Behind the Badge

Mike Wise on Ben Olsen

05/11/2008 8:16 PM by Kyle Sheldon

Washington Post columnist Mike Wise is obviously a big fan of Behind the Badge - he liked our name so much that he took it and created a video segment on washingtonpost.com, titled Behind the Column. Pretty clever, Mike (we cannot, in fact, confirm that Mike Wise's video segment was created after the launch of Behind The Badge, but... it probably was).

Last week, he spent the day with Ben Olsen covering a number of topics including his time in D.C., playing on the 2006 World Cup, dealing with injuries and his future in the game, among other things. You can read the piece that ran in Sunday's paper right here and see the Behind the Column video below..

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Ben Olsen, News, Video

Reserve Game #2: DCU 0 - Chicago 2

05/09/2008 3:30 PM by Kyle Sheldon

D.C. United Reserves fell this morning to the Chicago Fire Reserves. United players were given the weekend off and will report Monday morning to begin work leading to next weekend's match at Chivas USA.

Here are the details:

Washington, DC (May 9, 2008) – D.C. United reserves mirrored the first team loss the night before, falling 0-2 on Friday morning to the Chicago Fire reserves. United failed to get many shots and Chicago was able to capitalize, with midfielder Peter Lowry scoring twice.

With pouring rain weather conditions, neither team was able to create many scoring opportunities in the first half. One of the Fire’s best chances came in the 28th minute, when a foul just outside the box gave the Fire a free kick. In an attempt to catch United off guard, Lowry took a quick shot that sailed just over the cross bar.

Only a couple of minutes later, Chicago had another good look at the goal, when midfielder Stephen King collected a pass from forward Patrick Nyarko and took a shot on goal. United’s keeper Jose Carvallo was up to the task and made an easy save.

Momentum then shifted in United’s favor when Jeremy Barlow connected with a header off a pass from guest player Laurent Manuel in the 32nd minute. The midfielder could not get it on target however and it went high over the goal. Eight minutes before the end of the first half, D.C. earned a corner kick. Barlow’s cross was right on target but guest player Kenny Anaba’s header went wide right. The first half ended scoreless with both teams frustrated.

Nine minutes into the second half, Chicago scored their first goal. Nyarko sent a pass inside the 18-yard box to Lowry. The midfielder sent in a low ball that Carvallo could not get a hand on and found the back of the net.

Play started to get intense as Chicago’s midfielder Mike Banner got a yellow card for a dangerous foul in the eleventh minute. In the 21st, defender Dasan Robinson earned Chicago’s second yellow card. Only a minute later, D.C.’s guest player Manuel followed with a caution.

Chicago took advantage of United’s inability to create scoring chances. In the 41st, it was Lowry again who scored, when he kicked a high ball that went over Carvallo’s head and bounced into the back of the net.

United’s last scoring opportunity came right at the end of the second half, when Ryan Cordeiro left behind a defender and got a clear look at the goal. The midfielder took a shot but it went just over the crossbar. That would be the last look at the goal for either team as the head referee blew the final whistle two minutes later. Due to United’s injury woes, guest players Manuel, Anaba and Brandon Owens suited up for the Black-and-Red this morning. United’s Reserve Division record fell to 1-1 while Chicago improved to 2-1-0.

Game summary.

Scoring summary.
CHI – Peter Lowry 54 (assisted by Nyarko)
CHI – Peter Lowry 86

Lineups.
D.C. United: Jose Carvallo; Laurent Manuel, Brandon Owens, Pat Carroll, Mike Zaher; Quavas Kirk, Dane Murphy, Dan Stratford, Ryan Cordeiro; Jeremy Barlow, Kenny Anaba (Francis Doe 73).

Chicago Fire: Nick Noble; Wilman Conde, Dasan Robinson, Austin Washington (Stephen Bode 45), Daniel Woolard; Stephen King, Kai Kasiguran (Andy Herron 45), Peter Lowry, Mike Banner; Calen Carr, Patrick Nyarko.

Stats.
DC – Shots: 5, Saves: 1, Fouls: 9; Corner kicks: 4, Offsides: 1
CHI – Shots: 5, Saves: 1, Fouls: 4, Corner kicks: 8, Offsides: 2

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Reserves

MLS Game #7: DCU 0 - Chicago 2

05/09/2008 12:11 AM by Doug Hicks

It was setting up to be such a special night for the Black-and-Red. A new presenting sponsor, a national television audience, a big crowd and the chance to knock off a hot opponent. It was not to be, though.

Here's dcunited.com's take on the match.

And some quotes from those involved:

D.C. United Head Coach Tom Soehn

On the current situation

“It’s very concerning. I asked the guys to come out with the effort and I thought that improved a bit, but still, over 90 minutes it still wasn’t good enough. We broke down and good teams are going to punish you. So it’s very concerning. We’ve got to really evaluate and make sure now that we turn this around. It’s getting to a crucial time.”

