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A Step Ahead of the Rest
Playmaking midfielder Christian Gomez has given United a helping hand since he joined the team in August 2004.
(By Preston Keres -- The Washington Post)
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Although the primary motivation for both Gomez and the team is a berth in the Eastern Conference title game, redemption for their dishonorable departures last year has also become a driving force. United was ousted by Chicago in the opening round without scoring a goal and Gomez, known to that point for his exemplary behavior, was red-carded in Game 2 for spitting in the face of Fire defender C.J. Brown.
"For me, that is in the past. I made a mistake," Gomez said. "It's about this year now. All we're thinking about is the cup."
Gomez, who will turn 32 next month, has been with United since August 2004, a late-season signing that propelled the club to its fourth championship that fall. He is neither the team captain -- that honor is held by 11-year veteran Moreno -- nor the emotional leader, a task carried by expressive midfielder Ben Olsen.
But in the run of play, when a split-second decision and an inventive touch can turn the course of a match, Gomez is the composer.
"He has completely changed our team," Olsen said. "Without a guy like Christian, we don't have even close to the success that we've had the last two or three years. We were really missing that guy for several years, post-Marco."
Etcheverry's influence began to wane in 2000 and although he remained with the club for three more years, it became clear to the front office that a new playmaker would be needed soon.
United uncovered Gomez in late 2002, when then-coach Ray Hudson embarked on an offseason scouting trip to Argentina. Finances and other issues prevented a deal at that time, but D.C. kept an eye on Gomez and forged a strong relationship with his representatives in South America.
"As soon as he made his first touch, it was so impressive, so clean, I thought this might be exactly what we want," Hudson, now a TV commentator, recalled last week. "He was so slippery and quick, a jackrabbit of a player."
When Hudson was dismissed following the 2003 season and replaced by Peter Nowak, United did not initially see a need to pursue Gomez again.
"Peter wanted to stick with the younger guys to begin with," technical director Dave Kasper said, "but by midseason, we felt we needed a playmaker."
Gomez arrived in time for the final nine regular season games in 2004, then helped United race through the playoffs and beat Kansas City for the championship. In two full seasons since, he has played in all but three matches and emerged as the highest-scoring midfielder in the league.
His finest goal came in June this year when he flicked a pass over a Los Angeles defender and, in one flowing motion, whirled past him, let the ball take a knee-high bounce and lashed a 25-yard shot past the goalkeeper. He had two-goal games against Chivas USA last month and Chicago last weekend.
