D.C. United 0, Columbus 1
Sept. 4, 2010

Summary: Undermanned United started brightly, gave up a goal when young keeper Bill Hamid muffed a clearance and promptly ran out of ideas. Final shots on goal: Columbus 2, United 0.

Conditions: For a change, quite pleasant. And still, only 12,075 showed up.

D.C. United: Decimated by injuries and national team call-ups, United dressed only 16 players. Dejan Jakovic (Canada) and Marc Burch (injury) both played Wednesday but were unavailable here, Jordan Graye started ahead of Devon McTavish, and interim coach Ben Olsen moved Clyde Simms from midfield to the back line. Former Crew man Jed Zayner filled one of the defensive spots despite being listed as “out” on the injury report. That left Julius James as the sole returnee at the back from Wednesday night’s game. The midfield was more stable, with Kurt Morsink taking Simms’ spot. The EPL should look at this game before deciding to stick with this new “25-man” rule.

4 Bill Hamid (GK): Terrific save on Gaven, but the one blunder was costly.

5 Jordan Graye (RB): Solid job on Gaven, who was much more threatening Wednesday night. Lapse in 85th gave Crew good opportunity.
6 Clyde Simms (CB): Held his ground very well in unfamiliar role.
5 Julius James (CB): A couple of dodgy moments in possession but solid defensively.
6 Jed Zayner (LB): Not bad at all.

5 Andy Najar (RM): A few more of the dazzling moments United fans have come to expect, but Francis stopped him cold a few times as well.
5 Kurt Morsink (CM): Seems to have cut down on the needless fouls. Subbed out in 87th with trainers taking a look.
6 Stephen King (CM): Solid work at both ends.
6 Santino Quaranta (LM): Several good runs but often frustrated in the end.

4 Danny Allsopp (F): Couldn’t quite get in the flow; subbed out for Moreno in 61st.
5 Pablo Hernandez (F): A menace once again but unable to test Hesmer.

Subs
6 Jaime Moreno (F): Worked hard, ran more than we’ve seen in recent months.
NR Devon McTavish (CB): Replaced Morsink, though he switched positions with Simms.

Columbus: William Hesmer returned to the net. Frankie Hejduk was ruled out due to injury, Adam Moffat didn’t make the 18, and toughman Danny O’Rourke was shuffled to the back line. Those moves opened space in the midfield for Dilly Duka and Kevin Burns, both effective as subs Wednesday night.

6 William Hesmer (GK): Not really pressed into action. Alert on the occasional through ball.

5 Danny O’Rourke (RB): Struggled at times to handle Quaranta. Didn’t instigate any incidents.
6 Andy Iro (CB): Effective at disrupting final ball in United possessions.
6 Chad Marshall (CB): See Andy Iro.
5 Gino Padula (LB): Injured early; subbed out in 30th.

5 Dilly Duka (RM): Good moments here and there. Subbed out for Garey in 77th.
5 Brian Carroll (CM): Not much productivity in the center, but nothing conceded.
5 Kevin Burns (CM): See Brian Carroll.
6 Eddie Gaven (LM): Not as effective as he was Wednesday, though he forced a good save from Hamid (the only save of the game at either end) on a surging run early in the second half.

7 Guillermo Barros Schelotto (F): Picked his spots very well, creating opportunities with deft touches and pouncing on Hamid error for the opening goal.
6 Steven Lenhart (F): Lost his man on a corner kick for best chance of the night; otherwise not involved that much until blazing shot over bar in 79th.

Subs
7 Shaun Francis (LB): Not the MLS Insider blogger. More effective than Padula in dealing with Najar, often getting the better of the United phenom 1-on-1.
NR Jason Garey (RM): Subbed for Duka in 77th.
NR Andres Mendoza: Time-wasting sub in stoppage time. Getting called offside when you’re supposed to be killing the clock probably won’t please Robert Warzycha.