Match Reports

United’s comeback comes up short; Lose 4-3 in Houston

If D.C. United has been known for one thing this season, it’s that no matter how far back they fall in any particular match, they have the ability to comeback. After giving up three goals in three minutes early in the first half and also falling behind 4-1 midway through the second half, United put forth a furious rally that fell just short as they lost to Houston 4-3.

While Tom Soehn can feel good in the fight that United put up when they were down big, getting down big has to be the overriding factor in this match. While United has been rock solid at the comfortable confines of RFK Stadium, the results and the play falls off dramatically away from East Capitol Street. United now has a 1-4-6 road record while giving up an astonishing 24 goals in those 11 road matches, easily the worst road defense in the league.

Brad Davis’ goal got the ball rolling in the first half. United goalkeeper Josh Wicks evidently never saw the shot as it whistled just past him into the far side netting. Just a minute later a United turnover in midfield saw Brian Ching running towards the net. United defender Bryan Namoff was there but inexplicably laid off the slow-footed Ching and decided to take away his far post angle rather than tackle him off the ball. The Hawaiian rifled his shot past Wicks and it was 2-0. While United was licking their wounds, Houston struck again a minute later. Good work on the flank between Davis and left-back Mike Chabala set Ching up in the middle of the box. His one-timer easily beat Wicks and this matched seemed to be over, especially considering United’s futile history in Houston (at the time, never even scoring at Robertson Stadium).

At the half, Soehn made two tactical changes by bring Christian Gomez and Ben Olsen off in favor of Luciano Emilio and Avery John. United ditched their traditional 3-5-2 formation to stop the bleeding in the back and went with a 4-4-2 with Marc Burch moving centrally. It seemed to work as Emilio scored within three minutes of the restart. Namoff sent a free kick into the path of the Brazilian and he sent a shot that fortunately deflected off Houston defender Julius James and past Pat Onstad to make it 3-1. United were really starting to apply the pressure on the home side but a controversial penalty call went against the Black and Red and Stuart Holden converted for a 4-1 lead. Most people would have given up at that point but this season’s United almost pulled off their greatest heist of the season. Fred scored on a beautiful curling shot to start the comeback and Emilio got on the end of a goalmouth scramble to head home his second goal of the game in the 83rd minute and thoughts of another miracle were starting to grab hold.

However it was not to be as the Dynamo killed off the rest of the match and came out winners. Although United lost this match (only their 4th loss in 20 league games), the didn’t lose ground on teams who are trying to catch them in the Eastern Conference standing. New England and Toronto played to a 1-1 draw at Foxborough leaving TFC one point behind United with the Revs now trailing United by 4 points. The other team in the East with a reasonable chance to make a run at United was Kansas City. They got absolutely hammered 6-0 at Dallas.

Next up for United is their away leg Tuesday evening  to L.A. Firpo in a CONCACAF Champions League qualifier. United and Firpo tied 1-1 last Tuesday at RFK Stadium. With away goals counting, United needs an outright win, or a multiple goal draw to go through to the group phase. If the match ends up tied at 1-1, overtime and possibly penalties will decide the winner. United is off next weekend from MLS play but will have their hands full when Real Madrid comes to FedEx field on Sunday afternoon. Their next league match will be at Toronto FC on Saturday, August 10th.

 

United Notes

- Ben Olsen’s first half yellow card will see him suspended from their match at Toronto FC. Just as well as playing on that carpet wouldn’t have been the best thing for him

- Emilio’s two-goal performance in a losing cause may be a blessing in disguise. He had been struggling most of the season and scoring a brace could be the jumpstart United needs

- Danny Szetela got the assist on Emilio’s second goal for his first point with United

- United is still mum on the potential signing of Burundi defender David Habarugira. It seems they need all the defensive help they can get as they keep on leaking goals on the road.

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