saves for United in a big 1-0 win yesterday.
(Danny Moloshok/Associated Press)
Capitals 3, Predators 2: The Caps won in a dramatic shootout — we’ll have a full recap tomorrow.
United 1, Columbus 0: New loanee Steve Cronin — the fourth goalkeeper to start between the sticks for United this season — produced a fine effort, denying several Columbus strikes on goal, helping United hold on to whatever hope they had left at a berth in the playoffs with a 1-0 win on Saturday night in front of 16,274 soaked, but vociferous-as-usual fans at RFK Stadium. The ugly weather certainly was the star of the match, causing numerous problems; whether it was Crew keeper William Hesmer flubbing a Christian Gomez’s long-range effort, a tricky sopping patch on the left side of the goal which Columbus always seemed to be crossing from, no predictability on usually elementary passes, or just players slipping and falling into each other. Luciano Emilio didn’t so much mind the rain though — a fortuitous bounce in midfield allowed Clyde Simms to maintain possession, pass to Boyzzz Khumalo, who then fed through to Emilio, who deftly chipped over Hesmer. The field as it was, you got the feeling that one goal would probably be enough — the players were having a hard time standing up straight, let alone putting together finesse passing or striking cleanly. And so it was, despite a barrage of chances for the men in yellow; Columbus’ frustration with United’s timely defending culminated in the 83rd minute, when Emilio Renteria was sent off after brutishly kicking defender Julius James after conceding a goal kick. Of course, the Crew have already made the playoffs, so they could spare the poor result — but United, after so many disappointments, finally won a game it had to. Now the season all hinges on an away fixture with Kansas City and sheer fate.
And as usual, here’s how the local college football teams fared.
