United 2, Kansas City 0

..

All praise to Jaime Moreno.

Clean sheet? Yes, Wells didn't screw up per standard, yes, Wells made some terrific saves, and no, Wells is not United's biggest problem, but let's see what happens the next four games (including the USOC semi home v Ningland a week from Tuesday) before we credit United with dominance more than damn Kansas City for lousiness.

UPDATE: I just watched the highlights, and I'd forgotten how vomitaciously Wells DID fuck-up and only lucked out by Pore's suckitude in the first half. Crapitudinous! But even, I didn't want to give the impression I thought Wells was suddenly good.

Still, if the Guerrero trade - and Ba'al, he's a plus MLS player - solves the left-flank problem, once Gallardo is fit and reintegrated into the offense, goals will be plentiful. Fred ran and played like he'd just discovered freedom, knowing he could play on his preferred side, knowing he could push forward on offense rather than cheat back on defense. This might be the true benefit of the trade, a twofer: not only does United get Guerrero, getting Guerrero might mean getting Fred back too.

Metros in Jersey is very winnable, but @ Ningland and @ Chicago are tough, and the next most important game ever since the last most important game ever is week from Tuesday @ RFK v Ningland in USOC semi (and Guerrero can't play that game since he played in the tournament already for San Jose) since USOC is still the surest path to international play next season, and international play is the minimum requirement, yes?

Goff player ratings:

Wells 7; Namoff 7, McTavish 7, Carroll 7, Burch 7; Fred 7, Simms 7, Vide 6, Guerrero 7; Moreno 8, Emilio 7.

Kvetch: all praise to Jaime Moreno, again head-and-shoulders the best player on the field, but if a 34 year old with a chronic abdominal muscle strain is the best player out of 22 - no matter how special he is and was - imagine the quality of MLS soccer when the league expands by four more teams. Six more teams.

OH! Luch-Energia Vladivostok 1, Rubin Kazin 1, and Russians chant Fuck-You-Ref in ENGLISH! (With pictures!)

DCENTERS debriefing is up with linky goodness and a guilty conscience.