D.C. United, Convey, Work Overtime to Beat Galaxy
Bobby Convey scored his first goal of the season in the eighth minute of sudden-death overtime to give D.C. United a 1-0 victory over the Galaxy on Saturday in front of 18,854 at Washington.
It was the fifth loss in the last seven games for the Galaxy (6-6-2).
At the top of the six-yard box, Convey outleaped defender Adam Frye to head in Ivan McKinley’s cross from the left wing as United (6-6-1) got back to .500 and improved to 6-1-1 at home.
It was only the second goal in three seasons for the 19-year-old midfielder, who entered the league with much hype in 2000 at age 16--at the time the youngest player in MLS history. Convey had muffed a clear scoring chance in the 22nd minute when he lost control of the ball on a give-and-go with 17-year-old Santino Quaranta.
Goalkeeper Nick Rimando made five saves for his second consecutive shutout. His sliding two-handed save on Carlos Ruiz’s breakaway at the end of the regulation sent the game to overtime.
“We were this close to losing this game,” United Coach Ray Hudson said. “Nicky Rimando defied and denied them all night long.”
Simon Elliot hit the crossbar in the third minute of the extra period for the Galaxy, which had a 6-3 advantage in shots on goal.
Said Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid: “Overall, I thought it was a great game and anyone who says that 0-0 games are boring needs to see a game like tonight because there was action and opportunities on both ends of the field. However, we are disappointed because we felt that we had a couple of chances at the end.”
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In other MLS games:
New York-New Jersey 2, New England 0--Mamadou Diallo scored his sixth goal in five games but was also sent off with a red card in the 32nd minute during the MetroStars’ win in front of 16,958 at Foxboro, Mass. Diallo was carded for kicking Revolution goalkeeper Adin Brown, after he chased down a pass at the top of the Revolution box.
San Jose 2, Kansas City 1--Ramiro Corrales and Ariel Graziani scored in the final five minutes to help the Earthquakes (9-4-2) erase a 1-0 deficit before 9,008 at San Jose. Dario Fabbro scored in the 16th minute for Kansas City (4-5-5)
Dallas 1, Columbus 0--Jason Kreis, who missed on three scoring chances in regulation, scored in the 98th minute to give the Burn the victory at Dallas.
In the WUSA:
Carolina 3, San Diego 0--Birgit Prinz scored her sixth goal in seven games and had an assist as the Courage won before 5,340 at Cary, N.C. Goals from defender Danielle Slaton, who scored off Hege Riise’s 10th assist--a WUSA single-season record--and Prinz gave Carolina (8-2-3) a 2-0 lead.
Washington 4, New York 1--Mia Hamm scored twice as the Freedom (5-5-3) won before 8,052 at Uniondale, N.Y. Skylar Little and Anne Makinen also scored as Washington sent the Power (2-10-1) to its sixth straight loss.
Philadelphia 3, Atlanta 1--Marinette Pichon scored two goals as the Charge (8-1-3) stretched its unbeaten streak to seven games before 6,844 at Villanova, Pa. Sun Wen scored for Atlanta (6-5-1).
San Jose 1, Boston 1--Katia scored for San Jose (5-4-3) and Kristine Lilly scored for host Boston (3-5-5) three minutes apart in the first half before 7,014.