SB Nation DC - MLS Playoffs 2012: D.C. United ties Houston Dynamo 1-1, loses aggregate 4-2https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2012-11-19T09:30:30-05:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/33469572012-11-19T09:30:30-05:002012-11-19T09:30:30-05:00Match Ratings From United's Season-Ending Draw
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<figcaption>Patrick McDermott</figcaption>
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<p>D.C. United had a lot to overcome in the second leg against Houston at RFK, but could only manage a 1-1 draw in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Finals to fall on aggregate, 4-2. </p> <p><a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">D.C. United</a> had to overcome what seemed like an insurmountable deficit heading into the second leg of the Eastern Conference Finals. They also had to do it without the services of <span>Andy Najar</span> who was finishing up his three-match ban for throwing a ball at a referee. Oh, and the injuries, don't forget the injuries. <span>Chris Pontius</span> was out for the game. <span>Brandon McDonald</span> was in the 18, but was unable to go. <span>Dwayne De Rosario</span> was in the 18, but only came on for the final thirty minutes.</p>
<p>"Pontius would have been a question for the final... Brandon [McDonald] maybe could've played, but I wasn't using a defensive sub." Head Coach Ben Olsen said after the game.</p>
<p>Things were made worse when United conceded the opening goal of the game. Two goals to tie in regulation -- three to win -- was difficult enough, but a three-goal hole was too much to overcome. United were able to pull one back in the 83rd minute after some amazing skill on the ball by <span>Branko Boskovic</span>, and had multiple opportunities for other goals but couldn't convert en route to the 4-2 aggregate loss.</p>
<p>"We talked about keeping a zero [on the scoreboard], and we knew we had to score, but we had to keep them off the board," said Olsen.</p>
<h4><b>Starters Match Ratings:</b></h4>
<p>GK <span>Bill Hamid</span> - 7.5</p>
<p>Hamid was great and really could not have done a thing about Garcia's goal. He made a few big saves, including a save on a one-on-one chance that could have made United's hole even deeper. United will be lucky to hold on to Hamid through the winter.</p>
<p>DEF <span>Robbie Russell</span> - 7</p>
<p>Russell started at Right Back, but moved farther and farther up the pitch as the game wore on. He was solid going forward on Sunday, much more so than he had shown of late. He wasn't asked to do much defending, but did a decent job when he had to defend.</p>
<p>DEF <span>Dejan Jakovic</span> - 4.5</p>
<p>Jakovic was rough in defense Sunday night. He had a few turnovers and gave up a two-on-one situation that he was eventually bailed out of. He missed a tackle that lead to the lone Dynamo goal. Not his best performance.</p>
<p>DEF <span>Emiliano Dudar</span> - 5.5</p>
<p>Dudar played only slightly better than his center back partner, but he gets a full point higher because he bailed Jakovic out on that two-on-one situation. Dudar was subbed off, but looked like he still had some energy left in him.</p>
<p>DEF <span>Chris Korb</span> - 8</p>
<p>Korb was partially responsible for the goal, in the sense that he was standing around and not contributing to stopping the attack. Korb, however, was responsible for a few chances he created and helped create. He was a close second for man of the match.</p>
<p>MID <span>Marcelo Saragosa</span> - 4.5</p>
<p>Saragosa was injured, to what extent I don't know (no translator was around), and he looked injured and incapable of giving his all. Olsen didn't have a lot of options on the bench for his spot, but Saragosa probably should have been dropped given how he looked on the pitch.</p>
<p>MID <span>Perry Kitchen</span> - 7</p>
<p>Kitchen broke up a few Houston attacks and helped in United's attack when he could. He played a large part in the game despite a lack of stats to back it up. He looked much better than Saragosa and had to pick up a lot of the slack.</p>
<p>MID <span>Nick DeLeon</span> - 7</p>
<p>DeLeon was all over the pitch Sunday evening. He started on the left side, but was going all over the pitch and attacking wherever he could. He seemed to settle in on the right side in the second half and was able to attack better on that side.</p>
<p>MID Branko Boskovic - 8.5</p>
<p>He scored. He went the full ninety. He put in some beautiful balls on set pieces. He's the Man of the Match in a game that needed the creativity he was able to provide.</p>
<p>FWD Lionard Pajoy - 4</p>
<p>He was very solid for the first 25 minutes of the game. He was able to hold the ball up, and do the little things that make people say "He does the little things well." Then, over the next 20 minutes, none of those things were happening. He was onside on one play, but stopped because he -- naturally -- assumed he would have been offside.</p>
<p>FWD Maicon Santos - 5.5</p>
<p>Provided better -- and more consistent -- hold up play than Pajoy. He also added more to the attack, in the sense that he would attack. He wasn't able to get many shots on goal tonight, but he had two headers that troubled <span>Tally Hall</span>.</p>
