MLS D.C. United

United and Boca Play To Scoreless Draw

Published on June 23, 2002 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
D.C. United News Release


WASHINGTON, DC (June 23, 2002) - Technically, today's match between D.C. United and Argentine side Boca Juniors was called a friendly, but there weren't many pleasantries exchanged on Sunday afternoon when the two squads fought to a 0-0 draw in front of 15,119 fans at RFK Stadium. Both squads had great chances to strike, but Boca 'keeper Roberto Abbondancieri and United net minder Nick Rimando made huge saves to keep the match scoreless for the full 90 minutes. The only man busier than the two 'keepers was referee Ali Saheli, who handed out nine yellow cards and one red card in the match. United head coach Ray Hudson was anything but pleased with the result, but was happy with how his team came out and played against one of the world's most prestigious clubs.

"I'm not satisfied with a draw. We were a far better team and had better chances. We showed much more daring, much more prowess and bravery in our attacking football and they didn't give us a thought," said Hudson. "We stood up to them toe-to-toe all over the park. I still feel disappointed that we didn't win the game, but I'll wake up tomorrow morning and say, 'We got a tie against that lot.' That's an achievement."

The first half saw plenty of action, but it proved fruitless for both squads. The first quality chance came from Boca midfielder Christian Gimenez in the 13th minute. Gimenez gathered a pass about 23 yards out and flicked the ball over Brandon Prideaux to get into the top left corner of the United penalty area. Gimenez got a shot off from 11 yards out, but it was deflected by both United defender Milton Reyes and goalkeeper Nick Rimando over the end line and out of danger. Two minutes later, United midfielder Lazo Alavanja sent a missile towards the upper right 90, but the shot sailed just over the crossbar. In the 26th minute, a Boca corner kick bounced through the box and found the foot of Xezeines' midfielder Gabriel Christovao, who had just Rimando to beat eight yards from the left post. Christovao went high with the shot, but so did Rimando as he made a sprawling save in the air to thwart the effort.

The game got a bit more interesting one minute later, with both teams making huge defensive plays and gaining the undivided attention of referee Ali Saheli. Alavanja made a big play in the 27th minute, coming back to stop a Guillermo Barrosschelotto breakaway with a clean tackle inside the box, with Barrosschelotto going down awkwardly on the play. The Boca forward picked up a yellow card in the 32nd minute when he re-entered the game without Saheli's authorization. The move would prove costly five minutes later after his rough challenge on United's Bobby Convey resulted in his second yellow and an automatic ejection from the match. United was able to find a little more space in the remainder of the half, and nearly took advantage on two well-struck efforts from 25 yards. It was Etcheverry in the 40th minute who unleashed a well-placed shot towards the middle of the goal, but Boca 'keeper Roberto Abbondancieri was able to tip the ball over the crossbar. On the ensuing corner, Moreno was able to get off a clean header, but it fell well wide of the left post. Two minutes later, Alavanja once again created trouble from long distance, as his shot from 25 yards was bumped wide of the left post by a crossed-up Abbondancieri.

The second half started slowly, but action picked up ten minutes into the second stanza when Rimando charged ten yards off his line to take the ball off the foot of Boca's Clemente Rodriguez on a one-on-one chance. In the 59th minute, the Black-and-Red developed two quality chances to take the lead, but Abbondancieri came up big again for the Xezeines. First, Etcheverry took a free kick from outside the right side of the penalty area, but Abbondancieri batted the ball down before it could nestle in the near upper corner of the goal. Seconds later, Petter Villegas rocketed a shot from 19 yards, but Abbondancieri came up big again, barely getting his hand on the ball to tip it over the crossbar.

Not to be outdone, Rimando made the save of the match in the 73rd minute to keep the score at 0-0. Off of a Boca corner kick, defender Nicolas Burdisso rose above the United defense at the far post and headed a solid shot towards the bottom corner of the goal. Rimando was able to make a right-footed reflex kick save to clear the ball out of the area and keep the match level. The last effort was just one of several calculated risks that paid off for the United 'keeper, and Hudson took notice of Rimando's daring and stellar play.

"Nick Rimando came through whenever he was called on," Hudson said. "He was superlative coming off his line. It was nice to see that, a goalkeeper that actually comes off his line."

>From there on out, neither team was able to mount a serious challenge until one minute into injury time, when Convey and Moreno gave it one last try for United. Convey made a run down the sideline from the midfield stripe and released the ball to the corner for Moreno, who was able to lose his defender and work the ball up the endline into the penalty area. Moreno's cross found the foot of Convey five yards from goal, but the effort couldn't make it through a gang of Boca defenders that had crowded into the six-yard box.

United will return to league action this Saturday when they host the Los Angeles Galaxy at 7:30 p.m. The game will mark the return of Hispanic Heritage Night, which should prove to provide one of the largest crowds of the year at RFK Stadium. It will also provide an opportunity for United to reach .500 for the first time since starting the season 1-1-0.

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Major League Soccer Stories from June 23, 2002


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