After a full week of training in California and no less than five exhibition matches against international sides and youth teams--most of which they won-- DC United finally squared up last night for its first MLS pre-season match against Chivas USA. The action at the Home Depot Center was mostly uninspired on both sides--not surprising for a pre-season match-- with the best chance of the match going to Chivas. A beautiful cross from Chivas forward Mariano Trujillo to Jesus Padilla beat the United defense and placed Padilla in position to score, but aggressive goaltending by United Keeper Pat Onstad blocked the shot at close range, which kept the match scoreless, ending in a 0 - 0 tie.
After the match, United Coach Ben Olsen remarked on his team's performance. "It was good to play against some grown men. It was a very good exercise to see where we're at right now. I saw some good stuff, and the things we need to work on."
With the MLS pre-season now underway, United now returns to Washington for two days of training, follwed by the Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston, South Carolina from March 5 - March 12 at Blackbaud stadium. There they will face second division side (and tournament hosts) Charleston Battery, as well as MLS foes Toronto FC and Real Salt Lake.
United's season opener is on March 27 against the Kansas City Wizards, followed with their home opener on April 3 against the New England Revolution.
“LIKE A JEDI KNIGHT— no, better than that— A TEMPLAR KNIGHT. This is a FLASH OF PURE INSPIRATION, and let me tip my hat to the genesis of this goal: Ibarra. Lionel only absolutely LIGHTS IT UP here, he LIFTS OFF IT, FLAMETHROWERS IT PAST poor Reny Vega. It’s just as well Reny didn’t get a hand to that because it would have TAKEN IT OFF HIS WRIST. Superlative football and an out of this world BERNINI SCULPTURE of a finish." GOL TV Commentator Ray Hudson
