DC United Loses to Everton

From the DC United website:

"It’s never easy to overcome a slow start in MLS, going down two goals early in the first half. Try doing it against an English Premier League side.

D.C. United were unable to accomplish that Saturday night against Everton, as the home side conceded two goals within the game’s first 20 minutes in a 3-1 loss.

“We can’t put ourselves behind 2-0 to a good team,” midfielder Chris Pontius said. “Can’t do that in MLS, can’t do that against an EPL team. You’re chasing the game the whole time.”

Despite it being a friendly match with no bearing on the standings, the first 45 minutes were displeasing to DC head coach Ben Olsen.

“First half I was extremely disappointed in several players that just didn’t that you don’t just walk onto a field, any field and play 60-70 percent,” he said. “I know it’s been a long week and maybe I’m making too much of this, because it is a friendly, but it just wasn’t good enough for me.”

Sloppy defending was at fault on Everton’s early goals. In the fourth minute, Brandon McDonald couldn’t keep up with Everton striker Victor Anichebe, who ran in behind DC’s back line.

Just 12 minutes later, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov beat the offside trap, collected a through-ball and beat goalie Bill Hamid.  

After the break things improved as United made several substitutions. Regulars Perry Kitchen, Chris Pontius and Dwayne De Rosario joined the fray, and Olsen noticed an improvement.

“Second half I thought was good,” he said. “I thought Pontius and Kitchen both came in and gave us the right mentality.”

They were rewarded with a goal two minutes into the half after De Rosario found Pontius with a long ball over Everton’s back line.

That was all the scoring DC would see despite creating numerous chances. The final whistle brought disappointed, but DC managed to also emerge from the game without sustaining major injuries, and will get some time to rest and regroup."