D.C. United conceded a pair of goals in the final seven minutes of the second half Tuesday night as CD Marathon claimed a 3-1 victory in opening game for both teams in the CONCACAF Champions League group stage at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.Jerry Palacios scored what proved to be the game-winner in the 83rd minute, when he got on the inside of D.C. defender Greg Janicki, took a touch off of Glen Brown's flicked header and tapped the ball past goalkeeper Josh Wicks and inside the far post.Five minutes later, Salvadorian referee Elmer Bonilla pointed to the spot after a trip by Janicki in the box and Mario Berrios fired home the insurance goal, putting his second-chance penalty high and to Wicks' right.Wicks saved Berrios' first attempt, a low shot to his right, but Bonilla ruled Clyde Simms had encroached and ruled Berrios to take a second shot.A gaffe by Janicki resulted in Marathon's first goal, as well. At the edge of the six-yard box, the defender whiffed at clearing Mauricio Sabillon's cross and Walter Martinez tapped the ball into the net in the 23rd minute.United pulled level early in the second half on a goal from Luciano Emilio.Marathon goalkeeper Juan Obelar was pressed into action early, as the Uruguayan made an acrobatic save to tap Ben Olsen's attempt from distance over the crossbar, resulting in the game's first corner kick.Three minutes from halftime, Andrew Jacobson had a go from distance and Obelar got a fingertip on it, resulting in another D.C. corner, one of four in the first half for the visitors. Following a second corner, Olsen attempted to chip the goalkeeper from the edge of the 18-yard box, but his attempt was over the bar.Devon McTavish was the first to earn a spot in Bonilla's book, earning a yellow for sweeping Berrios' leg in the 32nd minute. Eight minutes later, Marathon captain Mario Beata was booked for a clumsy tackle on Olsen in midfield.Santino Quaranta, who came on for Jaime Moreno at the half, set up D.C.'s tying goal three minutes into the second half. Julius James' downward header of Quaranta's corner kick was saved by Obelar, but Emilio pounced on the loose ball and headed it into the net before being bloodied as a result of a clash of heads with defender Erick Norales.In the 55th minute, Jacobson's low shot from 22 yards out rolled just wide to Obelar's right. Three minutes later, Soehn made his second change, bringing on Rodney Wallace for Ely Allen.McTavish had a brilliant chance to give D.C. the lead, but his diving header at the back post off a brilliant service by Quaranta was saved by Obelar, who pushed the ball over the endline for another corner.In the 69th minute, David Habarugira was given a yellow card for a rash tackle in the midfield on Mariano Acevedo. One minute later, Sabillon danced on the ball at the top of the 18-yard box, but his attempt on goal was just wide to D.C. goalkeeper Josh Wicks' left as United was under intense pressure in the final quarter hour of the game.In the 75th minute, Clyde Simms came on for D.C.'s final substitution, replacing Habarugira.Marathon dominated in the final quarter hour and went ahead in the 83rd minute. Guillermo Ramirez played a great ball from the midfield that was headed at the top of the 18-yard box by Mitchell Brown. On the inside of Janicki, Jerry Palacios played the ball with the outside of his foot and tapped the ball inside the far post.Quaranta had a great chance at an 85th-mintue equalizer, but Obelar parried away host shot from the edge of the box.D.C. United, which lost twice to Marathon in last year's group stage, was without Fred, who was serving a one-game suspension for being sent off against Luis Angel Firpo in the second leg of the preliminary round. Soehn went with a strong starting XI, featuring regulars Olsen, Moreno and Emilio. Newcomers Habarugira, James and Allen were also in the starting lineup.D.C. returns to league play Saturday, playing host to the Los Angeles Galaxy before hosting Mexican side Toluca in its second CONCACAF Champions League group stage match next Wednesday.
SCORING SUMMARY
CDM: Walter Martinez (Mauricio Sabillon) 23DCU: Luciano Emilio (Santino Quaranta) 48CDM: Jerry Palacios (Glen Brown) 83CDM: Mario Berrios (penalty kick) 88
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
DCU: Devon McTavish 32CDM: Mario Beata 40DCU: David Habarugira 68Referee: Elmer BonillaReferee's Assistants: Hector Recinos, Miguel Mendez4th official: Oscar MoncadaTime of game: 1:55Attendance: 3,658