<h4><b>Subs:</b></h4>
<p>MID <span>Lewis Neal</span> - 5.5</p>
<p>Neal did a good job helping in the attack. He did, however, fail to get any of his many shots on goal.</p>
<p>FWD <span>Hamdi Salihi</span> - 4</p>
<p>Olsen said after the game that Salihi was rusty and had he had more game time he might have converted one of the chances he had on the evening. That seems like something Olsen would have had responsibility over. In any event, Salihi was rusty, at best.</p>
<p>MID/FWD Dwayne De Rosario - Incomplete</p>
<p>It's tough to grade De Rosario on the night. He played. He wasn't that beaten up and he held his own for thirty minutes. That in itself is a victory for the embattled former MVP. After the game De Rosario was beaten up over the season being over and was overcome with emotion that he ended his media session with tears.</p>
<h4>Highlights:</h4>
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https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/11/19/3664866/houston-dynamo-vs-d-c-united-match-ratings-from-uniteds-season-endingBrendan Darr2012-11-18T18:19:42-05:002012-11-18T18:19:42-05:00United draw Dynamo 1-1, fall 4-2 on aggregate
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<p><a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">D.C. United</a> and the <a href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Dynamo</a> played to a 1-1 draw at RFK Stadium on Sunday, but the Dynamo advanced to the MLS Cup final for the second straight season as they defeated United, 4-2, on aggregate.</p>
<p>The Dynamo had a big advantage coming into Sunday's match after a 3-1 victory in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Championship. Houston added to that advantage on a <span>Boniek Garcia</span> goal in the 33rd minute. United could not manage enough shots on net to overcome the the aggregate lead or tie to send the second leg to extra time. <span>Branko Boskovic</span> scored United's goal in the 83rd minute but it was too little too late for the hosts.</p>
<p>United was the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and defeated the New York Red Bulls in the semifinals before being upset by the No. 5 seed Houston Dynamo. The Dynamo will be playing in their fourth MLS final in seven years. D.C. United achieved that feat with finals appearances in 1996-1999.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/11/18/3663412/houston-dynamo-dc-united-final-score-eastern-conference-championshipPat Johnston2012-11-18T17:23:38-05:002012-11-18T17:23:38-05:00United needs 3 after falling behind, 1-0, at half
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<figcaption>Bob Levey</figcaption>
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<p>D.C. United needs three goals in 45 minutes to stave off elimination after giving up a goal in the first half of their Eastern Conference Championship match against Houston Dynamo. Houston now leads the aggregate-score series, 4-1.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/">D.C. United</a> fell even further behind in the Eastern Conference Championship as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a> took a 1-0 lead in the first half of Sunday's match.</p>
<p>When Sunday's match started, D.C. United needed a victory by at least two goals to send the Eastern Conference Championship into overtime.</p>
<p>That challenge got even tougher when Houston's Oscar Boniek Garcia scored in the 33rd minute on Sunday at RFK Memorial Stadium. Midfielder <span>Brad Davis</span> set up the goal, driving into the right side of the D.C. penalty area before cutting the ball back for the forward to drive past D.C. goalkeeper <span>Bill Hamid</span>. The goal put Houston ahead, 1-0, in the match and 4-1 in the two-game aggregate series.</p>
<p>United threw numbers forward early on in the match and had a number of chances come close only to be cleared by <span>Tally Hall</span> and the Houston defense.</p>
<p>D.C. will have to press even further in the final 45 minutes in an effort to erase what is now a 4-1 aggregate deficit.</p>
<p>The winner of the series will advance to play either <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a> or <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> in the MLS Cup Final.</p>
<p>Sunday's game is being broadcast on NBC Sports Network and Univision Deportes.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/d-c-united/2012/11/18/3663274/houston-dynamo-d-c-united-score-update-halftimeJohn.Wilkinson2012-11-18T13:52:23-05:002012-11-18T13:52:23-05:00DC United trying to make up 2-goal deficit at home
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<figcaption>Bob Levey</figcaption>
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<p>D.C. United host Houston Dynamo in the second leg of the aggregate-score Eastern Conference Championship. Houston leads the series 3-1 coming into Sunday's game at RFK Memorial Stadium.</p> <p>After months of regular season play and a playoff round victory, <a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">D.C. United</a> are just 90 minutes from having their 2012 season come to an end. A week ago, D.C lost 3-1 on the road in the first leg and now United host the <a href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Dynamo</a> Sunday in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Championship.</p>
