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 D.C.
United saw their dream of a trip to the FIFA Club World
Championship put to an end after they were overcome by Mexico's
Pumas UNAM 5-0 in the second leg of their
CONCACAF Champions' Cup
semifinal series on Wednesday night at the Estadio Olimpico
Universitario.
Pumas dominated
play from the opening minutes and the majority of the match saw
the ball in the United area. As early as the sixth minute the
home side had already demonstrated its intention through
dangerous corner kicks and incursions on the flanks.
That's how they
struck in the 11th minute as Diego Alonso broke down the
left-hand flank and put in a perfect cross for Bruno Marioni. He
easily eluded Bobby Boswell and knocked a clear header home from
the heart of the penalty area.
 D.C.
United showed signs of life in the 16th minute through a
tremendous shot from Alecko Eskandarian from outside the area
that came back off the base of the left-hand post of the goal
guarded by Sergio Bernal. Three minutes later Pumas nearly
responded with a shot on goal from Argentinian striker Alonso
which was neatly turned aside by United 'keeper Nick Rimando.
The game began to
be played more and more in the visitors' area and their
desperation began to be more noticeable as the danger closed in
on Rimando's goal. In the 35th minute, Ailton Da Silva let fly
with a powerful drive from outside the penalty area that flew
directly into the arms of the goalkeeper.
 The
shots flying at the United goal started to be repeated every
minute, while the fouls from the U.S. side were increasing,
including a seemingly clear handball in the area that referee
José Pineda of Honduras didn't catch that would have been a
penalty in favor of the Mexican champion.
With barely a
minute of the second half played, Israel Castro threatened the
United goal with a fierce shot that Rimando rejected with both
hands. But a minute later Joaquin Botero received a pass from
Marioni, rounded Boswell and pulled the goalkeeper out of his
net before knocking the ball home for the second Pumas goal.
The United
defensive line was put on their heels throughout the night
trying to defend against the constant attacks of Hugo Sanchez's
pupils, and things got even worse in the 68th minute when Mike
Petke was sent off for a second yellow card offense after a
heated discussion with a referee's assistant following a foul on
the touchline.
Botero showed why
he is an unquestioned starter in the Mexican national team when
he hammered a shot off the face of the crossbar before he put
home the third Pumas goal in the 73rd minute, also from a
service from Marioni.
As the result and
the altitude began to take hold United saw their spirits flag,
and Pumas took advantage one more time in the 85th minute when
Jaime Lozano sent a pass to David Toledo who sealed the triumph
with a fourth goal. Nevertheless, the home side continued their
relentless attack and a minute before the final whistle rounded
off the scoreline when Botero provided the pass for a final goal
from Lozano.
Pumas won the
series 6-1 on aggregate and will now face Costa Rica's Deportivo
Saprissa for the championship of the CONCACAF region and the
ticket for the Club World Championship, to be played in Japan
this December. The Costa Rican side destroyed the dream of the
all-Mexican final when it won 5-3 in a penalty kick shootout
after Saprissa and CF Monterrey finished Wednesday's second leg
tied 1-1, the series tied 3-3 on aggregate.
About the National Soccer Hall
of Fame and Museum
 Located in
Oneonta, NY, the National Soccer Hall of Fame opened a 30,000
square foot, state-of-the-art museum in 1999. The Hall of Fame
tells the story of soccer in
America through artifacts, photographs, and video clips. The new
Hall features an extensive interactive, youth oriented Kicks
Zone where visitors have fun kicking,
heading and playing computer trivia stations and video
soccer games. The VideoWall portrays some of the greatest
moments and the greatest goals in history as well as live soccer
action with World Cup, MLS, and U.S. Soccer matches. Unique and
rare artifacts on exhibit range from the world’s oldest soccer
ball to the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy won by the USA in
1999,
Pelé's and Mia Hamm’s uniforms, Kristine Lilly’s golden
shoes, NASL championship rings, the original MLS championship
trophy, MLS gallery - it’s all at the National Soccer Hall of
Fame. In addition to the interactive Museum, the National Soccer
Hall of Fame complex boasts the
Kicks
Zone Store,
a research library, four world-class soccer fields and
office/meeting facilities. The Hall plans to add a stadium, an
indoor soccer arena and housing facilities in the future.
The mission of
the National Soccer Hall of Fame is to celebrate the history,
honor the heroes, inspire the youth and preserve the legacy of
soccer in the United States.
The National
Soccer Hall of Fame is open every day of the year, except
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. Admission is $9.00 for
adults, $8.00 for students, $6.50 for children 6 or older and
senior citizens. Children 5 and under are free.
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