For 25 minutes, D.C. United attacked the Chicago Fire unrelentingly. They poured all of their efforts forward, creating chance after chance. In the process, they scored the two goals they needed to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. Unfortunately, United’s disjointed play during the preceding 70 minutes allowed Chicago to tally two goals of their own, earning them the 2-2 tie, the 3-2 series victory on aggregate, and a ticket to the next round.

United came into the game knowing that Chicago would likely sit back and defend their one-goal aggregate lead. In the opening minute, the home side almost cracked the defense when a string of passes landed the ball at the feet of Luciano Emilio. The MVP candidate’s weak shot was easily handled by goalkeeper Matt Pickens. That first-minute chance stood out as one of the lone bright spots in United’s first half.

The Fire’s speedy midfield denied United space going forward, while their imposing back line cut off long services before they could reach their intended targets. Though United held possession for most of the first half, they could do little to threaten Pickens’ goal. Chicago, in contrast, made the most of their possession time. Mexican midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco played to his reputation: quick passes, great field vision, and reprehensibly poor sportsmanship (I counted at least four dives in the first half alone).

Photos by Kyle Gustafson