Off Wing Opinion

Twellman scores an early goal for New England:

Photo by Ellen Blanchard

Also be sure to check out more pictures from tonight's game on our flickr page and also our Photoshelter account

DC United with 4 Championships in 12 years is arguably Washington

It's hard to understand just how ESPN can be so tone deaf when it comes to showing nothing but disrespect for its viewers. For the past few minutes, I've been watching an MLS playoff match between D.C. United and the Chicago Fire on ESPN 2. A moment or two ago, ESPN decided to break into live match coverage for an absolutely unnecessary SportsCenter 30 at 30 Update.

During this update, Michelle Bonner did nothing but pass along news items that could have easily been handled on the crawl at the bottom of the screen, but that didn't stop the network from shrinking the action while letting a live shot of Bonner in the studio predominate.

Why bother? Because ESPN couldn't possibly let you forget that SportsCenter was coming on at the conclusion of college football on the mother ship. You know, the highlight show that's more important than actual live sports coverage.

Tonight on a warm evening for late October we have the final regular season game of the season for both DC United and Columbus. Columbus is coming off of an impressive win at New England last week 3-2 in Foxboro. Unfortunately for the Columbus Crew, they will be going in a different direction as they had their slim playoff hopes shattered as a result of the Fire

The United earned one more point in a 90th minute penalty shot.

Photos by Kate McGovern.

Photo by Kate McGovern.

Here are some shots from tonights game...check out the recap below.

Photo by Kate McGovern.

For the first 40 minutes of play there wasn't much to cheer about as Toronto FC led 1-0. That all changed after Marc Burch #4 scored his first major league goal to tie the game. The others that scored were Fred, Jaime Moreno, Luciano Emilio. The win keeps the United four points ahead in their play-off chase.

For Emilio it was his 20th goal, tops in the league for the season.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 29: Fred #7 of the Washington DC United celebrates following a goal against Toronto FC at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC September 29, 2007. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)

See more photos from the game by visiting our Photoshelter gallery.

Also stop by our new sister website OffWing Photo where we focus on photography, especially sports photography.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 29: Jamie Moreno #99 of the Washington DC United scores a goal against Kenny Stamatopoulos #39 of the Toronto FC at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC September 29, 2007. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)

D.C. United beat CD Guadalajara (Chivas) 2-1 tonight in the first leg of a Copa Sudamericana round of 16 series. The return leg will take place next week in Mexico.

The two United goals came from Ben Olsen and Clyde Simms. Olsen scored in the first half, and Simms scored soon after the start of the second.

Midfielder Devon McTavish and a Guadalajara player collide in mid-air.

This DC goal caught a few Chivas defenders off-guard.

Photos by Kate McGovern

More after the jump.

Photo by EB Imagery

More after the jump

Also be sure to check out more pictures from tonight's game on our flickr page and also our Photoshelter account

Photo by Ellen Blanchard

Photo by Ellen Blanchard

More Photos After the Jump

I've been down here at RFK since about 4:00 p.m. For the most part, I'll be filing over at FanHouse. Click here for an interview with a family that flew all the way from Manchester just to see David Beckham, and here for a snap I took before kickoff.

The word now, through Steven Goff of the Washington Post, is that Beckham may play in the second half. Stay tuned.

In a pre-game ceremony, United honored Galaxy player and U.S. Men's National Team veteran Cobi Jones. In response, the United supporters groups, Barra Brava and Screaming Eagles, unfurled a banner that read, "Good Riddance". Ouch.

UPDATE: D.C. United takes a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute on a rocket from Luciano Emilio that LA keeper Joe Cannon couldn't stop even though he got both hands on the ball. Marc Burch, who has played brilliantly for United of late, got the assist.

As Aaron Stollar of the Screaming Eagles said, this is "a United crowd, not a Beckham crowd." DC is a great Soccer town, and I'm glad the world is getting a chance to see that right now.

