Good evening folks. If you’re like me, and were hoping to be watching D.C. United play Harbor View right about now, you are probably as perplexed as I am at the fact that we’re watching the end of Aston Villa-Middlesbrough.
Tonight’s Champions Cup doubleheader will start soon enough (we hope) and tonight’s matches are both very intriguing. We will get the first look at the rebuilt D.C. United, and our first glance at Marcelo Gallardo in official action. We will also get to see Houston take the field in a competition for the first time since being thrashed by Gamba Osaka in the Pan Pacific Championship.
If you are following tonight’s matches on Fox Soccer Channel, or just want to follow along with the comments, please post your thoughts on tonight’s matches below. I will be checking in every now and then.
Enjoy the soccer.
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Okay folks, I’m not watching the Houston-Municipal match but you’re more than welcome to provide your comments below.
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HOUSTON VS. CD MUNICIPAL
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FINAL- DC United 1, Harbor View 1.
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86th minute– Some terrible defending on the corner kick that led to the goal by DC United. Two Harbour View players had a free swing on the loose ball. And NOW the reggae music comes on. You’ve gotta love it.
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85th minute- Yes, that was my attempt at a jinx, and there’s a good save from Wells. Harbour View corner and GOAL HARBOUR VIEW!!!
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83rd minute– I will say that I’ve been disappointed in the Jamaican club’s inability to seriously test Zach Wells.
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82nd minute– Stratford coming in for Niell. Not sure the Argentine had much of an impact.
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80th minute– I know there are still a few weeks from the start of the MLS season but DC hasn’t exactly looked great tonight.
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80th minute– Dan Stratford set to come in for DC United.
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79th minute– Much better from Harbour View in the past 15 minutes. Surprising to see DC sit on the one-goal lead.
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64th minute– So what movie does the referee look like he’s from?
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46th minute– And the second half is under way.
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HALFTIME– According to the FSC guys, Gonzalo Peralta and Gonzalo Martinez are not related. Thanks for clearing that up guys. No really.
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46th minute– GOAL DC UNITED. Devon McTavish with the goal. Gallardo took a shot at goal that hit McTavish. He converts the rebound. to make it 1-0 to DC United.
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40th minute– I will say that D.C.’s wingers and fullbacks have been very sharp and quick, cutting off most of Harbour View’s attempt at attacking on the flanks.
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36th minute– I know it’s early in the pre-season but I’m still waiting to see D.C. United’s potent attack.
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23rd minute– Harbour View’s Jermaine Taylor brings down Franco Niell. Lucky not to get a red card there.
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18th minute– Argentine striker Franco Niell comes in for Moreno.
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16th minute– Zach Wells gets kicked in the face and has a nice mouse under his left eye to show for it. Not sure if he will continue.
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15th minute– Jaime Moreno is hurt and has asked to come out. He reached for his hamstring. Not a good sign.
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11th minute– Nice sequence from DC, with Luciano Emilio leading the charge. Still waiting for Gallardo to make an impact.
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6th minute– Jamaicans not playing too badly early on.
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3rd minute– Okay, what’s the deal with DC United’s jerseys?
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PRE-GAME– Yes folks, that’s Fabian Taylor in the Harbour View starting lineup. Yet another reason for Red Bulls fans to root for the Jamaicans.
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Listen JH6, you had one comment flagged for language. I had nothing to do with it being blocked. As for you proceeding to use three different names to try to stir the pot (ABC and BS), that was a pretty weak move on your part.
Ives, some idiot DC fans are trying to say you’re censoring their comments.
I’m admittedly coming late to the party here, but I have to take issue with Ives’ saying he’s not sure Niell had much of an impact. He forced the first booking of the game against the HV defender (which could have easily been a straight red; nobody was between Niell and the keeper) and wasn’t it his effort that set up the breakthrough? He was quiet for long stretches, but DCU wasn’t really playing to his strength (which isn’t posting up players to receive long-balls). Regardless, I think Niell had at the very least a solid game and made a couple of big contributions.
Emilio on the other hand…
What the heck are you people talking about?
I wish the U.S. would get out of concacaf, the refs are always horrendous and I’m sick of watching these games played in substandard banana republic stadiums with potholes on the field. At least I didn’t see any anti-american thugs chanting obama, oh, i mean osama.
Nice Ives – you don’t like what a DC fan has to say to you start censoring posts????? However, you let Haig shoot off at the moouth. I used to think you were a half decent writer but I guess your true colors as nothing more than a shell for the Bulls is becoming more and more evident.
just change the Banner to read “Covering the World of soccer with an American Voice (so long as your voice is not a DC fan) and Jersey flavor”
Yeah – Ives is censoring now!
Haig,
Seriously can you not be this bitter for simply one post? I am not sure how you can take one match and extrapolate that to an entire season. As for the refs – care to explain the fact that the linesman blew an offsides call when Fred was clearly onside that would have led to a one on one with the goalie as good refereeing?
And can you please stop with this mythical “all DC fans are saying Burch is the answer at LB for the Nats” crap. Please, please show me where this is the case. And don’t show me one poster on BigSoccer – you say all DC fans so prove it or shut the hell up about it.
DC played flat, lost their legs, and the communication wasn’t there. All what I would expect from a team with massive changes in their FIRST real game.
Hey…it’s the beginning of March. DC doesn’t have Ben Olsen nor Jamie (for bulk of game) to provide leadership. Lots of new players to integrate. They played poorly but don’t take that as an indictor of what is to come. We as fans are still proud and know this team will prevail. We aren’t arrogant and unlike the Red Bulls, DC United has consistently been a top MLS team.
