Let's go, boys.

Vamos United!!!

I don't know why, but I see United leaving with a 2-1 victory, with both goals coming off the counter. The first goal coming early and the second coming late as Pachuca presses forward. I see Gallardo and Niel hooking up for at least one of the goals.

I think I would be OK with a one goal loss. Certainly not happy, but OK. What I want to see is some offensive firepower, taking chances, intelligent ball movement, etc.

If Emilio doesn't find his scoring boots, in this match, I fear a hole too deep to climb out of in the friendly confines of RFK!

C'mon lucigol!!

I have faith in both my United teams in getting a good result tonight. It will be tough, but they can do it.

Come on United!!!!

Pachuca is not playing well these days. They are not the team they used to be a year ago (by any means). Hence, United has a great opportunity to get a win. Having said that, VAMOS PACHUCA!!!!!

Pachuca 3
United 0

Pachuca 2
United 0

Are there plans to air UEFA Champions League in HD in the U.S. anytime soon?

Need info on streaming the Pachuca match tonight as I'll b e working. Anyone have a link . . . .

Posted by: hurry the boss is coming | April 1, 2008 02:38 PM

I think Mr. Stewart says it so well...

Tonight's the night
It's gonna be all right
Cause I'm in love with you woman
Ain't nobody gonna stop us now

VAMOS UNITED!!111!!

Most of all, United should hope to come out of it with a minimum of injuries and cards. Speaking of which, do cards carry over from the previous round? If so, which United players are vulnerable?

Go, Go United, we can win in Mexico; Pachuca is a piece cake.

hey once again... http://soccernet-akamai.espn.go.com/scoreboard?league=all&cc=5901

espn soccernet isnt great, but at least it's a score.

i would not be happy with a one goal loss, and neither should United. We used players cautiously in the KC opener, I want to see Soehn's strategy rewarded by a victory against the gophers. Vamos United!

1-1. why not. If some of these same players can just barely lose due to Nick Rimando's errors in Chile or Troy Perkins's errors in Guadalajara, why not tie in Pachuca? At least the first leg is on the road this time.

TVUPlayer (http://www.tvunetworks.com) has Fox Soccer Channel 24 hours a day on TVU channel 21500.

DCU better build a lead early because they will barely be moving in the final 25 minutes at that altitude, at this point in the season.

That was in response to the question about streams, by the way, not a plug for TVU.

Dc United 1 - Pachuca 2

We bunker in to prserve the road draw, but Pachuca breaks through in the 87'.

DCU wins 3 - 1 at RFK to make it to the Final.

1-0 Barcelona. Krkic 12'.

1-1

DC win at home.

What is Moreno's status?

I'd just like to see one away goal tonight...it is a great time to move forward in this tournament, with Pachuca not playing well.

Pachuca 6 - 0
DC lose Emilio and Gallardo to season ending injuries and Tommy is knocked out by something thrown from the stands (battery?). Then DCU uses their DP spot from Clorado to sign Gomez away from Colorado while trading away Namoff and Tino for his rights.
Book It.

it would be great if the best news for dc was not that twellman is sidelined for 6 weeks

It was funny watching Ronaldo score that goal. You could tell he was excited immediately and wanted to get up, but the hit and the pain soon caught up to him and he went down again hard.

I would love a win or tie, but honestly would be happy for a 1 goal loss. I fear a much worse result however...

We are usually near catatonic at 5000 feet (Colorado) so I just do not have a good feelng about this one at 8000 feet.

Pachuca 2:0 DCU

How much experience did Gallardo and the Gonzalos have playing at altitude in South America? That will be a big factor in how the team does tonight IMO.

Are guys kidding me? how are u DCU fans if u are thinking your team is gonna lose COME ON!!!! DC UNITED is going to win!!!

VAMOS UNITED!!!!

United would love to come away with a tie, but playing on the road at altitude against a strong Mexican opponent spells trouble. Would you be happy with a one-goal loss?

I am starting not to like u Goff stop writing this dumb things

I think it is laughable when, for example, broadcasters say that the Packers have an advantage because they play outdoors and in the cold, so home field advantage for them would really hurt a team like Atlanta or Dallas. As if all of the players grew up in Florida and had never seen a snowflake...

United would love to come home witha win , but playing on the road at altitude against a strong Mexican side spells trouble. Would you be happy with a tie?

THats how it should have been!!!! United doesnt want to tie thay want to WIN!!!!!!!