UPDATE: Beckham is on the sideline and warming up with about six minutes to go in the half.

UPDATE: He's warming up again, but the rain is coming down pretty hard.

One thing I haven't passed on: The atmosphere in the stadium tonight has been electric. I've had as much fun tonight as I did at MLS Cup '97 or '99 or even the 2004 Eastern Conference Final. Even the jaded folks in the press box are giddy with anticipation, hoping to see Beckham play.

And the rain is coming down in sheets now.

UPDATE: Kyle Martino is out with a red card. And all we care about right now is how this affects the decision on whether or not to play Beckham.

This is nuts.

UPDATE: And the man arrives in the 70th minute. RFK is nothing but a sea of flashbulbs right now. 4 minutes later and people are still snapping photos.

Next to me, Stollar points out one of the high points of the night: Seeing Beckham yell at one of his defenders to mark Josh Gros.

Beckham launches a kick from midfield into the box that United keeper Troy Perkins fields easily. The crows roars as he touches the ball.

UPDATE: Meanwhile, there's an actual match going on, one that United is pretty much in control of. Again, however, the finishing touch is eluding United.

UPDATE: Tonight's attendance: 46,686. And they all have flash cameras. Troy Perkins may have just made the play of the night, with a diving stop that sent Landon Donovan tumbling to the turf.

FINAL UPDATE: Now that was quite an evening. Click here for a look at Beckham's post-match press conference. More thoughts and more video, tomorrow.

Photo by Eric McErlain

At least that's what he told Joseph White of the AP.

Either way, I'll be at RFK tomorrow and provide a first hand report.

Thanks to a packed Summer travel schedule, a number of other personal commitments, an extended road trip and the All-Star break, it had been almost a month since I'd been out to RFK to watch D.C. United.

Since my last trip to the stadium, the team had shipped struggling defender Facundo Erpen to Colorado in exchange for Greg Vanney in an attempt to bring some stability to the back line, and gone 1-3-1 in the interim. That stretch included a shocking 1-0 loss to Harrisburg City in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup, as well as a 3-3 draw at home against FC Dallas in which United couldn't hold on for a win after taking a 3-0 lead.

For most of last night's game, it seemed as if United's recent struggles were coming to an end as they thoroughly dominated Monarcas Morelia in both teams' opening match of the Superliga, a new challenge series pitting the top team in MLS against their counterparts from Mexico.

In the first half at least, United sliced through the Monarcas defense with ease, taking a 1-0 lead on a Christian Gomez free kick in just the seventh minute. United should have very well gone into the break up a second goal in the 34th minute when a Rod Dyachenko pass found Luciano Emilio alone in the box with an open net, but the ball hit a seam in the RFK infield grass, took a bad hop before caroming off Emilio's shin and over the crossbar.

That missed opportunity, like so many others this season, would later come back to haunt the team as Monarcas, forced into some chippy play that led to Luis Angel Landin being ejected just ten minutes into the second half, hung on long enough to tie the score in the 79th minute.

It was then that Diego Martinez collected a cross from Adrian Aldrete at the top right corner of the penalty area and struck a wicked volley past United keeper Troy Perkins and into the far corner of the net.

Though United had a number of chances the rest of the way, they failed to convert. After the game, head coach Tommy Soehn was clearly disappointed that the team had let another victory get away on their home field:

Next up for United: A Sunday night Superliga match against Club America, where a win at home is pretty much a must if the team wants to move on to the tournament's semifinals.

Photos from the DC United v. Monaracas Morelia match.

