Chicago 0, United 1

Normally I would fume to see United with seven yellows to Chicago's one, and while it's fair to complain that Chicago didn't receive yellows for tackles that got yellow for United, United deserved and earned every yellow they got and probably should have had four more and I say hooray.

United has talked all season about wanting to be a "tough" team to play, and seeing the faces of Chicago players pick their pussy-asses up off the ground time after time, whining and pleading to the referee, that gives me as much hope as the victory itself. Ba'al I hate Chicago (where even the home announcers - Fred Huebner on pxp, Chris Doran on color - are pussies: wAAh!).

Chicago devised and refined the strategy for beating United: Beat United. And since this was the first game v United since the USOC game, United came in ready for a dirty Fire and the dirty Fire was thoroughly unprepared for a dirty United, and like all true bullies Chicago pussied before a fight. wOOt!

I said four points out of the two road games would rekindle grossly excessive expectations. Shyeah-doggy, three-fourths there, and to be honest, as long as United doesn't metroshit the bed in Ningland, this road trip is already a modest success.

Here's Goff's player ratings:

Crayton 7, Namoff 7, McTavish 7, Burch 7, Martinez 7; Fred 7, Simms 7, Quaranta 5, Guerrero 6; Moreno 7, Emilio 5. Subs: Vide 5, Kirk 5, Thompson 5.

Noise to Crayton, who got a clean sheet with one brilliant diving save and complete confidence on crosses. Assuming communication between Crayton and his defenders irons out his slow off-the-line on breakaways (and there were too many breakaways - thanks, Chicago, for taking out Andy Herron in the 65th, btw), well, I hope Zach enjoys the reserve matches.

Fred was an eight, his best game this year - he was unlucky to hit post, and his cross that went through a wide-open Jaime, six yards in front of an empty net in the 70th, was brilliant.

Speaking of Jaime, he looks deeply tired. But all praise.

Guerrero - fabulous motor, fabulous pick-up. It's not a coincidence Fred's rejuvenation began when Guerrero arrived.

Quaranta botched a tackle on Mapp (I think) who got a pass to Blanco who (admittedly) lofted a brilliant left-footer over a beaten Crayton that hit the crossbar. Quaranta took a yellow for the botched tackle, and truth be told, could have been redded out a couple of times for horrible two-footed launched into air sloppy tackles. He's not a ten, and when Gallardo (if Gallardo) gets back, Santino's back to the bench, but Ba'al-bless: he's paid back the $35K flyer, but don't forget, it was a $35K flyer. The season doesn't - or shouldn't - hinge on Santino's reclamation.

And Burch - please stop heading the ball from the middle of the field BACK TOWARDS YOUR OWN GOAL. Dumbass.

Updates, edits, links, later.

Here's Fullback, Stollar, D, and Shatz- we all seem to have watched the same game to the same general reaction.

DCenters debriefing is up with linky goodness.