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D.C. United exits CONCACAF Champions League D.C. United exits CONCACAF Champions League
(about 1 hour later)
D.C. United began the night in a tight spot. Four minutes into Tuesday’s match against Mexico’s Queretaro, it put itself in a far tighter one. D.C. United began the night in a tight spot. Four minutes into Tuesday’s match against Queretaro, United put itself in an even tighter one.
An early conceded goal cost United all realistic hope of advancing to the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals and, for all practical purposes, rendered the final 86 minutes a training exercise for Sunday’s MLS season opener against the Los Angeles Galaxy. By conceding an early goal to its Mexican opponent, United lost all hope of advancing to the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals and, for all practical purposes, rendered the last 86 minutes a training exercise for Sunday’s MLS season opener against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Ahead by two goals after last week’s first leg at home, Queretaro struck first in front of 10,790 at RFK Stadium and happily accepted a 1-1 draw for a 3-1 aggregate victory. Ahead by two goals after last week’s first leg at home, Queretaro struck first in front of 10,790 at RFK Stadium and, from there, happily accepted a 1-1 draw for a 3-1 aggregate victory.
Julian Buescher, a first-round draft pick from Syracuse, scored for United on a magnificent shot from 30 yards in the 84th minute. Julian Buescher, a first-round draft pick from Syracuse, scored for United in the 84th minute on a magnificent shot from 30 yards. United, though, would have had to score three more times to continue on in the tournament, which features clubs from North and Central America and the Caribbean.
United, though, would have had to score three more times to continue on in the tournament, which features clubs from North and Central America and the Caribbean. “They are two very good preseason games to prepare us for the MLS season,” Coach Ben Olsen said. “I’ve asked the guys to take away and learn some of the lessons from the two games, but also to put it to bed and get excited about the MLS season. We’re 0-0-0. Losses are tough, but it’s over.”
A week after loss that was nonetheless an encouraging performance at altitude against an in-season foe, United was sloppy at the start on Tuesday, as Angel Sepulveda scored without disruption in the fourth minute to increase Queretaro’s overall advantage to 3-0. [D.C. United smartphones stolen] [Queretaro claims they were not taken from stadium]
Ben Olsen tinkered with the lineup, dropping Luciano Acosta, the Argentine newcomer who had performed well in the first leg. The team said before the match that he was not injured. Acosta did end up entering early in the second half, but by then, the outcome of the series had been settled. A week after an encouraging performance at altitude against an in-season foe, United was sloppy at the start on Tuesday, as Angel Sepulveda scored in the fourth minute to increase Queretaro’s overall advantage to 3-0.
Chris Rolfe and Fabian Espindola partnered on the frontline, and Rob Vincent, a new signing from the third-division Pittsburgh Riverhounds, started on the left flank. Sepulveda’s goal rekindled unkind memories from 2015, when United allowed a batch of early goals in league play.
In the opener, United kept its shape and managed the match for 70 minutes before allowing two goals. In the return leg, it crumbled right away. “We shot ourselves in the foot,” left back Taylor Kemp said. “We knew we couldn’t give up a goal. We gave one up in [four] minutes. It makes it really easy for them.”
Antonio “Sinha” Naelson dodged Taylor Kemp’s challenge on the right wing and swung a high cross into the penalty area. Both Steve Birnbaum and Sean Franklin drifted toward Edgar Benitez on the back side. Neither got there. Benitez headed the ball back to the unmarked Sepulveda for a nine-yard one-timer into the left corner. In the first leg, United kept its shape and managed the match for 70 minutes before allowing two goals, the first coming on a sensational strike by Yerson Candelo. In the return leg, D.C. crumbled right away.
Because Queretaro had secured the away-goal tiebreaker, United would have to score four goals — an unfeasible task. Antonio “Sinha” Naelson evaded Taylor Kemp’s challenge on the right wing and swung a high cross into the penalty area. Both Steve Birnbaum and Sean Franklin drifted toward Edgar Benitez on the back side. Neither got there. Benitez headed the ball back to the unmarked Sepulveda for a nine-yard one-timer into the left corner.
United’s tournament was going to end, but not for lack of effort. United stuck to the plan. Marcelo Sarvas tested goalkeeper Tiago Volpi from distance in the 11th minute and D.C. created a bit of havoc in the penalty area with speculative service. “All of a sudden, game’s over,” Olsen said. “Just like that.”
By and large, though, United performed like a team that had opened training camp 5½ weeks ago and had played one serious match since November. With chemistry and rhythm in the developmental stages, most everything United mustered came from effort and resolve. The game wasn’t over, in reality, but the series very much was. Beyond the aggregate goal count, Queretaro had also secured the away-goal tiebreaker.
Queretaro did not fall into a defensive bunker but did not attack with any urgency either. “It’s pretty unacceptable to give up a goal that early,” Birnbaum said. “It was devastating.”
Espindola had two golden chances early in the second half, but Volpi disrupted his crafty run into the box and the Argentine poked a shot a whisker wide of the left post. Olsen had tinkered with the lineup, dropping attacker Luciano Acosta, who had performed well in the first leg. As agreed upon when he signed three weeks ago, Acosta returned to Argentina after the match in Mexico in order to pack up his family for a permanent move to Washington. He did not report back to the District until the weekend, and the absence had left him ill-prepared to start again.
In the 55th minute, Patrick Nyarko drew a penalty kick. But Rolfe’s bid lacked direction and polish, allowing Volpi to slide to his right and block the shot as if it were a routine play. He ended up entering early in the second half. By then, the outcome of the series had been settled.
Still gaining fitness after missing parts of preseason with tendinitis, Rolfe, United’s leading scorer in 2015, left the match in the 59th minute. He came off at a similar point in the first leg, as well. [D.C. United signs U.S. under-23 goalie Charlie Horton]
Acosta entered and, over the last 30-plus minutes, buzzed with activity in attempting to work combinations with Espindola. United did make the effort. By and large, though, United performed like what it was: a team that had opened training camp 5½ weeks ago and played one serious match since November. With chemistry and rhythm in the developmental stages, most everything United mustered came from effort and resolve.
Olsen turned to the bench again in the 66th minute, resting Nick DeLeon and giving Markus Halsti his first action of the series. Later, Buescher came on for Sarvas and pumped a swerving shot into the upper right corner. In the 55th minute, Patrick Nyarko drew a penalty kick. Rolfe’s bid, however, lacked direction and polish, allowing Tiago Volpi to slide to his right and block the shot as if it were a routine play.
United notes: Charlie Horton, a U.S. under-23 national team goalkeeper, has signed with the club. A formal announcement is expected this week. Horton, 21, left England’s Leeds United last fall. . . . Still gaining fitness after missing parts of preseason with tendinitis, Rolfe, United’s leading scorer in 2015, left in the 59th minute. He came off at a similar point in the first leg, as well.
The Scottish Sun reported former D.C. midfielder Perry Kitchen will sign with Hearts, which is in third place in Scotland’s top-tier league. Kitchen’s contract with United expired Dec. 31, and he declined an offer that would have more than doubled his MLS base salary. Buescher took advantage of a second-half appearance by pumping a swerving shot into the upper right corner.
“We’ve got a lot to look forward to,” Olsen said. “We’ve got a lot of great pieces. It’s up to me to figure out which ones are best with each other and mold this group into a very competitive team, which I think it can be.”
United note: The Scottish Sun reported former D.C. midfielder Perry Kitchen will sign with Hearts, which is in third place in Scotland’s top-tier league. Kitchen’s contract with United expired Dec. 31, and he declined an offer that would have more than doubled his MLS base salary.