On moving forward

“I think first off we need to get a couple guys healthy, so that we can select from everybody. But in the final third we lack creativity and that final punch, and we’re going to have to work real hard to make sure now that killer instinct comes back.”

On similarities to last season

“I think it sits in our head, but the Colorado game still sits in my head, that we came out without any passion and any energy. That improved today, but it still wasn’t good enough, so we have to continue to do that consistently. But yeah – it’s similar to last year, but it’s not last year. It’s this year and we have to fix it now.”

On sensing pressure

“There’s always pressure. We’re not winning, so I have to fix it.”

D.C. United Midfielder Rod Dyachenko

On the game

“I thought we were moving the ball around. I thought we were breaking them down little by little, getting some shots off. After the goal, we closed down a little bit.”

D.C. United Midfielder Santino Quaranta

On frustration

“You work so hard and you come in with a mindset…We worked very hard and we had a let down, and they get a goal. It’s just not good enough.”

On Chicago’s first goal (and getting caught out of position)

“I’m in a position now, obviously I like to attack as a player. It just naturally when the ball was in the air I wanted to go help Bryan [Namoff]. I didn’t know that nobody else was going to be behind me. As an attacking player, I was just trying to help defensively. I ran so much and worked so hard. I want to go forward, that’s my first instinct. I’m in a situation where I have to be honest, and I was honest about it.”

On the loss

“It happens, you learn. Getting caught, our shape was bad. They are a good team. You have to give these guys credit. They went on the road, and they are so honest, and they work so hard as a team. They defend and are very athletic. They were a better team.”

On Chicago

“They are organized. They are doing the things right to win right now. You have to give them credit.”

D.C. United Forward Jaime Moreno

On the loss

“I don’t know what to think anymore, because we work so hard each week. I don’t think we were playing so bad, you know, we created chances but we couldn’t put it away. It one of those things where you have to make your luck change and the only way to do it is to keep working. We got nothing else to do…We have to turn it around, that’s the only way.”

On playing in the center (play making role)

“I always like to be involved with the ball. Unfortunately, we didn’t create enough chances to score. That is something that we are struggling with right now.”

D.C. United Forward Luciano Emilio

On the loss

“It’s very sad for us not to be able to win, not to be able to play a soccer that looks good, so it’s a very disappointing situation.”

On what to do to avoid home losses

“We have to maintain the order of the game from beginning to end. For a moment we lost the order. When someone scores on us, we get lost. We haven’t come in with enough clarity to be able to score.”

On the absence of Fred and Gallardo

“Of course, they’re players that help out a lot, especially in my case, a forward depends on them.”

Chicago Fire Head Coach Denis Hamlett

On getting ready for D.C.

“We respect them cause they’re a good team and we know coming in here it’s always going to be good soccer. Our guys know that and these guys are professionals, they know the importance of every game.”

Chicago Fire Defender Diego Gutierrez

On beating D.C. United

“It’s about winning every week, not necessarily just against D.C. because it’s a long season. This is a team that it trying to establish a tradition, an identity, a character and I think we’re on the right track.”

On the defensive performance

“I feel very good right now, collectively and personally, things are going right for us. We have to keep working with humility, with honesty and with a strong will. This group keeps advancing, keeps getting better and I hope that continues.”

Chicago Fire Midfielder Justin Mapp

On his goal

“Chad [Barrett] did a good job of getting on the end of it and knocking it back down. It was just me there. I tried to put it on target and thankfully I was able to.”

Chicago Fire Midfielder Cuauhtémoc Blanco

On going forward

“We are only just beginning the season. We have to keep working and getting better each day.”

So there you have it. The reserves suit up in the morning. Kick-off is set for 10:00 a.m. on the training field.

6 Comments

Chicago Fire

The VW Garage...

05/08/2008 5:44 PM by Kyle Sheldon

... makes its debut tonight - along with the new kits - and it is really, really cool. I just stopped by to check it out and they're putting the finishing touches on what is going to be a very popular pre-game spot. Below are a few select photos, but you can find a whole bunch on the Video & Pics page.

A few highlights: two Xboxes with FIFA '08 ready to roll, two fooseball tables (I'll beat you), a t-shirt printer that provides several VW choices (see them here) and all kinds of old DCU gear and paraphernalia - my favorite of which might be an old Steve Guppy jersey on the wall (see below).

Be sure to check out prior to kickoff each game. To access the V-dub garage head towards section 337 and take the stairs all the way down to field side.

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Volkswagen

What's the deal with... concessions?

05/08/2008 5:06 PM by Kyle Sheldon

Last week, we brought you the first installment of our new feature “What’s the deal with…” where we address the most pressing topics and questions on the minds of our fans. The first interview our former head coach and current color analyst on Comcast SportsNet, Thomas Rongen. You can read our interview about his sharp bowtie here.

This week, we’ve heard some rumbling that concessions at RFK Stadium have not been up to par, so we sat down with our Executive Vice President Stephen Zack and asked him about it:

btb.com: “So... what’s the deal with concessions?”

