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United Misses MLS Postseason
The Crew's Chad Marshall, left, holds back D.C. United's Luciano Emilio.
(Jay Laprete - AP)
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Just before halftime, though, Emilio drew out Crew goalie Will Hesmer and hooked a shot off the same pole.
"We were getting chances, we were confident and we had the momentum for the majority of the game," Namoff said. "We were expecting a goal. We were a little shocked we didn't get one in the first half."
United sustained the pressure after the break, and when Moreno, who did not start because of a knee injury, entered in the 54th minute, Columbus seemed ready to crack. But six minutes later, the Bolivian forward faltered from 17 yards after being set up by Francis Doe, a miss that prompted Crayton, at the other end of the field, to fall backward in disbelief. "I should have done better with it," Moreno admitted.
Between the 72nd and 77th minutes, United's season essentially died. Emilio, scoreless in league play since Aug. 2, missed high from the top of the penalty area, Hesmer made a diving save on Guerrero and, on a scramble in the box, Khumalo lifted a short shot off the crossbar.
"Just an inch or two here or there," Soehn said, "and it is a different game."
All that remained was Evans's strike from distance and the final 13 minutes of United's regular season.
"We did everything we wanted to do, but nothing would go in," midfielder Santino Quaranta said. "It's tough, but at the end of the day, we just weren't good enough."
