98 & 99

Before I begin I have to say that I didn't watch the second half of the DC United and KC Wizards game. When my DVR stopped recording the final score was DC-3 KC-1. I was upset enough that I let myself look at the TV screen when, in the back of my head, i knew that it was live action. I watched the first half and since that half ended 3-1 then I figured there was no reason to watch the rest. If something big happened let me know.

There is no better way to start the game than with a goal. Jaime Moreno's 98th goal began with him being offsides. He trotted back to be even with KC Defender Garcia and Gomez served the ball at the exact moment that Moreno broke back towards the endline for a beautiful goal. It was subtle but Jaime also paused for a split second that froze Bo Oshoniyi in the middle of his goal (not letting him chase Jaime) that freed up the near post. The service by Christian Gomez was absolutely perfect. At first glance it looked like a poor pass because it was so far ahead of Moreno, but it was also short enough that Oshoniyi didn't have the chance to come off his line. Moreno is faster and probably stronger than Garcia so he had the time to think and score.

Jaime Moreno's second goal came on an unfortunate (and blatently wrong call). Clyde Simms simply lost his footing and mishit the ball. The ref's angle, the way Simms fell, and KC Defender immediately throwing up his hands afterwards are my factors that contributed to the call. Usually when a defender throws up his hands like that, it means that he actually did make contact and doesn't want the call. I think if the defender just went along with it there may not have been a call. Either way I felt bad that United's second goal had to come that way. I know Moreno is automatic from the spot, so part of me wanted Moreno to purposely miss just as a gesture of good sportsmanship. The other part of me knows that purposely missing a penalty against the next top team in the East would not have made Coach Novak very happy. I probably would have discussed it first, run it by Novak, and acted accordingly.

The second goal did have repercussions. On Clyde Simms very next touch, he got tackled from behind in what was given a yellow but should have been a straight red. Simms was tackled in retaliation. The KC player never meant to get the ball, he came in from behind, and it looked like he made the kind of foul that potentially ends careers. Should have been a red card but wasn't. The teams should now be even right? Well apparently the ref had to make amends because he later took away what would have been a Goal of the Week by Alecko Eskandarian. Now everyone has made up for the poor call by the ref.

The only thing I have to say about the KC goal is that the defense has to do a better job of clearing the ball. Credit KC for the effort and having bodying in front of the box to clean up loose balls.

The final goal came right before half time from an Adu cross and Boswell header. It was textbook. Adu hit the ball low and hard and all Boswell had to do is tap it to slightly change its direction and it's in the back of the net.

For the first half, DC United dominated a team that should be one of the elite teams in the league. DC's offense was spectacular even without the goals. I really feel that Adu more than everyone else is getting comfortable in his role on the outside and is looking for his teammates more and more. Everyone was in a groove and United not only controlled the midfield but players were making dangerous runs behind the KC defense. KC really is a shell of itself without Josh Wolff, Eddie Johnson, and Jimmy Conrad. They came out flat, allowed a goal early and never recovered. United came out with a purpose and the effort was great.

Now all they have to do is repeat it against a team that they haven't beaten this season. This Wednesday the Columbus Crew comes to town. I'll be at RFK taking pictures and seeing the game from field level.

BTW-Catch the USMNT game on Friday? Convey was a terror. We need him on the field in some form or another. It's too bad that he doesn't play on the right because he would definitely start over Glass-Legs MaGee: Johnny O'Brien. Olsen had a quieter game but still effective. Slowed the game when necessary and put in a hard working effort all around.