WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 2, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- DC United did the smart thing by trying to make a transitional squad work against Cruz Azul on Wednesday night at RFK Stadium, and it almost worked. Instead, DC look to be on their way out of the CONCACAF Champions League after dropping their third straight game.
Cruz Azul's win came courtesy of Pablo Zeballos backside, deflecting Cesar Villaluz's shot and keeping Cruz Azul level on six points with everyone else in Group A.
"You know, the effort and the energy that a lot of the young guys brought on the field, obviously mixed with some of the veteran guys, it was a good, quality performance," DC coach Tommy Soehn said. "Unfortunately the way the goal happened, it was well wide and it ends up hitting someone in the backside and we end up eating one."
Though the only goal that went in can be written off as an oddity, Cruz Azul dominated the attack with seven of their 16 shots on goal. DC put two of their seven on frame. The teams were level on corners with six each.
Also on Wednesday, the two USL-1 participants remained top of their groups. Montreal beat Olimpia 2-1 in Honduras and Puerto Rico drew 2-2 with Municipal in Guatemala. Montreal now leads Group C by three points, with Puerto Rico up by four in Group D.
Firpo got a 1-0 win over San Francisco in San Salvador in the night's other game. That result leaves Houston third in Group B, ahead of San Francisco on goal differential.
