DCU 2, Houston 1

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I need to talk about Jaime Moreno and how much better United looked offensively with him off on international duty. Here's the jist: beyond Kpene's fabulous first touch and his strength and skill on the ball, the major difference between Kpene versus Moreno up top is Kpene's speed and relentless motor. Kpene runs more in three minutes than Jaime runs in ninety.

Coincidence that this was Gomez' best game of the season? Ben Olsen's? Coincidence that space is created when one of the eleven is not a stationary object? Coincidence the opposing keeper and wing defenders put balls out of bounds deep in territory because United forwards constantly pressure the ball?

This isn't a slam at Moreno's character or skill or reputation, just an acknowledgment that he's 87 years old in soccer years and can't go full out except for a few bursts a game. The United of last night's first half was as wide and spread and urgent and inquisitive and persistent as they hadn't been all year, and they wouldn't have been if Moreno had started instead of (in this case) Kpene. They just wouldn't.

And Benny should be the captain.

(Kpene: nothing has dimmed my wow. He's gonna take some yellows while he learns how to be a professional, and sooner or later he'll be made to adjust to the league's book on him, but so far, nothing has dimmed my wow. I said it last week: he needs to play until he's proven ordinary.)

Another tough night defensively. Gros was probably better than I think since Houston ran at him so constantly I remember rarely thinking about Namoff, but he is a liability, especially since he keeps getting beat to and around the endline. Perkins is back in form, but without Houston's inability to finish Brad Davis' sweet crosses United gives up three. It's not fixed.

But. The crucial game of the early season is not next Saturday against the Galaxy (though it's imperative step two) but two weeks from today (at one in the goddamn afternoon) at home against the Metrostars. For that game to be crucial, winning last night against Houston was imperative step one. Check.

Updates throughout the day. Or not.

Here's Goffblog's player rankings:

Perkins 7, Namoff 6, Boswell 6, Erpen 5, Gros 5, Carroll 6, Olsen 7, Fred 5, Gomez 8, Kpene 6, Emilio 6. Subs: Addlery 5, Dyachenko 5, Simms 5.

No quibbles. Good to see Dyachenko on the field. I still think he's a find.

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UPDATE 12/27 noon: D's first impression. MLSnet's Boehm.