<p>United needs to win Sunday's match by two goals to send the aggregate-score match to overtime, while a victory by three goals or more would send D.C. to the MLS Cup Final.</p>
<p>In the first leg a week ago, D.C. took and early lead through rookie striker <span>Nick DeLeon</span>. Houston stormed back from the first half deficit, scoring three goals infront of the home crowd to take a 3-1 lead in the series.</p>
<p>The biggest factor for D.C. in the second leg will be the health of players who have been battling injuries. The possible return of <span>Dwayne De Rosario</span> and <span>Chris Pontius</span>, who was subbed out after 12 minutes last week, could provide United with some help in pressing forward for the goals they need to make up the aggregate deficit.</p>
<p><b>Eastern Conference Championship – Second Leg</b></p>
<p>Where: RFK United Stadium</p>
<p>When: 4 p.m. ET</p>
<p>TV: NBC Sports Networks and Univision Deportes</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/d-c-united/2012/11/18/3662280/houston-dynamo-d-c-united-match-time-tv-schedule-previewJohn.Wilkinson2012-11-14T16:25:03-05:002012-11-14T16:25:03-05:00MLS referee boss: Hainault deserved red card
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<figcaption>Andre Hainault celebrates his second-half goal Sunday. | Bob Levey</figcaption>
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<p>Baldomero Toledo to work second leg at RFK Stadium Sunday. </p> <p>The general manager of the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) has said that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a> defender <span>Andre Hainault</span> should have been sent off by referee Ricardo Salazar in the first leg of the Eastern Conference final between <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/">D.C. United</a> and Houston this past Sunday. </p>
<p>Peter Walton, a former English Premier League referee, who is in his first season as PRO's general manager, released the following statement Wednesday afternoon. </p>
<blockquote>
<p>"From the angle I saw in the stadium I thought it was a foul.<br>"Had there been a foul called, and of course it wasn't, I would've expected a yellow card.<br>"Looking at it in real time, I thought the tracking defender [Houston's <span>Luiz Camargo</span>] could have influenced the outcome of that particular play. That was my opinion from seeing it in real time."<br>"In review of that play, my opinion has changed in as much as the defender, which I thought in real time would have influenced the play, clearly was behind the action and therefore the disciplinary sanction should have been a red card for denial of a goal scoring opportunity.<br>"I made the initial statement on my real time opinion without having the advantage of a replay. Having reviewed the replay, it is clear it ticks all the boxes for a denial of as goal scoring opportunity and a send-off should have been the outcome."</p>
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<p>The incident, seen above, occurred in first-half stoppage time, with United in front, 1-0. The reprieved Hainault went on to score the first of three second-half goals for Houston to give the Dynamo a 3-1 lead ahead of Sunday's second leg at RFK Stadium. </p>
<p>PRO is the organization responsible for managing the referee program in MLS, as well as other leagues in the U.S. and Canada. According<a href="http://proreferees.com/news-article.php?item=2"> to its website</a>, Baldomero Toledo has been assigned to referee the second leg, which begins at 4:00 p.m. and will be televised on the NBC Sports Network. </p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/11/14/3646318/2012-mls-playoffs-peter-walton-andre-hainault-raphael-augusto-dc-united-houston-dynamoSamuel Chamberlain2012-11-11T18:23:38-05:002012-11-11T18:23:38-05:00United wear down, lose first leg, 3-1
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<figcaption>Bob Levey</figcaption>
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<p>United have it all to do in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Final.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/">D.C. United</a> took an early lead in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Final against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a>, but injuries took their toll and the hosts scored three second-half goals to give the Dynamo a 3-1 advantage entering next Sunday's second leg at RFK Stadium.</p>
<p>United took the lead in the 27th minute as <span>Lionard Pajoy</span> ran clear of Houston's offside trap and curled a shot off Tally Hall's left post. However, rookie <span>Nick DeLeon</span> was first to the rebound and stroked it into the net.</p>
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<p>Prior to the goal, injury had forced United to use one of their three substitutions, as <span>Chris Pontius</span> (groin) was forced off in the 12th minute for <span>Lewis Neal</span>.</p>
<p>Houston leveled in the 51st minute after catching D.C. United napping on a quick restart and <span>Andre Hainault</span> fired a close-range shot into the roof of the net.</p>
