Bruce was watching, I saw him see it.
Funny how the end of a semester leaves little time for everything else. I'll try to make this short and sweet.
I was at the game and the atmosphere was anticipatory. I felt like we were all waiting for a big win so that DC could be alone in first place. And I know that it was the decade's best celebration (or whatever it was called, pictures will be posted later in the week) but I can't help but wonder if the atmosphere had anything to do with needing every win to maintain first in the league. Right before the presentation, there was a video montage of the first 10 years. I almost forgot the time when even the upper tier of RFK was full. I wonder what will happen in a new stadium when we reach capacity. Will ticket prices rise? Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.
Anyways, DC United came out of the gates firing on all cylinders. I said to myself before the game that we have to take them out of the game early and never let them back in it. FC Dallas has never been a team where we could just sit back and essentially outlast them by waiting for the counterattack.
United started the game really well. Passes were fluid, runs were in sync and the "wave" style of offense was being executed well. The United "wave" offense starts by the build up of a play either from the wing (Adu or Gros) or centrally (Carroll, Olsen, Gomez) and the ball ends up at the feet of the forwards. The forwards either turn and eventually shoot (first wave) or lay it off. Either way if it isn't a goal, the second wave (usually Gomez, Adu, Gros and occasionally Eskandarian if he's not part of the 1st wave) takes a shot on goal when the ball is laid off, as was the case for Ben Olsen's gorgeous goal, or passes it out wide for a cross back in. In the latter situation, the third wave comes into play. The third wave can include anyone from the first two waves and either Erpen or even Boswell on set pieces. Their role is clean up crew or on crosses heading the ball into the net, obviously. As a sidenote the term "wave" doesn't refer to waves of certain players, but waves of pressure. The main point is that if the first chance doesn't work there are players pouncing on the rebound to take a chance and there is a cycling (or waves) of lines of attack until a goal or we lose the ball. It's a little hard to grasp (and explain) in words but take note and look for it during the next game and it'll make more sense.
Back to the game- after the first goal the emotions were running high in the stadium and everything was going United's way. This was the time to go for the throat and suffocate Dallas's defense and hopefully go into the half with a 2 goal lead. Again, the way to beat Dallas is to hit them early, hard and often. We got the early and hard part down (Olsen's goal has teh potential to take the wind out of the opposing team). The trouble is that instead of an unrelently attack, we sat back and waiting for Dallas to come to us. When the only player in the attacking half of the field is Moreno and other players are only half-heartedly running into the attack, it does not bode well for the momentum of the game. Dallas's goal was as gorgeous as Olsen's. I keep wondering where Olsen and Carroll were when Ronnie O'Brien has that much room. I wonder if next time we'll leave him that open. Oh well. That was the game.
In the second half, the game calmed down and played out like two equal teams vying for first place. Both had great chances yet couldn't finish or were denied by the defense. It was a stand-off and no team could get the edge.
The result was a point apiece and both teams relinquishing first place to Kansas City who now holds first in the league by a point.
I'm being told that the US National Team announcement will be the next hour so I'm wrapping this up. Bruce Arena was obviously at the game and Olsen's performance was exceptional. I hope that he makes the team. Though he's not a starter, he's a leader in MLS and deserves a chance to show the world what he's made of.
I was at the game and the atmosphere was anticipatory. I felt like we were all waiting for a big win so that DC could be alone in first place. And I know that it was the decade's best celebration (or whatever it was called, pictures will be posted later in the week) but I can't help but wonder if the atmosphere had anything to do with needing every win to maintain first in the league. Right before the presentation, there was a video montage of the first 10 years. I almost forgot the time when even the upper tier of RFK was full. I wonder what will happen in a new stadium when we reach capacity. Will ticket prices rise? Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.
Anyways, DC United came out of the gates firing on all cylinders. I said to myself before the game that we have to take them out of the game early and never let them back in it. FC Dallas has never been a team where we could just sit back and essentially outlast them by waiting for the counterattack.
United started the game really well. Passes were fluid, runs were in sync and the "wave" style of offense was being executed well. The United "wave" offense starts by the build up of a play either from the wing (Adu or Gros) or centrally (Carroll, Olsen, Gomez) and the ball ends up at the feet of the forwards. The forwards either turn and eventually shoot (first wave) or lay it off. Either way if it isn't a goal, the second wave (usually Gomez, Adu, Gros and occasionally Eskandarian if he's not part of the 1st wave) takes a shot on goal when the ball is laid off, as was the case for Ben Olsen's gorgeous goal, or passes it out wide for a cross back in. In the latter situation, the third wave comes into play. The third wave can include anyone from the first two waves and either Erpen or even Boswell on set pieces. Their role is clean up crew or on crosses heading the ball into the net, obviously. As a sidenote the term "wave" doesn't refer to waves of certain players, but waves of pressure. The main point is that if the first chance doesn't work there are players pouncing on the rebound to take a chance and there is a cycling (or waves) of lines of attack until a goal or we lose the ball. It's a little hard to grasp (and explain) in words but take note and look for it during the next game and it'll make more sense.
Back to the game- after the first goal the emotions were running high in the stadium and everything was going United's way. This was the time to go for the throat and suffocate Dallas's defense and hopefully go into the half with a 2 goal lead. Again, the way to beat Dallas is to hit them early, hard and often. We got the early and hard part down (Olsen's goal has teh potential to take the wind out of the opposing team). The trouble is that instead of an unrelently attack, we sat back and waiting for Dallas to come to us. When the only player in the attacking half of the field is Moreno and other players are only half-heartedly running into the attack, it does not bode well for the momentum of the game. Dallas's goal was as gorgeous as Olsen's. I keep wondering where Olsen and Carroll were when Ronnie O'Brien has that much room. I wonder if next time we'll leave him that open. Oh well. That was the game.
In the second half, the game calmed down and played out like two equal teams vying for first place. Both had great chances yet couldn't finish or were denied by the defense. It was a stand-off and no team could get the edge.
The result was a point apiece and both teams relinquishing first place to Kansas City who now holds first in the league by a point.
I'm being told that the US National Team announcement will be the next hour so I'm wrapping this up. Bruce Arena was obviously at the game and Olsen's performance was exceptional. I hope that he makes the team. Though he's not a starter, he's a leader in MLS and deserves a chance to show the world what he's made of.
posted by SccrPlaya at 4:00 PM
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