Christian Gomez scores to put DC United up early in the first half:

Photo by Ellen Blanchard

Photo by Ellen Blanchard
More Photos after the jump

Also be sure to check out more pictures from tonight's game on our flickr page and also our Photoshelter account

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 14: Washington DC United settle for a 3-3 tie after leading FC Dallas 3-0 with 40 minutes remaining in play at RFK Stadium in Washginton, DC July 14, 2007.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 14: Luciano Emilio #11 of the Washington DC United and Clarence Goodson #11 FC Dallas both head the ball deep in Dallas territory at RFK Stadium in Washginton, DC July 14, 2007. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)

See more photos from the game by visiting our Photoshelter gallery.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 14: Fred #7 of the Washington DC United heads the ball for a goal against Dario Sala #48 of the FC Dallas at RFK Stadium in Washginton, DC July 14, 2007. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)

After a somewhat shaky first half, D.C. United collected itself and came away with a 4-1 victory at home last night at RFK Stadium. I was lucky enough to corral Dave Lifton and Aaron Stollar once again to get their thoughts on a win that pushed United to the top half of the table in the Eastern Conference.

Here's one thing we missed that Steven Goff of the Post picked up: United are on the verge of a deal that will send defender Facundo Erpen to Colorado for defender Greg Vanney.

Here are a few shots from tonight's game; I'll have a full gallery up soon.

Colorado's Mike Petke writhes in pain after having his ankle stepped on.
Photo by Kate McGovern

Before settling in for tonight's match between D.C. United and the Colorado Rapids at RFK Stadium, I had a chance to discuss ESPN's new slogan for its MLS telecasts with some of my friends in the press box.

"You're a soccer fan; you just don't know it yet," is what ESPN is foisting on the masses, something the hard core Soccer types I talked to earlier tonight weren't too happy about. It's a conversation I've had with hockey fans as well, most recently in Columbus last weekend where talk around the table concerned the NHL's inability to sell the game on its own merits.

In any case, after a time, folks started to come up with their own:

MLS: Plenty of parking
MLS: Demography is destiny
MLS: Your kids like Soccer, why not you?

In any case, email me or leave your suggestion in the comments box.

UPDATE: Off Wing photographer Ellen Blanchard has another suggestion:

MLS: 6.3 Billion people can't be wrong

Keep 'em coming.

Funny moment: We're in the middle of a lightning delay, and the PR people have switched some of the press box televisions to the U.S. -Argentina match from the Copa America. Right after Argentina tied the match 1-1, my buddy Brian Strauss from the Express stops by to say hello.

"Hey man, how's it going?"

"1-1. Argentina just scored"

Which is when I got the look that told me he was TiVoing the game.

Oops.

DC United’s winning streak reached seven tonight. The United were in complete control tonight as they took on the Chicago Fire, winning by a score of 3-1. The outcome was never in doubt as the United spent most of the night deep in the Fire’s end of the field.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 16: Luciano Emilio #11 of the Washington DC United following his goal during a game with the Chicago Fire at RFK Stadium in Washginton, DC June 16, 2007. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)

Be sure to check out the Offwing Flickr Album for more pictures from today's game. You can also see some of the images at our Photoshelter account.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 16: Rod Dyachenko #15 of the Washington DC United controls the ball during a game with the Chicago Fire at RFK Stadium in Washginton, DC June 16, 2007. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 16: Christian Gomez #10 of the Washington DC United attempts a goal against Matt Pickens #18 of the Chicago Fire at RFK Stadium in Washginton, DC June 16, 2007. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 16: Fred #7 of the Washington DC United battles for the ball with Calen Carr #3 of the Chicago Fire at RFK Stadium in Washginton, DC June 16, 2007. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)

Thanks again to Dave Lifton and Aaron Stollar for spending a few minutes with me after D.C. United's 4-2 win over the New York Red Bulls on Sunday afternoon:

I'm really starting to like these exchanges after the game. It makes the trip more than worthwhile.

Later this week, over at the AOL Fanhouse, I'll be posting video of Dave and Aaron talking about David Beckham's impending arrival in MLS.

Thanks to Washington Caps owner Ted Leonsis for taking note of our efforts to cover local Soccer and Lacrosse with D.C. United and the Washington Bayhawks.

