom Soehn made a change and brought in Boyzzz Khumalo  for Janicki and United went back to their preferred 3-5-2 formation after starting the match in a 4-4-2. However, it was yet another mistake from United’s defense that put the final nail in the coffin for the Black and Red on this night. Jordan Harvey’s seemingly harmless ball over the top of the defense fell right to the foot of the normally reliable Jakovic. His mis-trap allowed that sliver of space for Cummings to get to the ball. Cummings held off Jakovic long enough to get to the endline and center the ball to the penalty spot for a wide open Colin Clarke to score past Wicks who did well enough to get his hand on the shot before it went into the side netting.

At this point it was clear that United was a beaten team but that didn’t stop them from pressing forward and trying to make the scoreline respectable. Chris Ponitus’ 54th minute header was excellently saved by Matt Pickens. In the 67th minute Christian Gomez’ redirected shot was somehow palmed out by Pickens and that essentially ended things for United on the night.

United will now have two weeks off of MLS play and will return at Columbus on July 4th. United will also play the Ocean City Barons in the U.S. Open Cup on June 30th at the Germantown SoccerPlex.

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