I like this new behindthebadge.com

hopefully we can go there before each game and get the starting lineup like they had for the KC game.

Come to think of it, "away" goals aren't included in this tournament...so, no, I wouldn't be happy with any loss.

Ahh, I get it...

In that case: Pachuca 7 - DCU 0. Yeah. The defense plays horribly out-of-sync, the midfield wastes chances and can't link up, and Emilio's unable to find the net as all of Pachuca's defense surrounds him.

Yup. That will be the story.

Pachuca 0-1 DCU
!Si, se puede!

I would NOT be happy with a one goal loss (though I wouldn't be devestated, either). DC United is good enough to beat this Pachuca team, which isn't extremely strong right now. It's time to start earning some points on Mexican soil.
My prediction: 1-1.

I would love a 0-1 loss.. I would still swallow a 0-2 loss... Anything above that, and we're f...er... screwed.

I would go nuts for a tie and if we would win, I would go f... er.. uh, feel out of this world!

1-0 pachuca

i'd be super excited about a tie. that would give us a realistic shot at advancing at home.

I was just now checking the rules at the CONCACAF site (http://www.concacaf.com/stats_regs.asp) and indeed, away goals do not factor into it. This means that any tiebreaking that may be required will take place at Estadio RFK. I assume that the order of the games at each stage (including the final, which is also a two-game affair) is determined by a random process.

Reading these rules always turns up something interesting. For instance, I just learned that no individual may play for two or more participating teams. So I guess we won't see United doing any deals with Saprissa for the next few weeks, eh?

you guys are stupid

1-nil to united.
i'm callin it right now.
gol coming from a Devon McTavish (who else!?) header in the 33rd minute.

DC puts up the Great Wall of Peralta through the remaining 1st half minutes and the 2nd half.

Wells makes an awesome save in the 2nd half but the Tuzos get nothing out of this match.

In the handful of Pachuca games this spring I've caught on the tee-vee, they don't look like the Pachuca of 1 or 2 years ago.

Having said that, DC didn't look like world-beaters against KC, and the altitude will be a big albatross around DCU's necks. I'm also ever so slightly worried about Wells in goal.

Mexican league gurus please correct, but it seems Pachuca has been susceptible in league play right up the middle. Maybe going straight at them would be good...right up until DCU's lungs fall out.

I'm hoping for better, but I think maybe 3-1 Pachuca.

Clearly a win would be preferable and a draw would put United in a pretty good position going into the second leg.

Down 1 goal, wouldn't be great, but I'd would be manageable. I'd feel better being down 1 goal coming back to RFK that I probably would being up 1 goal going to Mexico.

I expect United will look a little more composed while playing in Mexico with Moreno and Fred in the line-up. Plus, Gallardo will probably be a bit more comfortable playing in a more traditional latin american football scene than what he was introduced to on Saturday (not that I think he had a bad game against Kansas City).

which TVU network channel is showing the Roma game?

Do you guys think this lineup would be too "offensive" for Soehn to trot out this evening?

Wells; {I'd like to see Carvallo soon}
Burch, Martinez, Peralta, Namoff;
Fred, Simms, Gallardo, Quaranta;
Moreno {Niell if Jamie's hammy isn't ready}, Emilio

United needs to sit back for the first half and absorb pressure. Pachuca will have the crowd behind them, as well as fitness, and will be looking to put the game away early.

If United can hold them scoreless until the 60th minute (insert Moreno here), and conserve their energy, they should be in good shape to counter to win or tie in the later minutes.

United 1
Pachuca 1

tmc, you need to have the Champion Cup leading scorer in there :)

Yeah, RK, I tend to think that McTavish will get the start - because it is a more conservative lineup with him in there. I was just wondering what people were expecting Soehn to put out there.

It doesn't matter where they grew up. I'm sure there are players on the Packers that had never seen a snowflake before going to Green Bay. It's the acclimation to the different environment that matters. If you've been training and playing in a warm environment or a dome it will affect the play. It alters the preparation, equipment used, mentality of players, and speed of the game. While one may hope the players are professionals and things like that wouldn't impact them, it does. It may not be a great advantage, but it's an advantage. The same applies to most outdoor sports and leagues including soccer and MLS.

Where in Gaithersburg can I watch the game tonight? (my usual FSC place closes at 10:00pm...)

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

PS: thank you "I-270" in the other thread for your Germantown suggestions.

