United Gets Perfect Result Over Tired Marathon, 3-0

Soehn, stretched by injuries, selected a patchwork back line, pairing newcomers Lawson Vaughn and Julius James with veteran Avery John. But the three had little work to do, as the tired Marathon appeared relegated to counter attacking, in order to reduce the amount of tracking back they'd have to do. And while the green-clad visitors moments where they seemed dangerous, United bossed possession and had the run of play throughout the first half. Soehn noted that United had been working on using more of the field in practice, and that showed, as the players seemed to be more willing to stretch certain areas of the field, especially down the wide flanks.

But it was a difficult start for Emilio. He first blew a great chance in the sixth minute, when Quaranta played in a gorgeous ball from the left flank, and Emilio was sent free in on goal after a wonderful header by Pontius. But Emilio tripped and flubbed the chance. Then, in the 10th, he blocked Chris Pontius' shot off a Quaranta corner. Although he seemed to settle, his chances -- like almost putting in a pretty volley off a low corner -- went agonizingly high and wide.

"It was very difficult for me because I missed two or three opportunities in the first half," said Emilio. "Everybody pushed me up, and I thank my teammates for the support."

Other players certainly had their chances to put up some goals though in what was a frustrating first half; Ben Olsen and Rodney Wallace both had efforts go inches above the crossbar in the first half hour, and Wallace forced a brilliant save from Juan Obelar after dribbling his way into close range. United really began to pour on the pressure toward the end of the second half. Marathon's backline had tired legs, and Ti Shipalane and Emilio both found free space in between, but neither could convert.

United carried the momentum into the second half, which was immediately more productive.

In the 47th minute, Emilio atoned for his earlier errors, getting on the end of a nice -- but terribly defended -- cross from John, and expertly placing his header to the back post. It was certainly nothing less than United deserved -- and from that point on, the floodgates opened. Jaime Moreno, who had entered in a rare substitution a minute before the end of the first half, grabbed the all-important second goal in the 51st minute, United looking like they would simply pass the ball into the back of the net. Emilio then capped his evening with a breakaway, calmly dispatched by a player whom United desperately needs to come back around.

On Emilio's resiliency, Soehn was encouraged. "It's always important for a striker to get the confidence in scoring; when things didn't go well in the first half, I give [Emilio] a lot of credit for fighting through that and being the difference maker in the second."

In truth, it could have been six or seven for United, and the frustration of Marathon showed at the end of the game, when a foul by Jaime Moreno raised the ire of the Hondurans. Moreno's foolish reaction saw him sent off, and while it was certainly not the classiest move in history, one couldn't help but smile to see the Bolivian signaling "3-0" with his fingers while walking past the small contingent of Marathon fans on his way out.