I want to put an accent on "our" in "our efforts" because the idea to expand active coverage, rather than just blogging, to United and the Bayhawks was the idea of Ellen Blanchard, one of our photographers. In both cases, Ellen made the initial contact with the PR staff of both teams and made the case for working with Off Wing.

To take a closer look at what we've produced, stop by Off Wing's Flickr Album. Better yet, if you think you'd like Off Wing to provide photography services to cover an event, stop by Off Wing's virtual photo agency at Photoshelter.

All of the work constructing the virtual agency and getting it up and running was the work of another of our photographers, Allen Clark, who has also been working to get Off Wing recognized by the Washington Nationals.

Finally, folks should know that the bulk of our work covering D.C. United this season will take the form of video blogging. You can find all of our coverage from this season over at my personal Daily Motion page. Needless to say, I'm aiming to take everything I learn about covering United on video back to the Caps locker room in time for the 2007-08 NHL season.

And speaking of the Caps, Off Wing has applied for credentials to cover the 2007 NHL Entry Draft at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on June 22.

It's going to be a busy Summer. So please, stick around.

I just watched the second half of a match between FC Toronto and the Chicago Fire from TO, and I'm starting to wonder if the title of best fans in MLS currently held by the locals here in Washington might not be under threat from North of the border.

After watching for just five minutes, it's pretty clear the fans in Toronto are delivering exactly what Don Garber and the rest of the suits inside MLS were hoping for when they granted the city an expansion franchise. You've got Soccer-mad locals and a Soccer-specific stadium combining to together for an incredible match night experience.

These people have everything that Washington has -- the singing, the chanting, the drums -- and one thing Washington doesn't: A brand new stadium that's just the right size to make it all come together in a combustible mix.

All of a sudden, next Saturday's match in Toronto isn't looking like a gimme anymore. While that might be bad news for United, it's great news for MLS, who are looking like geniuses for expanding to Toronto.

Next step: Please, please give an expansion franchise to Montreal. The fans in Toronto need a logical foil, and the league ought to give it to them. And if my my memories of the Manic are accurate, there's more than enough Soccer-nuts in Quebec to make it worthwhile.

Well, the home side finally shook off its early season stupor yesterday and recorded the first victory of the 2007 season. Was it pretty? No. Was it perfect? Not by a longshot. But as far as the guys in the locker room were concerned, three points was more than good enough.

'It Wasn't Pretty,' but United Notches First Win of Season (Goff, Post)
Soehn's changes pay off for United (Haydon, Times)
First Impressions - DC United 2 : 1 CD Chivas USA (DCenters)

Here's the postgame video roll:

Once I got out of the locker room, I sat down Aaron stollar and Dave Lifton from screaming-eagles.com for a postgame wrap:

Up next: Another two weeks off, then the team's first visit North of the border to FC Toronto.

Photo by Ellen Blanchard

More Photos After the Jump

Offwing Flickr Album Also be sure to check out the 41 pictures from today's game at Offwing Opinion's Flickr Page (Click Here).

Photo by Ellen Blanchard

More Photos After the Jump

Offwing Flickr Album Also be sure to check out the 41 pictures from today's game at Offwing Opinion's Flickr Page (Click Here).

Quick video reel I put together from a couple of clips from Thursday night's game at RFK Stadium between D.C. United and the New England Revolution. One of the big questions in the postgame was why head coach Tommy Soehn didn't bring in Jamie Moreno until the start of the second half of the 1-1 draw:

For the complete interview with Lagerwey, click here. Look for more after tomorrow's game.

Picture Pages Pictures Pages

Photo by Ellen Blanchard

45 pictures from the DC United game against the New England Revolution have been loaded to the Flickr site so be sure to check out the Offwing Flickr Album for Pictures from Yesterday's game as well as other Sports Action around the area (Click Here).

One shout out to our fellow blogger Bobby Boswell who stuck around to sign autographs after the game:

Be sure to check out his blog at www.bobbyboswell.com