D.C. United fielded a reserve-heavy squad on Wednesday evening at RFK Stadium, but ended up relying on two big names to get the job done against Panamanian side Tauro FC in CONCACAF Champions League play.
Chris Pontius and Eddie Johnson notched goals as United cruised to a 2-0 victory over Tauro, in the process winning their CCL group and advancing to the competition’s knockout phase, which will take place in Spring of 2015.
The loss—Tauro’s 8th consecutive defeat in CCL play—dashed their slim chance of advancing beyond the group stage. The two teams will meet again on October 21st in the final group stage match for both clubs, a game that will carry little meaning for Tauro but affords D.C. the opportunity of claiming one of the top four seeds in the knockout phase.
United were active from the onset, possessing the ball at will and nearly grabbing the opening goal on a handful of occasions in the first half.
Playing in front of a scant crowd of 2,576—mid-week games rarely do well at RFK, let alone mid-week games in a steady drizzle when there’s a Nationals game scheduled and United are playing a Panamanian team few have ever heard of—United got their first chance at goal 11 minutes in.
Former Seattle Sounder David Estrada whipped a cross into the box, finding Chris Pontius about seven yards from goal. Pontius, who made his first start in nearly a year after recovering from a hamstring ailment, nodded the ball goalward, his effort skimming inches clear of the far post.
Caskey took another swing at opening the scoring nine minutes later when he swung another cross into the area, this one inadvertently finding Tauro defender Christian Lopez three yards from goal. A last-second intervention by a fellow defender saved Lopez’ deflection from being an own goal.
United’s barrage continued: in the 38th minute, Pontius rolled a free kick towards midfielder Jared Jeffrey, who’s blistering attempt from 25 yards out clanged loudly off the near post. Against the run of play, Tauro struck some woodwork of their own three minutes later when midfielder Ismael Diaz’ swerving shot went over the outstretched arms of United keeper Joe Willis and smacked off the crossbar.
D.C. found the correct side of the post in the 49th minute. Ghanian international Samuel Inkoom powered a cross into the area. Pontius was there, nodding a header by Tauro keeper Erick Hughes. In the 53rd, second half substitute Eddie Johnson—playing his first match in three weeks after recovering from a concussion—doubled United’s lead, running onto an Estrada back heel and one-timing it off the underside of the crossbar and into goal. The strike was Johnson’s second tally in as many games in the tournament.
Through to the next round, United will turn their attention back to more pressing matters: welcoming the Philadelphia Union to RFK on Saturday (at 3 p.m.) and attempting to clinch a berth in the 2015 edition of CCL by finishing atop the Eastern Conference.