Washington Post Front Page
Wednesday April 2, 2008

DC United 2 Pachuca 0
Goals by Emilio & Gallardo

Soccer Insider Nation - Can someone open this link for me?

http://www.epltalk.com/premier-league-major-league-soccer/1724

Something is on there I'm curious about that I can't read at work.

I think (scary start I know)that we should start Tino on the right wing so we can use McTavish as a defensive sub should we grab a goal and need fresh legs to defend.

Washington Post Front Page
Wednesday April 2, 2008

DC United 2 Pachuca 0
Goals by Emilio & Gallardo

Posted by: yo its me | April 1, 2008 04:32 PM
=====================
I second that.

VAMOS UNITED!

Starting lineup:

Wells

Burch - Gonzo#1 - Gonzo#2 - Carroll #1 - Namoff

McTavish - Simms - Mediate - Carroll #2 - Fred

Final catenaccio score:

DCU 0: PAC 0

Virginia Blue Blood: "Can someone open this link for me?"

All you need to know: April 1, 2008

Soccer Insider Nation - Can someone open this link for me?

http://www.epltalk.com/premier-league-major-league-soccer/1724

Something is on there I'm curious about that I can't read at work.

Posted by: Virginia Blue Blood | April 1, 2008 04:32 PM
==========================================

VBB: This story is about a proposal for yet another tournament to run concurrently with the MLS season, this one involving MLS and EPL teams. It is in all likelihood an April Fools joke; there is nothing about it at the MLS site. As if MLS teams, especially the top teams, need any more congestion fixture.

This is my take. A DCU tie tonight gives DCU a 50% chance (give or take) of advancing. A loss tonight by a goal means DCU needs to score two more goals than than Pachuca, a battle-tested squad with trophies which it had to win by beating teams or playing for a tie or a one-goal loss on the road. A DCU loss gives DCU a 25% chance of advancing at best. Anything less than tie will be very tough to overcome. A loss is a bad result for me.

Make that fixture congestion.

A loss tonight by a goal means DCU needs to score two more goals than than Pachuca...
==========================================

Are you saying that Pachuca should be favored in a 30-minute minigame at RFK in the event of a one-goal win by DCU next week?

Goff: What's up with the link for your Sanchez entry? I haven't been able to get it to work all day.

All your other links work fine.

Thanks,
Dave

Thanks - I figured as much. Just wanted to see what it was. Sometimes you uncover cool things - like Houston has put out rapid requests for designs for its park recently.

Are you saying that Pachuca should be favored in a 30-minute minigame at RFK in the event of a one-goal win by DCU next week?

I forgot about that option. I would prefer to end it in regulation, not extra time. The longer it goes, the more confidence Pachuca would have.

Pachuca is in third place in their group.
Overall in the Clausura, they are probably in the middle of the pack. I think DCU has a chance.
Link to soccernet:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/tables?league=mex.1&cc=5901

Not a plug for Bailey's in Ballston, but they told me they have FSC, they will show the game if anyone shows up and asks, and it's $2.50 pint night all night...
Kitty Oshea's did the trick for me for the away leg with HV, but Bailey's is a little closer to home.
Thanks for all the info on the streaming video everyone, I might try to get it running but the sub $3.00 pints sound like an affordable alternative.
Hopefully I'll get the green light and run out for a couple hours later.

Holler!

Is tonight's game on local radio?
Any other options for those folks without FSC (or a bar that shows FSC)?

I don't know that I'd be *happy* with a one-goal loss, but I wouldn't lose hope about what we could accomplish in the return leg.

Is tonight's game on local radio?
Any other options for those folks without FSC (or a bar that shows FSC)?

Posted by: LoCo Co | April 1, 2008 05:22 PM
====================
Finn MacCools or Trusty's. Both in SE DC.

Ich gehöre zu prognostizieren, dass DC gewinnt 5-0 und Devon McTavish werden alle Gäste von ihnen.

Is tonight's game on local radio?
=========================================

On 1050 AM, but the signal is weak, so most of us will be listening on our 'puters:

http://www.federalnewsradio.com/

I think United does well today with a 1-0 victory on the road. I don't know why, but I just have a feeling. We have one of the best teams that we have ever had talent wise, and I think the defense bounces back after the two mistakes from last Saturday.

I think it is laughable when, for example, broadcasters say that the Packers have an advantage because they play outdoors and in the cold, so home field advantage for them would really hurt a team like Atlanta or Dallas. As if all of the players grew up in Florida and had never seen a snowflake...

