America’s version of Super Sunday took place this weekend with national television network ABC broadcasting the final of Euro 2008 live from Vienna. Before that, a chance to showcase Major League Soccer was tagged on as D.C. United faced Los Angeles Galaxy in the capital.
A crowd of 35,979 showed up at RFK Stadium for D.C.’s “Beckham Match” showing that there is still some pulling power in MLS’s chief marketing asset. D.C.’s average attendance to date this season was 18,651. The great hope is that many of those additional customers lured by the hype will become regular attendees. Worrying though, at the height of the media blitz when Beckham arrived last summer this same fixture attracted 46,686 fans for the Englishman’s MLS debut. It seems 11,000 people left unimpressed.
There was much in the performance of D.C. United yesterday to entice those floating fans back through the turnstiles. If it was Beckham they showed up to watch it is unlikely they will return. Yet again he produced an insipid display fit for a pre-season testimonial as his Galaxy team were torn apart 4-1 by a vastly-improved United. The score could have reached double figures but for an outstanding display by Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin.
Galaxy fell behind as early as the fifth minute. Midfielder Ante Jazic clumsily conceded a penalty for a challenge on D.C. winger Santino Quaranta and former Middlesbrough player Jaime Moreno, one of the best penalty takers in the game, coolly slotted his side in front.
Much of Beckham’s early touches came from just inside his own half on the right touchline. Too often though his speculative 50 yard punts in the direction of Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle were soaked up by D.C.’s well prepared back line. The Englishman was literally dragged kicking and screaming into action in the 15th minute after losing possession to a tough Moreno challenge in midfield. His retaliatory hack at Moreno went unpunished by the referee, though the Bolivian swiftly took revenge by unceremoniously dumping Beckham to the turf.
Beckham’s finest moment came in the 21st minute when he was allowed space on the right wing to pick out Donovan in the penalty area. The USA’s leading goalscorer finished in style at the near post but was correctly judged to be offside by the assistant referee.
Galaxy equalised five minutes later. Buddle again came up with the goods after good play between Chris Klien and Donovan created the chance. He still required strength and perseverance to work the opening before maintaining his poise to beat Zach Wells. Buddle has scored ten goal in the last seven games as he continues to grow in influence on Ruud Gullit’s side.
Buddle turned provider minutes later as he set Donovan through on goal, but his difficult looped header failed to beat Wells. This proved to be Galaxy’s last meaningful attack of the match as D.C. took complete control.
United’s lead was restored on 37 minutes and it was no surprise that it came down their left side. Marc Burch, on as an early replacement for the injured Quaranta, latched on to an overhit pass in acres of space and shaped to cross. As Beckham lazily trotted over before stopping five yards short of Burch to jump with his back turned, the substitute picked out Luciano Emilio who looped a brilliant header back across Cronin into the far corner.
Defending of that nature would be castigated at schoolboy level, but it seems you get a free pass if you are an iconic celebrity. Posters on L.A. Galaxy fan messageboards inconceivably blamed Cronin for the goal although John Harkes, the former Sheffield Wednesday and US international midfielder, almost broke media protocol from the commentators’ booth by suggesting that Beckham’s token effort was “something you don’t want to do”.
Marcelo Gallardo, D.C.’s designated player, was fortunate to remain on the pitch after an ugly clash minutes before the interval. As the veteran Argentine shielded the ball from a hustling Donovan, he threw his arms up to appeal for a foul. Knowing his opponent was on his shoulder, it also looked as though he had intended to catch the Galaxy man with his motion. He succeeded, and an irate Donovan was restrained by his team-mates as he left the field for treatment to stem his bloody nose.
The opening stages of the second half saw Gallardo badly off-target with two clear chances. In between, Brazilian forward Fred squandered another opportunity by shooting straight at Cronin when sent free on the left. Gallardo was presented with a third chance on 59 minutes when a lucky ricochet sent him clear of the beleaguered Galaxy defender Sean Franklin. This time he made no mistake.
Burch rattled the crossbar with a thunderous free kick on 63 minutes before Emilio wrapped up the scoring five minutes later with his second goal after Gallardo and Fred had sliced through Galaxy’s exposed rearguard. Last season’s MVP did not complete his hat-trick due to the heroics of Cronin. The Galaxy goalkeeper made a number of great saves in the final 20 minutes as D.C.’s attack rained down on him. Rod Dyachenko and Burch also had their efforts foiled.
The biggest cheer of the day, however, was reserved for the returning Ben Olsen. After further ankle surgery in the off-season which prompted fears of an early retirement, the popular midfielder took to the field for the first time this season with the game wrapped up.
By that stage, The English Tourist could not even muster the effort to cross the field to take corners from the left side.
Week 14 Results
Houston 1 Dallas 1 (Hoops win "El Capitan" series trophy for 1st time on away goals)
Columbus 2 Colorado 1 (Impressive first goal from young Nigerian Ekpo wins game)
New England 2 Toronto 1 (Revs hang on to remain four points clear)
Kansas City 1 Salt Lake 0 (Late own goal gives Wizards first win in over two months)
Chicago 0 San Jose 0 (Fire's stuttering form continues)
Chivas 1 New York 1 (Goldthwaite error gifts Chivas an equaliser)
D.C. United 4 L.A. Galaxy 1
Standings
Eastern Conference
1) New England 30 points (played 16)
2) Columbus 26 (14)
3) D.C. United 22 (15)
4) Toronto 21 (14)
5) Chicago 20 (13)
6) New York 20 (14)
7) Kansas City 16 (13)
Western Conference
1) L.A. Galaxy 21 (14)
2) Salt Lake 19 (15)
3) Houston 19 (15)
4) Chivas 18 (14)
5) Dallas 17 (15)
6) Colorado 16 (14)
7) San Jose 12 (14)
A crowd of 35,979 showed up at RFK Stadium for D.C.’s “Beckham Match” showing that there is still some pulling power in MLS’s chief marketing asset. D.C.’s average attendance to date this season was 18,651. The great hope is that many of those additional customers lured by the hype will become regular attendees. Worrying though, at the height of the media blitz when Beckham arrived last summer this same fixture attracted 46,686 fans for the Englishman’s MLS debut. It seems 11,000 people left unimpressed.
