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Jim Shine

Red Card, Leagues Cup Exit


DC United crashed out of the Leagues Cup last Friday (August 9) with a 2-1 defeat at home to Mexican league club Mazatlan FC.


DC started Bono in goal; Schnegg, Akinmboni, Bartlett and Herrera in defense; Peltola, Dajome, Stroud and Klich in midfield; and Ted KDP and Benteke at forward. Audi Field featured newly sodded grass, and Tropical Storm Debbie mostly went west of the DC area, sparing the new turf a torrential downpour. Due to weather concerns and the last-minute finalizing of the fixture (just announced two days before), there were very few fans.


DC had an early corner, but seemed flat. Benteke received an early yellow card (undeserved in my opinion) for throwing his shoulders while competing for a header, and it seemed to inhibit his attacking for the rest of the game.


The game changed drastically in the 27th minute when Jared Stroud received a red card. Moving out of the defensive area after a Bono save, Ramiro Arciga grabbed Stroud's left shoulder to prevent a counterattack. Stroud swatted him away with his left hand and Arciga backed off. Unfortunately Stroud swatted a second time and hit Arciga's face. Down went Arciga and off went Stroud. Classic example of the first foul being missed and the second foul being called.


Mazatlan began to besiege the DC goal with shots. Bono made 3 saves in quick succession, but in the 33rd minute Yoel Barcenas hit a shot from the top of the box into the right corner. The ball seemed to take a slight deflection off a DC player. 1-0 Mazatlan.


The game seemed more even after that, but hopes of getting into halftime only one goal down evaporated in the 43rd minute when Brian Rubio scored on a header from the center of the box. Bono got a hand on it but couldn't keep it out. DC was down 2-0 at halftime. Tellingly, DC had NO shots of any sort in the first half.


Rodriguez replaced Akinmboni to start the second half, and DC played a more aggressive style, risking leaving the back open to counterattacks, without much to show for the first 15 minutes. DC subbed out their two forwards (Benteke and Ted KDP) for Badji and new arrival Boris Enow in the 62nd minute. Pirani replaced Herrera in the 68th minute. Bono made several saves to keep the game at 2-0.


Surprisingly, DC made a great run to make the game exciting in the last 20 minutes. Klich scored a goal from the top of the box in the 74th minute, and DC created multiple chances the rest of the way. Badji had a breakaway in the 83rd minute but waited too long to get off his shot, which was blocked. Enow missed a volley high in the 85th minute. Dajome couldn't get to a beautiful cross to the far post in the 89th minute. Pirani had a free kick deflected over the goal in the 91st minute. Murrell (who came on for Klich in the 84th minute to add an extra striker) had 95th minute shot that took a good save to keep out. A valiant comeback effort. But the game ended 2-1, and DC is out of the Leagues Cup.


DC now has 2 weeks off to integrate their new players (Schnegg, Badji, Enow) into the lineup and let others rest and recover from injuries. I don't know about other stadium commitments, but hopefully Audi Field will also have 2 weeks off to let the new turf settle in. The MLS season resumes Saturday, August 24 with DC at home against FC Dallas.

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