Three second half goals from United were the difference, as D.C.'s reserves came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Columbus 3-2 this morning. Ryan Cordeiro notched the game-winner in the 90th minute. Full report to follow shortly. Oh, and there are a few photos at Video & Pics.
UPDATE: Here is the über official game report.
Washington, DC (April 18, 2008) – D.C. United scored three second half goals – the last in the 90th minute – and came from behind to defeat the Columbus Crew 3-2 in Reserve Division action Friday morning at the D.C. United Training Complex. Dan Stratford, Jeremy Barlow and Ryan Cordeiro all tallied for the Black-and-Red, while an own goal and second half strike from Jason Garey put the Crew on the board.
The first half saw the visitors control much of the game’s possession, as the Crew created a handful of good scoring chances. In the 13th minute Jason Garey’s shot from the left corner was saved by Jose Carvallo as was Steven Lenhart’s dipping shot in the 29th. One of the Crew’s best chances to score came in the 42nd, when a deflected corner kick fell into the path of Lenhart. The forward struck a well-driven first time shot that smashed off the cross bar before being cleared out of danger.
The Crew got on the scoreboard first – in the last minute of the half – when Nicolas Hernandez sent a corner kick centrally. The ball was re-directed by a Crew player towards goal and a retreating Quavas Kirk managed to get a foot to the ball, but unfortunately sent it into the back of his own net. The goal would stand as the lone tally at the halftime whistle.
The second half began with a flurry, as just three minutes in the Crew got their second. Brad Evans collected the ball deep in United territory from a throw in and was able to swing a cross into the box. Garey collided with defender Domenic Mediate as the ball arrived, and then found the ball directly in his path six yards from goal. The University of Maryland product made no mistake and hit a high shot past a diving Carvallo.
Just a minute later, however, United got the first of what would be three goals. Midfielder Rod Dyachenko corralled the ball 20 yards from the Crew’s goal and nearly lost it, but managed to direct the ball to an approaching Dan Stratford as he fell. Stratford took his first touch towards goal and, from 25 yards, smashed a shot to the far post that whizzed by a helpless, diving Andy Gruenbaum.
In the 62nd minute, the Black-and-Red evened the score. After a ball was dumped into the Crew’s right corner, Ryan Cordeiro battled to maintain possession before playing a ball back to Mike Zaher. The defender slid a ball centrally towards Franco Niell, who nicely let the ball roll between his legs to an onrushing Jeremy Barlow. The second half substitute took one touch and finished from inside 18 yards.
Play opened up in the final minutes, as both teams began to tire from the heat. The game looked like it might end in as a stalemate, but D.C. broke through in the final minute of the game. It was again Dyachenko who was the catalyst, as the midfielder received a pass from Pat Carroll near midfield, turned up field and sent a lofted ball over the Crew defense to a sprinting Ryan Cordeiro. The midfielder brought the ball off his chest and then slotted a low shot past an approaching Gruenbaum and into the far corner of the net. The head referee blew his whistle just seconds after the restart and United’s Reserve Division record went to 1-0 as the Crew fell to 0-1.
Scoring summary.
CLB – Own Goal (Quavas Kirk) 45
CLB – Jason Garey (Brad Evans) 48
DC – Dan Stratford (Rod Dyachenko) 49
DC – Jeremy Barlow (Franco Niell, Mike Zaher) 62
DC – Ryan Cordeiro (Rod Dyachenko, Pat Carroll) 90
Lineups.
D.C. United: Jose Carvallo; Pat Carroll, Domenic Mediate, Jeff Curtin (Jeremy Barlow 45), Mike Zaher; Quavas Kirk, Dane Murphy, Dan Stratford, Ryan Cordeiro; Franco Niell, Rod Dyachenko.
Columbus Crew: Andy Gruenbaum; Andrew Peterson, Andy Iro, Ezra Hendrickson, Ryan Miller; Stefani Miglioranzi, Brad Evans, George Josten, Nicolas Hernandez; Jason Garey (Cory Elenio 70), Steven Lenhart (Guilherme So 45).
Stats.
DC – Shots: 6, Saves: 5, Fouls; 9, Corner kicks: 1, Offsides: 3
CLB – Shots: 11, Saves: 2, Fouls: 9, Corner kicks: 5, Offsides: 6