There was much in the performance of D.C. United yesterday to entice those floating fans back through the turnstiles. If it was Beckham they showed up to watch it is unlikely they will return. Yet again he produced an insipid display fit for a pre-season testimonial as his Galaxy team were torn apart 4-1 by a vastly-improved United. The score could have reached double figures but for an outstanding display by Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin.
Galaxy fell behind as early as the fifth minute. Midfielder Ante Jazic clumsily conceded a penalty for a challenge on D.C. winger Santino Quaranta and former Middlesbrough player Jaime Moreno, one of the best penalty takers in the game, coolly slotted his side in front.
Much of Beckham’s early touches came from just inside his own half on the right touchline. Too often though his speculative 50 yard punts in the direction of Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle were soaked up by D.C.’s well prepared back line. The Englishman was literally dragged kicking and screaming into action in the 15th minute after losing possession to a tough Moreno challenge in midfield. His retaliatory hack at Moreno went unpunished by the referee, though the Bolivian swiftly took revenge by unceremoniously dumping Beckham to the turf.
Beckham’s finest moment came in the 21st minute when he was allowed space on the right wing to pick out Donovan in the penalty area. The USA’s leading goalscorer finished in style at the near post but was correctly judged to be offside by the assistant referee.
Galaxy equalised five minutes later. Buddle again came up with the goods after good play between Chris Klien and Donovan created the chance. He still required strength and perseverance to work the opening before maintaining his poise to beat Zach Wells. Buddle has scored ten goal in the last seven games as he continues to grow in influence on Ruud Gullit’s side.
Buddle turned provider minutes later as he set Donovan through on goal, but his difficult looped header failed to beat Wells. This proved to be Galaxy’s last meaningful attack of the match as D.C. took complete control.
United’s lead was restored on 37 minutes and it was no surprise that it came down their left side. Marc Burch, on as an early replacement for the injured Quaranta, latched on to an overhit pass in acres of space and shaped to cross. As Beckham lazily trotted over before stopping five yards short of Burch to jump with his back turned, the substitute picked out Luciano Emilio who looped a brilliant header back across Cronin into the far corner.
Defending of that nature would be castigated at schoolboy level, but it seems you get a free pass if you are an iconic celebrity. Posters on L.A. Galaxy fan messageboards inconceivably blamed Cronin for the goal although John Harkes, the former Sheffield Wednesday and US international midfielder, almost broke media protocol from the commentators’ booth by suggesting that Beckham’s token effort was “something you don’t want to do”.
Marcelo Gallardo, D.C.’s designated player, was fortunate to remain on the pitch after an ugly clash minutes before the interval. As the veteran Argentine shielded the ball from a hustling Donovan, he threw his arms up to appeal for a foul. Knowing his opponent was on his shoulder, it also looked as though he had intended to catch the Galaxy man with his motion. He succeeded, and an irate Donovan was restrained by his team-mates as he left the field for treatment to stem his bloody nose.
The opening stages of the second half saw Gallardo badly off-target with two clear chances. In between, Brazilian forward Fred squandered another opportunity by shooting straight at Cronin when sent free on the left. Gallardo was presented with a third chance on 59 minutes when a lucky ricochet sent him clear of the beleaguered Galaxy defender Sean Franklin. This time he made no mistake.
Burch rattled the crossbar with a thunderous free kick on 63 minutes before Emilio wrapped up the scoring five minutes later with his second goal after Gallardo and Fred had sliced through Galaxy’s exposed rearguard. Last season’s MVP did not complete his hat-trick due to the heroics of Cronin. The Galaxy goalkeeper made a number of great saves in the final 20 minutes as D.C.’s attack rained down on him. Rod Dyachenko and Burch also had their efforts foiled.
The biggest cheer of the day, however, was reserved for the returning Ben Olsen. After further ankle surgery in the off-season which prompted fears of an early retirement, the popular midfielder took to the field for the first time this season with the game wrapped up.
By that stage, The English Tourist could not even muster the effort to cross the field to take corners from the left side.
Week 14 Results
Houston 1 Dallas 1 (Hoops win "El Capitan" series trophy for 1st time on away goals)
Columbus 2 Colorado 1 (Impressive first goal from young Nigerian Ekpo wins game)
New England 2 Toronto 1 (Revs hang on to remain four points clear)
Kansas City 1 Salt Lake 0 (Late own goal gives Wizards first win in over two months)
Chicago 0 San Jose 0 (Fire's stuttering form continues)
Chivas 1 New York 1 (Goldthwaite error gifts Chivas an equaliser)
D.C. United 4 L.A. Galaxy 1
Standings
Eastern Conference
1) New England 30 points (played 16)
2) Columbus 26 (14)
3) D.C. United 22 (15)
4) Toronto 21 (14)
5) Chicago 20 (13)
6) New York 20 (14)
7) Kansas City 16 (13)
Western Conference
1) L.A. Galaxy 21 (14)
2) Salt Lake 19 (15)
3) Houston 19 (15)
4) Chivas 18 (14)
5) Dallas 17 (15)
6) Colorado 16 (14)
7) San Jose 12 (14)
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