Emilio Goal Propels United To Win Over Crew

Washington D.C. -- In desperate need of a win, D.C. United did the minimum in their victory over the Columbus Crew Saturday night. Luciano Emilio struck for his 10th goal of the season in the first half, and United were able to do the necessary work in the second half to preserve their victory.

With the win, United's slim chances of making the playoffs were kept alive. They will still likely need a victory at Kansas City next Saturday, and some help to boot. With just the sixth loss of the season for Columbus, the defending MLS Cup Champions missed out on a chance to secure their second consecutive Supporters Shield.

First Half

With the field saturated with a couple day's worth of rain, players from both sides took some time to adjust to the slippery conditions. When the players did begin to get a hang of the conditions, it was Columbus who had a couple of chances.

Robbie Rogers, fresh off his appearance for the US national team, sent a dangerous cross into the box in the 8th minute looking for Steven Lenhart. But the lovely delivery was just over the head of the Columbus striker.

Kevin Burns tried an audacious shot from fifty yards out minutes later, but on loan keeper Steven Cronin was able to push the shot over the bar for a Columbus corner. Columbus failed to make the corner count, as United easily cleared the ball out.

Then, with their first chance of the match, United went ahead in the 16th minute, courtesy of Luciano Emilio. Thabiso Khumalo picked up a loose ball out wide, worked his way into the middle, and then fed Emilio beyond the Crew defense. Emilio then chipped his shot over William Hesmer, and despite the best effort from Danny O'Rourke, the ball just barely crossed the line, giving United the early lead.

Columbus continued to control the tempo of the game, but they were unable to find a way past Cronin. Rogers had a volley attempt that forced a terrific diving save from Cronin in the 25th minute. Ten minutes later, Rogers forced another save out of Cronin from the top of the box.

Eddie Gaven had a decent chance from a Jed Zayner cross, getting his header to bounce in front of Cronin, but the United stand in 'keeper was able to hold onto the ball in traffic.

The last couple of minutes of the half failed to produce any chances, and the teams went in with United in the lead, much to the approval of the home support.

Second Half

United made one change at halftime, bringing on Lawson Vaughn for Devon McTavish, in a move geared towards shoring up the back line for the last half of play. The rain continued to fall in the second half, and its affects showed up every couple of minutes, as players struggled with their footing.

If United's goal was to hold on to that one goal lead for the entire second half, then their plan was well executed. United began to sit back, absorbing what Columbus could throw at them. But United were well organized at the back, cutting out most of Columbus' chances before they became goal scoring opportunities.

Columbus had their shots, but they either failed to challenge the United goal, or Cronin was equal to the opportunity. Rogers and Frankie Hedjuk had several dangerous cross, but Cronin and the United back line refused to give in, and they succeeded in denying Columbus in those chances.

Substitute Emilio Renteria had a decent chance for Columbus in the 73rd minute, as he latched on to a loose ball in the United half. He worked his way to just outside the box, but his shot bounced just wide of the far post, with Cronin beat.

As the half wore down, it seemed that Columbus lacked the inventiveness that would be required to break down the United defense. That challenge became more difficult in the 83rd minute, as Renteria was sent off with a straight red card for kicking Julius James in the back of the leg, reducing Columbus to ten men.

The loss of Renteria for the last ten minutes of the match stymied Columbus' attack, as they failed to produce any meaningful chances in the dying moments of the match. After the duration of three injury time minutes, the game ended in favor of United in the one goal affair.

Steven Streff, Goal.com

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