By AVI CREDITOR
WASHINGTON – Chris Pontius scored a goal and assisted on another in a 45-minute appearance as D.C. United held on to upend AC Milan, 3-2, in a friendly at RFK Stadium.
The majority of the 30,367 in attendance figured to see the Italian giants have their way with Major League's Soccer's worst side, and while Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato teamed to generate some inspiring chances, United held the duo scoreless.
Ronaldinho, who played 60 minutes, gave the fans what they paid for even though he didn't score. He received a cross from Pato in the 53rd minute, volleying it over his shoulder and attempting a jaw-dropping bicycle kick inside the penalty area. The shot hit the right post, but the crowd got the "Ohhh!" moment it came to see nonetheless.
"I didn't see the ball," said United keeper Troy Perkins, who played the second half and came up with some key saves to preserve the victory. "If it goes in it's a great finish, but that's what you expect out of him."
Pontius assisted on the opening goal, running onto a long pass from Stephen King at the left side of the 6-yard box. He headed the ball across the box to Luciano Emilio, who tapped it home in the 20th minute.
Ten minutes later, Pontius was on the receiving end of a routine corner kick from Santino Quaranta. He rose inside the area and delivered a fierce header to double United's lead.
"We finished our chances tonight, we made smart runs and we were smart on the ball," said Pontius, who played with confidence from his left midfield position.
Danny Allsopp got credit for United's third goal, hustling on a terrible back pass to Milan keeper Christian Abbiati. The goalie's clearance attempt ricocheted off Allsopp's back heel and into the net in the 61st minute for what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
Massimo Oddo tallied both of Milan's goals, one on a 70th-minute penalty kick and another on a deflected shot from 30 yards out four minutes later. United was able to hang on, though, even playing with 10 men for the final 25 minutes. Brandon Barklage suffered what appeared to be a serious left leg injury in the 65th minute after all of D.C.'s subs were inserted in the game, and he was forced to exit, leaving the team shorthanded.
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What did you think of D.C. United's performance? Surprised with the result? Disappointed in Milan? Think this can be a turning point for D.C.?
Share your thoughts below.
Milan might have not have had a reason to play, ala Clarence Seedorf, but who really likes to lost to inferior side. Once they got a goal in the second half they started to press a bit. They wanted to atleast keep things close, not saying they put out their best effort, but better from DCU then I’ve seen from them in a while. Hope they continue it when they play the Goats.
also if you were being facetious with the whole “mls face” thing, i would direct my previous comment to others actually using similar excuses.
brennan-
those are some decent excuses, but let’s be serious. these are pretty shocking results. if the quality gap is as great as most people assume, none of these things should matter because class should take over.
give a little credit where credit is due and stop making excuses for world class teams getting spanked by MLS teams who, guess what, might not be fielding their strongest teams either (NYRB v. Juventus).
How is it “obvious” that it’s not?
In any case, yes, MLS has improved. Does that shock you?
A decade ago, any NBA team that went on a barnstorming tour of Europe would have cleaned the clocks of whatever local team they faced even if the NBA’ers had decided to put on a Harlem Globetrotter display and the local team was trying a hard as they could. These days, that wouldn’t happen if the NBA players didn’t try hard.
I sometimes wonder if US soccer fans follow other sports. I mean, how much do you expect your local NBA team to care when they’re playing Maccabi Haifa or the Liaoning Dinosaurs? Would you care about the result?
/sarcasm
Hope you enjoyed the game.
“Oh, I say old chaps. Let’s let the MLS teams win just for a lark. It will be awfully good fun! They will be thoroughly confused or perhaps even think they have become much better! Then next time we come we shall give them a jolly good thrashing what! Pip pip! Jolly good!”
(Don’t ask me why I used an English accent when none of the teams were English! Perhaps it was someone on Chelsea who said it. If they lose too, we will know for sure!)
Exactly! I’m sick of hearing about teams deliberately losing or not caring about losing. It’s not as simple as flipping a switch.
If what you’re suggesting were true, and obviously it is not, then how would you explain the much better responses by visiting teams in past years? They decided to care less this year than any other year since they started coming to play MLS teams?
dont forget NY’s Santos win
wu tang is 4eva
anyways….Seattle v Boca: SSFC 3 – Boca 0
i think we are starting to tell the world something here, all we need now is atleast a quarterfinal appearance in WC
Clearly?
Just because you say something doesn’t make it so. I was at that game. Milan set up some really nice chances. They were trying. After United ran out of subs and had to play a man down, Milan was trying.
Whether they were in as good form, both physically and mentally, as they’d be in mid-season is another question. But they were definitely trying.
What are you talking about?
We’re one of the best markets historically for both club and country.
Um, no. How much do baseball teams in spring training or football teams in preseason care about winning?
Just look at this picture, CLEARLY these big teams aren’t trying. They probably aren’t even aware the game is going on.
