In front of a hostile crowd at Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara, D.C. United achieved a dream start in the 36th minute. Unfortunately for United, the MLS drought on Mexican soil was not to be extinguished as Chivas drew even before the half and eventual netted the game winner in the second half, earning a trip to the CONCACAF Champion’s Cup Finals on 3-2 aggregate.
From early on in the first half, United played more aggressively than they did in their home leg two and a half weeks ago. Their aggression proved fruitful in the 36th minute when Jaime Moreno played a ball forward to Luciano Emilio. Emilio managed to get the ball back to Moreno at the top of the box. Though Moreno’s back was to the goal, the Bolivian International showed great poise and awareness, realizing that goalkeeper Luis Michel was out of position. Moreno touched the ball into the air and delivered an impeccably placed bicycle kick over a Chivas defender and into the upper right portion of the goal.
Chivas would not allow United to go into halftime ahead. They kept pressing their attack, and eventually found goal when Alberto Medina beat Facundo Erpen to a ball near United’s endline and crossed to Bofo Bautista, who one-timed a shot past Troy Perkins. In the 52nd minute, Chivas struck again when a clearance fell to Gonzalo Piñeda about 35 yards out. He struck a whistler reminiscent of one of Facundo Erpen’s long range shots. The shot had loads of pace and was on net, but Perkins was in position to stop it. He didn’t. The GK tried to fist it over the crossbar, but did not get enough power in his punch and the ball fell flacidly into the back of the net.
United would be unable to level the score and was forced to walk home empty-handed. The obvious goat of the match would be Troy Perkins. He was out of position on Chivas’ first goal when he indecisively took a few steps towards Medina’s ball. The second goal was a well-booted strike, but Perkins flat-out missed the save. To remember only these two instances would be an injustice to him, however, as he made several tremendous stops throughout the match, including a couple on breakaways that looked like sure goals. Still, we imagine Perkins and the rest of United are shaking their heads this morning.
Briefly Noted: Newly acquired F/M Fred made his United debut last night in the second half… Josh Gros left the game in the 29th minute with a possible concussion… United begins MLS play this Saturday in Colorado. The game will be nationally televised on ABC.
Photo by Kyle Gustafson
