Goals Galore at RFK
By John E De Freitas
WI Sports Writer
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Last Saturday night RFK stadium was not buzzing with a low-scoring National baseball result, this time it was professional soccer - DC United vs. visiting Los Angeles Galaxy - and by the end of ninety minutes there were seven goals, five legal goals scored with another two that went into the nets.
After the final whistle was blown, DC United had scored three goals, the Galaxy scored two goals but it was recorded as a 3-2 win for the Galaxy. How? DC United defender Bobby Boswell, trying to defend his goal, scored on his own goalkeeper. Because the ball went into DC United’s goal, it appears on the score card as a goal for Galaxy.
Moreno said, “I did not think I was offside, but you know, that was the linesman's decision and I hope he was right, because if he's not, you know, it could have changed a lot, but who knows, It's done now.”
In the 37th minute DC United’s Christian Gomez served an across the goal pass and Bryan Namoff smashed it into the roof of the nets and away from goalkeeper Kevin Hartman's reach.
Teams went into the locker room 1-1. In the second half, Donovan tested DC United goalkeeper Nick Rimando a few times
unsuccessfully. In the 53rd minute Namoff used excessive force, knocking Herculez Gomez to the turf just outside the United penalty area.
Referee Jair Marrufo gave Namoff a yellow card for the rough play and a free kick to the Galaxy. The entire DC United team set up a wall ten yards from the ball, and twenty yards from the goal. Donovan then treated the fans to a “Bend It Like Beckham” shot, sending the ball curling over the heads of the defenders, around the wall with sufficient height to sail over Rimando’s head, and into the goal giving his team the go-ahead goal.
Ten minutes after Donovan scored in the 66th minute, Jaime Moreno was brought down in the penalty area by Ugo Ihemelu. Referee Marrufo ignored Ihemelu’s plea for a hand ball by Moreno and pointed to the penalty spot. Moreno scored his 10th penalty kick of the season. The game was now tied up at 2-2, but before the fans could stop celebrating Moreno’s goal Donovan (Man of the Match) scored showing the crowd why he is the star forward for the National team.
Donovan said, “I wanted to get into a good position, so I ran into the box. Cobi Jones, is a great soccer player. He knows where to put the ball for you to score. I knew if I got into a good position Cobi would find me. That was so easy, anyone could have scored.”
DC United fought back trying to do what they have done all season, come from behind to win. This time the final whistle went and the Galaxy surprised themselves with a road win, the first since June, 27, 2004.
Coach Peter Nowak said, “This was not the DC United I knew, and as I said I'm going to blame myself because it is my job to prepare this team and I think tonight I did not.”