Milan doesn’t have a manager right now. So their tactical side might not have been top notch.
Back in 2006 soon after the MLS All-Stars beat Chelsea I was in a sports bar in D.C. and met a Bayern supporter from Germany who gave all of brennan’s excuses for the match and sniffed at me that US soccer would never be a “legitimate” player on the world stage. He even told me that he was afraid that after the match “people like you” (USMNT/MLS supporters) would start thinking we were better than we were. I simply made the point that being able to win, albeit in a friendly, indicated that the competitiveness and quality of the US game was starting to improve. Only a year before (2005), an MLS all-star team was embarrassed in a friendly against a then Ronaldo and David Beckham-led Real Madrid side 5-0. I remember Shalrie Joseph was even quoted after that 2005 game about how “a great privilege” it was to even share the same field with them.
Recent victories against top world-class teams by CLUB sides, even in off-season friendlies, shows the continued progress of the league. The more victories that mount the harder and harder it will be to ignore, dismiss, and explain away the LEGITIMATE growth of the league and the North American game. Like it or not, recognize it or not, we’re starting to claim our seat at the international club table! 🙂
question, why would any player yet alone a team practice by letting a team win??? practice makes perfect, so if you come to the US for friendlies and practice losing then that is what you are gearing your self for. I think these pro’s are smarter than that
Not sure what your point is.
DC has supported soccer about as well as any market in the country. Solid attendance at NASL, MLS, and international games over the years. Good TV ratings, excellent attendance at local colleges, and among the most local media coverage of any market. Where is DC lacking relative to other markets (aside from a new soccer stadium)
MLS taking down Milan, Juventus, and Boca Jrs twice. Next on the list Chelsea, Inter, and United. Not ready for Barca, or Real yet. These wins are much more significant than beating Joe Public, or Santos.
Oddo’s strike was ridiculous.
Troy Perkins is turrable.
PGS, Red Bulls also beat Santos. Friendlies or not, beating AC Milan, Juventus, Boca and Santos is a good trend for MLS teams.
This is getting ridiculous. Don’t ANY of these visiting “World Class” soccer teams playing MLS teams care at all about winning? I mean, come on! They can’t beat the disaster that is D.C. United or MLS reserve teams? I want to be impressed by the MLS showing against these teams, but things are starting to get a little suspicious.
1-8
Hey DC fans, how about supporting soccer in the US.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlrT6jSg7l8
That first DC goal is sweet! And the Ronaldinho bicycle, holy wow!
Any chance of Comcast showing a recap of this – sadly had to miss it.
We finally put our chances away and played with the ball instead of huffing it up field.
It’s easy for the players to rally themselves up for a game against AC, let’s see how inspired they are when we try to get back on track…
I agree, a good sign. I think some fans obsess too much over how USA soccer stacks up; personally, I think it’s more or less irrelevant, because my team is my team, and was still my team when it sucked, and will still be my team when and if it sucks again. These friendlies tick me off because L.A.’s lost players to injuries during them, and that’s frustrating and sad. But they’re still going to happen, like it or not. The fact that even DC is getting results against big Euro teams, friendly or no, will go a long way toward convincing folks that MLS and US soccer are legitimate and to be reckoned with. Whether or not I think it’s relevant, lots of people do. Those people being impressed could translate to some of them becoming genuine fans of American teams, meaning more butts in seats and maybe increased TV revenue in the long run, which is what the teams and league will need to make it.
OK. now that was clever.
HA!
These are fun! Everyone’s going to play weaker sides, but they’re good opportunities for players who wouldn’t otherwise get them.
Mike Seamon scored in his Sounders debut today, but would still be waiting if there wasn’t the friendlies.
And the Montreal Impact tied Fiorentina 1-1, dominating them for much of the match. Worth noting that Montreal, NY and Seattle all fielded weakened teams to save people for league play.
It’s a good sign.It’s not competitive soccer, really, but it’s still a good sign.
*puts on “noting out of the MLS can be positive” face*
Its cuz the teams dont care to play hard against MLS teams.
They are still in between scouting and dont have the team set up right.
They dont take offseason matches seriously.
They were playing their 16th string team.
Did I miss anything?
Red Bulls beat Juventus
Galaxy beat Boca Juniors
And DC United beat AC Milan
WHAT?
Over 40,000 at the Seattle-Boca game.
seattle is pounding on Boca right now. MLS clubs doing well so far.
*sigh*
And once again, Oguchi Onyewu doesn’t see the pitch for AC Milan.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ dolla dolla bill y’all! CASH RULES EVERYTHING AROUND ME!
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition. As a DC fan, what a highlight in one crappy season.
gotta get that money, baby girl
for the $$$, a chance to strengthen their brand in the states, and for an club expensed vacation probably
I wonder why these Euro clubs play friendlies right after the season is over.