Posted by: RK | April 1, 2008 03:45 PM
----------

I don't tend to have the same reaction. When internet weisenhemers laugh off established fact, I don't get amused so much as annoyed.

Ich gehöre zu prognostizieren, dass DC gewinnt 5-0 und Devon McTavish werden alle Gäste von ihnen.

Posted by: De German | April 1, 2008 05:30 PM
==================

Ich bin auch ein Streudel, und manchmal eine Sachertort.

I think everyone is wrong.

DC United 4 Pachuca 1

DC United should replace Niell with Cesar.

What fact? That players that live in warm climates can't play in the cold?

if your annoyed by peoples comments take em with a grain of salt.
or leave.
DCU-2
Pachuca-0
Vamos United!

To get a sense of how DC United and Houston might perform, I took a look at the combined record of MLS teams playing against Mexican and Costa Rican teams in the CONCACAF Champions cup since 2002, the year the current home-and-away format began.

MLS teams are a combined 2-14 in those series. MLS teams have a respectable home record of 9-1-6, but never a margin of victory greater than 2 goals. The road record is awful at 0-16-0 -- no wins or ties, and in some cases losing by up to 6 goals on the away leg.

So what does DCU need to do tonight to advance? MLS teams that have held the away score to a one-goal loss have a 2-4 series record, whereas MLS teams that lose by more than one have a 0-10 record. So hopefully they keep it close enough to have a chance. Regardless of history, let's hope DCU makes history tonight with a win or even a draw!

The news for Houston - MLS teams that win by 2 at home have a 2-3 series record (MLS clubs have never won by more than 2 goals), while MLS teams that don't achieve a 2 goal margin of victory in the home game have a 0-11 series record. We'll see if the Dynamo can run up the score tonight . . . they will need the cushion!

We'll see if the Dynamo can run up the score tonight...
==========================================

Actually, tomorrow night.

I'm not going to make a score prediction, but I will predict this:

If we come out trying to play the ball on the ground and let it do the running for us (you know, the way skillful teams often play), we will come out of this game with a good result. This is a Pachuca team that is much weaker in the back without Mosquera, and their midfield seemed disjointed against Motagua (who should have left their home leg up 4-0, but were hurt by Albright-level finishing).

If we try the same thing we did in KC, playing long balls at their outside backs, we will run out of gas before an hour has passed, and will have a fairly deep hole to dig ourselves out of.

This game is going to come down to keeping mistakes to a minimum (which I believe we can do, with the composure of Martinez and Peralta being a big factor there), keeping possession, and our tactical decisions. A short passing game will give Gallardo more touches and will keep us from getting gassed longer. It also happens to be much more suited to our players than what we attempted against KC.

watch the game here..now i'm not sure 4:00-6:00 really means 4AM EST.

http://www1.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=9356&part=sports

Greetings from sunny Santa Monica! The weather is great, and the sunset will be even better. How's it back home?

To quote that remarkable 80s band, Europe:

"It's the final countdown!"

Does FIFA permit players to come over to the sideline for a whiff of oxygen? Geez, if NFL players can suck on the stuff after three minutes of play, why can't soccer players take a drag or two when they find themselves near the bench?

Who are these announcers on Fox Soccer Channel right now, liverpool game, are they drunk,crazy?!

Who are these announcers on Fox Soccer Channel right now, liverpool game, are they drunk,crazy?!

===============

That's FanZone - kinda like MST 3000 for the Premiership.

"Geez, if NFL players can suck on the stuff after three minutes of play, why can't soccer players take a drag or two when they find themselves near the bench?"

I believe Johan Cruyff used to "take a drag or two" at halftime of games. But it was from a cigarette, not an oxygen tank.

Why is everyone saying the altitude doesn't give us a chance? Granted Estadio Jalisco is not quite as high as Pachuca's stadium, but I bet the air quality was not so good (plus that rain that made our touch brutal). If we were able to play Chivas fairly close last year with a much weaker back line (plus remember Troy was in early season form) - why shouldn't we have a shot against a medicore Pachuca. They really have had an indifferent season so far (only one decent win in the last couple weeks when I checked last week).

I'd be more confident if we could beat the Wiz...

That said, I think the boys will step up with the higher stakes and come home with a 1-1 draw.

Catorce minutos y contando.

Goff started a new thread about 45 minutes ago.

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