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US: DC United 5, Real Salt Lake 1 [Thu Sep 1st, 2005]
Jaime Moreno and his fellow DC United players have rolled past visiting Real Salt Lake in the US capital.
DC United 5, Real Salt Lake 1
San Jose fans are rejoicing, not because they have a special soft spot for DC United, but because by virtue of Real Salt Lake's loss, the Earthquakes have become the first MLS club to clinch a playoff spot out of the West. Aiding San Jose's cause were two goals by United striker Jaime Moreno, which led a 5-1 rout of Salt Lake at RFK Stadium in the clubs' first ever meeting.
The visitors simply could not handle United's incisive runs and balls through the heart of their defence, and it was such a play that opened the scoring.
Christian Gomez created Moreno's first goal, a penalty kick, when he beat Real goalkeeper Jay Nolly to a through ball inside the penalty area and was clattered to the ground. Moreno, the king of penalties, stroked the ball into the lower left corner to give United an early first half lead.
Things remained level and in doubt for the hosts for the next half hour until Freddy Adu took advantage of some space from 25 yards outside of Nolly's penalty area. The youngster, starting in place of Santino Quaranta, lashed a left-footed injury-time shot into the lower left corner to give United a two-goal half-time cushion.
Real had ample opportunities to score, even coming so close as to strike the crossbar in the first half, only to see Eddie Pope's follow-up somehow sky over the bar only inches from the goal.
But they did pull one back to make things interesting for a few minutes in the second half. Debutant Melvin Tarley, on loan from USL first division side Minnesota Thunder, beat the United defense to a neat through ball before rounding goalkeeper Nick Rimando and tapping into an open goal in the 51st minute.
But the comeback was short-lived, as Gomez was able to bundle home the ball for United's third goal after Nolly saved his initial effort. Moreno then scored the 90th goal of his legendary MLS career twelve minutes from time.
Coming off to a standing ovation to make way for reserve Matt Nickell, Moreno then watched from the bench a few moments later as another reserve, Jamil Walker, completed the scoring in style thanks to another delicious pass through the heart of the visitors' defense from United midfielder Clyde Simms.
For United, the victory moves them into second place in the Eastern standings with 41 points.
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