D.C. United tops Club America
Riding Rod Dyachenko’s goal in the 12th minute, D.C. United didn’t allow a shot on goal Sunday night to defeat Club America, 1-0, in a Group-B SuperLiga first-round game at Washington.
Dyachenko scored from 12 yards out, pouncing on a headed pass from Christian Gomez near the penalty spot.
The victory put United in solid position to advance to the semifinals of the tournament, which features four Major League Soccer teams and four Mexican first division clubs competing for a $1-million purse. United, which has one win and one tie, wraps up group play Wednesday against Houston.
The loss eliminated Club America from contention. The Mexico City club failed to generate much of an attack in its first two games, managing only two shots on goal in last week’s 1-0 loss to Houston.
Club America’s struggles were exacerbated when defender Oscar Rojas was ejected in the 49th minute for a flying two-footed tackle, forcing the visitors to play nearly the entire second half with 10 men.
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Houston 1, Morelia 1 -- Morelia scored in the 74th minute to end up with a tie with the host Dynamo in another Group B game. Moments after the opening kick, Houston made it 1-0 when Joseph Ngwenya took a pass from Brian Ching, drew Morelia goalkeeper Moises Munoz out of position and scored on a shot to the far corner.
Morelia tied it when Marcio Batista took advantage of a mistake by Houston goalkeeper Zach Wells, who failed to stop a bouncing pass. The ball came down to Batista, who fired a shot into the net.
Even though Houston controlled the game early on, Morelia had several chances to score. The Mexican team’s best opportunity came in the 15th minute when Fernando Arce nearly scored on a free kick from about 22 yards. But Wells, who normally backs up starter Pat Onstad, made the save.
One minute after Batista’s score, the Dynamo nearly regained the lead, but a well-placed shot by Dwayne DeRosario was stopped by Munoz.
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SuperLiga
Schedule and results for the first round of games:
Top two teams in each group advance.
*--* GROUP A W L T GF GA Pts Chivas (Mex.) 1 0 1 3 2 4 Galaxy 1 1 0 3 3 3 FC Dallas 0 0 2 2 2 2 Pachuca 0 1 1 2 3 1
*--*
Tuesday’s games
* Galaxy at FC Dallas, 5 p.m.
* Chivas vs. Pachuca at Denver, 2 p.m.
*--* GROUP B W L T GF GA Pts D.C. United 1 0 1 2 1 4 Houston 1 0 1 2 1 4 Morelia 0 0 2 2 2 2 Club America 0 2 0 0 2 0
*--*
Sunday’s results
* D.C. United 1, Club America 0
* Monarcas Morelia 1, Houston 1