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<p>Hainault could have easily been sent off for a <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-11-11-hou-v-dc/highlights/205889">first-half challenge</a> on Raphael Agusto, who had come on earlier in the first half in place of the injured <span>Marcelo Saragosa</span> (hamstring). Instead, referee Ricardo Salazar waved play on.</p>
<p>Moments after <span>Bobby Boswell</span> <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-11-11-hou-v-dc/highlights/205898">cleared a Pajoy shot off the line</a>, <span>Will Bruin</span> put Houston ahead in the 68th minute as Wilis deflected a <span>Giles Barnes</span> cross into Bruin's path. The shot glanced off the post and rolled into the net.</p>
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<p>Houston added their third goal in the 81st minute, as Augusto failed to clear a corner, the ball fell to <span>Kofi Sarkodie</span>, and he rifled a shot home.</p>
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<p>The second leg kicks off Sunday at 4:00 p.m. and will be televised on the NBC Sports Network.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/11/11/3632688/d-c-united-houston-dynamo-score-results-finalSamuel Chamberlain2012-11-11T12:56:44-05:002012-11-11T12:56:44-05:00United visit Dynamo for Game 1 of MLS semifinals
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<figcaption>Jeff Zelevansky</figcaption>
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<p>D.C. United resumes postseason play Sunday against the Houston Dynamo at 4 p.m. ET.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/">D.C. United</a> continues their possible championship run Sunday when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a> host Game 1 of the MLS Eastern Conference finals at BBVA Compass Stadium. The game is 4 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.</p>
<p>United is coming off a hard-fought semifinals victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.onceametro.com/">New York Red Bulls</a>, who lost the aggregate-goal series, 2-1. D.C. United cemented the series win with a 1-0 victory on Thursday. Rookie Nick DeLeon scored the game-winning goal in the 88th minute.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Dynamo upset the top-seeded <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebluetestament.com/">Sporting Kansas City</a>, 2-1, in their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Houston took Game 1 with a score of 2-0 and then allowed just one goal to Sporting Kansas City in Game 2.</p>
<p>In their series with the Dynamo, United has failed to collect a victory (0-8-1) when visiting Houston since 2006.</p>
<p>If United is able to eliminate Houston, they would host the MLS Cup finals against either the Seattle Sounders or Los Angeles Galaxy.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/d-c-united/2012/11/11/3631226/d-c-united-houston-dynamo-match-preview-game-time-tv-scheduleJared E. Smith2012-11-09T17:36:54-05:002012-11-09T17:36:54-05:00Najar suspended for East final vs. Houston
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<figcaption>Patrick McDermott</figcaption>
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<p>The Honduran international will reportedly miss both legs of the Eastern Conference final against the Houston Dynamo. </p> <p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2012/11/09/uniteds-andy-najar-suspended-2-more-games/">Steven Goff of <i>The Washington Post</i></a> is reporting that Major League Soccer has suspended <span>Andy Najar</span> for an additional two matches for throwing the ball at a match official last Saturday during the first leg of the Eastern Conference semifinal against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.onceametro.com/">New York Red Bulls</a>. </p>
<p>If confirmed, the suspension means that Najar would miss both legs of the Eastern Conference final against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a>. Leg 1 is set for Sunday at BBVA Compass Stadium at 4 p.m., with the return leg a week from Sunday at RFK Stadium.</p>
<p>Najar was <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/2012/11/3/3597042/new-york-red-bulls-d-c-united-score-results-final">sent off in the 71st minute</a> of the first leg after throwing the ball at referee Jair Marrufo after Najar was whistled for a foul on New York's <span>Joel Lindpere</span>. In MLS, red cards carry an automatic one-match suspension, which Najar served Thursday night as United defeated New York 1-0 in the second leg to advance to play Houston. </p>
<p><span>Robbie Russell</span> is expected to take Najar's place in Ben Olsen's lineup. United will also be without first-choice goalkeeper Ben Hamid for at least the first leg of the Eastern final. <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/2012/11/8/3620742/2012-mls-playoffs-nick-deleon-joe-willis-lead-d-c-united-into-eastern/in/3346957">Hamid was sent off </a>for bringing down New York striker <span>Kenny Cooper</span> in the second half of Thursday's dramatic second leg. </p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/11/9/3624610/2012-mls-playoffs-andy-najar-suspended-eastern-conference-final-dc-unitedSamuel Chamberlain