Uh oh. Mexico ties Canada. Ah, we’ll just talk about this tomorrow…
its still early for DC or Houston or anyone else, remember our first thoughts on those first two games of that tourney in Hawaii and then what we thought after the second round, time will tell, also living in Mexico where Mexican papers slam Hugo for mexican ties in under 23 friendlies on the front page (thats passion for football), can’t imagine what they will do with the 1-1 tie against Canada, maybe the US and Mexico will avoid each other both being the 2 seed…
DCU hit the wall tonight.
Unfortunate for them, HV hit their open shot.
Fortunate for Houston, Municipal missed both of theirs.
No, Chase, I was just pointing out that DC’s performance was very close to what I predicted in SBI comments a few weeks ago, which caused a meltdown from DC fans, many of whom have fallen back into their habit of blaming refs rather than seeing the flaws in their team.
Definitely a FANTASTIC result for Houston.
5000+ feet above sea level
They give up 2 golden scoring opportunities that Municipal misses.
I thought that was a pretty entertaining game. Definitely some rust for Houston, but some good things too. Good result for them.
Jacob: A scoreless draw in the away leg of a two-legged tie is a right first step in progressing.
I was only half paying attention, but it looked like Clark had a nice game, I thought that before they showed the replay of that rocket off the cross bar that I didn’t catch at first.
I had the sound off – did FSC really call that a great effort defensively? The Houston backline got skinned alive several times.
PS – Speaking of FSC’s commercials, someone should get AeroGarden and Herbalife together
FSC Commentary: “it was ugly but it’s the right first step in progressing ” (referring to what they considered a great defensive effort by the Dynamo)
Right. Having zero offensive production and only escaping scoreless because Municipal couldn’t score on SEVERAL 100% chances is a step in the right direction.
0-0 final
FSC cut out in my town around the 30th minute on the Houston game.
And the games are on delay due to Everton – Fiorentina going to extra time and penalties.
Houston’s gas tank is on empty
Get a grip on yourself Haig, it was the first game of the season, are you pissed off because NYRB aren’t playing tonight while the league’s two most accomplished clubs are…
Aw, what a miss! Mun are destroying the Hou backline!
Mexico tied it up at 1 all in the 21st
Funny story – I’m actually sitting in the back of my law school night class watching this match online (TVU) and praying I won’t get called on. Suffice it to say I wouldn’t be here if the prof didn’t take attendance.
The only thing I’m missing is that I can’t hear these FSC guys and their crack commentary! I’m missing out.
So close to an FSC special – a goal while they’re showing a replay
Municipal can’t finish.
No F—ing S—! It’s about time Canada starts getting it together, with all the pro guys they have playing somewhere, I’ll be really disappointed if they don’t make a run at a WC berth.
The real story is out west where…
Canada 1
Mexico 0
So far so good from an officiating perspective in HOU/MUN match.
Was that Rico with the SWEET spin???
Garret, Amen
Hey, I think it’s positive to correct the negativity of desperate DC fans eager to blame the ref for their team’s own poor play.
Ok, Haig, we get it. You hate DC United. Nobody is questioning that. Give it a rest and focus on something positive.
HV vs DCU seemed like a public access broadcast of a local league game in comparison to this game. Houston will need to step up their game pretty quickly or else they are going to be in trouble.
Jinx!
Municipal are a good team, no kidding. This is– both ways– a far superior game to the Harbour View vs DC.
OK – maybe not “owning”, but Municipal has had more chances and should have finished a few of them. This is a much more entertaining match than DCU/Harbour View.
They suck. But even if it’s out of dire necessity, they put young American players on the field, and those guys almost took them to the playoffs last year.
As opposed to DC’s “rent a player” policy, which their fans seem to confuse with tradition and commitment.
Unfortunately LA gives all of MLS a horrible name.
Pub team.
Municipal is owning the Dynamo in a giant empty stadium. Sad.
ADG, if the U23s screw up again, I would be upset.
But DC hasn’t been the “standardbearer” for MLS in almost a decade. They’re just another team. I’d be more likely to be bothered about the Galaxy struggling in a friendly– at least they give young American players a chance.
I love life.
I hate DC, and their fans are the most arrogant in the hemisphere (the one title you can win nowadays).
Have a look yourself: a foul that far from goal is very unlikely to be considered an obvious goalscoring opportunity, and that condition would be necessary for it to be a red card.
Whine whine whine
*sigh*
Haig must hate life.
That’s neither in the LOTG or in advice to referees.
The advice to referees refers to the denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity. Maybe in DC land, Niell’s run from twenty-five yards out was an obvious goal scoring opportunity, but refs never, ever see it that way. Had Niell been taken down by the keeper before he could take an opportunity to take a clear shot, THAT would be an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
But you’re a DC fan, and you want rules made up to benefit your team. That’s fine for you and your miserable DC pals to tell each other while you commiserate, but don’t try to tell everyone else about your lack of understanding of the game.
Ref did a fine job. And Niell, I suspect, is going to be a diver, and I haven’t seen a player whine like Gallardo since Amado Guevara was in the league.
DC: overrated.
@ Haig. Solid point, but they are still a representative of MLS – America’s top professional league.
BTW, Municipal should sign Charlie Davies, he would fit right in…
I have to say, I was more struck by another head shaved, beer belly ref than I was about any egregious calls.
And for diving, looks like Carlos Ruiz has been teaching his compatriots. And what was that other camera angle? It looked like the stadium security cam.
Maybe one day CONCACAF will consider training these referees they throw out there.
Any Houston fans in the house?
I’m sorry that he doesn’t know his own rules.
When the last defender takes down an offensive player on the break… red card.
Red Card.
Red Card.
Oh, I’m sorry, he didn’t call everything DC’s way. He must be terrible.
The fact that DC whining about refs is a constant ritual makes no one take your complaints seriously.