Zack: “It’s necessary to provide a little background info here. During the last three years, RFK had a relationship with a concessionaire company called Aramark. When the Nationals left for their new stadium, the agreement with Aramark concluded as well. Unfortunately, a new vendor was brought on board only a few weeks before our first game. After coming to an agreement with our new concessionaire, Ovations, they had only a few weeks to move in to RFK, hire and train new staff and review and replace old equipment. We immediately became one of their biggest clients and we’ve experienced some growing pains during our first few home games. We saw the most issues for our April 26 game when we had 23,000-plus people in the building. Because it was the first game of the year of that size, our fans experienced some long lines and slower service.”

Btb.com: “What steps have you taken since the beginning of the season to improve the quality of service?”

Zack: “Well, from the very first game, we’ve been in continuous discussions with Ovations on how to improve service. We met with their top people again this week, along with the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission and I can assure you we’re all on the same page about wanting to improve the experience at RFK. We believe they clearly understand our expectations and are taking steps to provide improved service for all future games. That being said, they’re still learning and as much as we try to plan for everything, there’s always something that pops up. We’ll do our best to meet these challenges head-on and provide improvements in the coming weeks.”

Btb.com: “Outside of those issues, what other differences or improvements have you seen with Ovations from previous years?”

Zack: To their credit, Ovations has listened to some of our suggestions and have been providing fans with expanded – and unique – menu options. Along with enhanced food selections, they immediately responded to beer and beverage location issues. Additionally, after our concerns following the April 26 match, they quickly identified additional locations that can be opened when we have larger crowds that require us to use the 400 level. Having said all of that, we believe we’re on the right track to provide top quality service to our fans and look forward to improvements in the upcoming weeks and months.

Do you have something on your mind - a question perhaps - that you'd like us to address? Feel free to put it in the comments below and we'll think about taking on your topic in the next editions of "What's the deal with..."

4 Comments

What's the Deal?

MLS Game #7: DCU vs. Chicago

05/08/2008 10:09 AM by Kyle Sheldon

Big game tonight for a lot of reasons - disappointing loss in Colorado on Sunday, national TV game (ESPN2!), debut of the new uniforms and the big rivalry with Chicago! There are a ton of things happening both before and during the game tonight. Get all of those details here.

To get you prepared for the game here's some of what's being written about United...

John Haydon's piece is on the team's better play at RFK - from the Washington Times.
In the Washington Examiner, Craig Stouffer writes that the guys are ready for the Fire.
Charlie Boehm writes about the early season struggles and thinks a change is needed - from the mothership, dcunited.com. And here are a ton of news and notes.
At espn.com, Jeff Carlisle provides five story lines and five players to keep an eye on.
USA Today with a preview from an unnamed somebody.
The Washington Post's Steve Goff writes about Fire coach Denis Hamlet who played at George Mason.
Finally, here is the weather outlook from the Capital Weather Gang's UnitedCast.

Don't forget, free parking tonight for everyone (!), courtesy of Volkswagen!

Back with more later...

1 Comments

Chicago Fire, News

Photo of the Day: Changes at RFK

05/08/2008 9:10 AM by Kyle Sheldon

This was put up yesterday and you'll see more all around the stadium tonight...

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Marcelo Gallardo

A whole buncha updates [now updated!]

05/07/2008 4:19 PM by Kyle Sheldon

Lots to tell you about in advance of tomorrow's game:

Don't forget that all parking tomorrow (D.C. United vs. the Chicago Fire!) is complimentary (that means free), courtesy of our new partner, Volkswagen. They're awesome.
Before the first team game, the United Academy U-18 team will play Potomac in a game that is open to fans who have tickets for the first team match. Kickoff is set for 4:45 p.m. (ET!).
Tomorrow's kickoff time is set for 8:02 p.m. ET due to ESPN2 hosting a half-hour pre-game show beginning at 7:30 p.m. That just means more time for tailgating!
Prior to kickoff, a moment of silence will be held for Gordon Bradley and Bill Goazio - who worked for many years with the U.S. Soccer Federation - both of whom recently passed away.
At halftime, United President and CEO Kevin Payne and legend Marco 'El Diablo' Etcheverry will be inducted (among others) into the Virginia-DC Soccer Hall of Fame. A number of past inductees will be on hand to welcome the newest members. More info here.

If you don't yet have tickets for tomorrow night's match click here or pick them up tomorrow at RFK Stadium.

UPDATE: Per a request by Bill Goazio's family - in lieu of flowers, friends and family can make a donation to the U.S. Soccer Founddation in Bill's honor. Checks should be made payable to the U.S. Soccer Foundation (or you can make a secure donation here).

U.S. Soccer Foundation

Attn: William Goaziou Memorial

1211 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20036

UPDATE #2: The U-18 game has been moved from the stadium to United's Training Fields. If you still want to attend, you can see the location of the fields on the parking map found here.

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Chicago Fire

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