D.C. United
2008 season
OwnerD.C. United Holdings
CoachTom Soehn
Major League Soccer10th
MLS CupDid not qualify
U.S. Open CupChampions
CONCACAF Champions LeagueGroup stage
CONCACAF Champions' CupSemifinals
Atlantic CupChampions
Top goalscorerLuciano Emilio (9 goals)
Highest home attendance35,979
vs. LA (Jun 29)
Lowest home attendance14,660
vs. HOU (Jul 23)
Average home league attendance19,835

The 2008 D.C. United season was the fourteenth year of the club's existence, as well as their thirteenth season in Major League Soccer and their thirteenth consecutive season in the top tier of the American soccer pyramid.

To fans and the media alike, this year marked a downfall for the franchise, as well as end to what was considered a "second golden age" for the club in league play. The justification behind this involved the United failing to defend the Supporters' Shield, an awarded given to the MLS club with the best regular season record, for a third-consecutive year. With a 10th-place overall finish and a 6th-place finish in the Eastern Conference, United finished the lowest in the conference and league tables since 2002. With the subpar record, United failed to make the playoffs, having qualified since 2003.

Their performance league play reflected on the continental stage as well. Finishing as the 2007 MLS Supporters' Shield winners, United qualified for the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League. The tournament replaced the obsolete CONCACAF Champions' Cup, and was modeled similarly to its cousin tournament, the UEFA Champions League. In the Champions League, United continued their misfortunes, losing all their Group stage matches at home, and only managing to pick up one draw at Costa Rica's Saprissa. United finished in the bottom of Group C, with a record of 0–1–5 (W-T-L).

In spite of the poorer performance in league and continental play, United excelled in the U.S. Open Cup play, ultimately winning the domestic title against Charleston Battery, 2–1. The domestic cup title was their first since their inaugural season. The U.S. Open Cup, a domestic cup tournament much similar to the FA Cup runs parallel to the regular seasons of all tiers of professional and amateur soccer in the United States. The tournament is open for entry for any soccer club, professional or amateur, that is affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation. For MLS clubs, the top six American MLS clubs overall in the regular season are admitted entry into the third round proper, or round of 16, in the tournament. By finishing 1st overall in the regular season, United booked a third round entry in the tournament proper. The club opened Open Cup play with wins against Rochester Rhinos of the USL First Division (second tier) and New England Revolution of MLS (first tier) in the third round and quarterfinals respectively. In the semifinals, United won in extra time to defeat Chicago Fire. In the championship, United defeated Charleston Battery of the USL Second Division (third tier) to win the Open Cup for a second time in club history.

Club

2008 roster

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK United States USA Zach Wells
2 DF Argentina ARG Gonzalo Peralta
3 MF United States USA Joe Vide
4 DF United States USA Marc Burch
5 MF United States USA Quavas Kirk
6 MF United States USA Domenic Mediate
7 MF Brazil BRA Fred
8 DF Sierra Leone SLE Ibrahim Koroma
10 MF Argentina ARG Marcelo Gallardo
11 FW Brazil BRA Luciano Emilio
12 MF Honduras HON Iván Guerrero
13 DF United States USA Ryan Miller
14 MF United States USA Ben Olsen
15 MF Russia RUS Rod Dyachenko
16 DF United States USA Greg Janicki
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 FW South Africa RSA Thabiso Khumalo
18 DF United States USA Devon McTavish
19 MF United States USA Clyde Simms
20 DF United States USA Mike Zaher
21 DF United States USA Pat Carroll
22 MF United States USA Ryan Cordeiro
23 DF Colombia COL Gonzalo Martínez
24 MF United States USA Jeff Carroll
25 FW United States USA Santino Quaranta
26 DF United States USA Bryan Namoff
27 GK Liberia LBR Louis Crayton
28 MF Argentina ARG Jonathan La Rosa
30 FW Liberia LBR Francis Doe
40 GK United States USA James Thorpe
99 FW Bolivia BOL Jaime Moreno (captain)

Transfers

In

Date Player Position Previous club Fee/notes Ref
January 18, 2008United States Ryan CordeiroMF / FWUnited States University of Connecticut2008 MLS SuperDraft, Round 3 selection[1]
January 22, 2008Argentina Gonzalo PeraltaDFArgentina Almirante BrownFree, Discovery Player
January 29, 2008Argentina Marcelo GallardoMFFrance Paris Saint-GermainFree[2]
March 1, 2008United States Pat CarrollDFUnited States West Virginia UniversityFree
March 15, 2008United States Quavas KirkMFUnited States Los Angeles GalaxyTraded for Greg Vanney[3]
March 27, 2008United States James ThorpeGKUnited States Franklin Pierce CollegeDevelopmental contract[4]
April 17, 2008United States Mike ZaherDFCanada Toronto FCTraded for undisclosed SuperDraft pick
April 23, 2008Liberia Francis DoeFWUnited States New York Red BullsWaived by New York, free transfer[5]
June 30, 2008United States Craig ThompsonMFUnited States Houston DynamoFree[6]
July 16, 2008United States Joe VideMFUnited States San Jose EarthquakesFree
July 31, 2008Honduras Iván GuerreroMFUnited States San Jose EarthquakesTrade for partial allocation
August 7, 2008Liberia Louis CraytonGKSwitzerland BaselUndisclosed[7]
September 15, 2008United States Ryan MillerDF / MFUnited States Cleveland City StarsFree[8]
September 16, 2008United States Greg JanickiMFUnited States Pittsburgh RiverhoundsLoaned, subsequently signed developmental contract[9]

Loan

In

Player Pos. From Start End Ref
Argentina Franco NiellFWArgentina Argentinos JuniorsJanuary 22, 2008June 28, 2008 (waived) [10]
Sierra Leone Ibrahim KoromaDFSierra Leone KallonSeptember 1, 2008January 31, 2009
South Africa Thabiso KhumaloMF / FWUnited States Pittsburgh RiverhoundsSeptember 1, 2008January 31, 2009[11]

Standings

Major League Soccer

Conference Standings

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Columbus Crew 30 17 7 6 50 36 +14 57 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 Chicago Fire 30 13 10 7 44 33 +11 46
3 New England Revolution 30 12 11 7 40 43 −3 43
4 Kansas City Wizards 30 11 10 9 37 39 −2 42
5 New York Red Bulls 30 10 11 9 42 48 −6 39
6 D.C. United 30 11 15 4 43 51 −8 37
7 Toronto FC 30 9 13 8 34 43 −9 35
Source: MLS

Overall Table

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Columbus Crew (C, S) 30 17 7 6 50 36 +14 57 CONCACAF Champions League
2 Houston Dynamo 30 13 5 12 45 32 +13 51
3 Chicago Fire 30 13 10 7 44 33 +11 46 North American SuperLiga
4 Chivas USA 30 12 11 7 40 41 −1 43
5 New England Revolution 30 12 11 7 40 43 −3 43
6 Kansas City Wizards 30 11 10 9 37 39 −2 42
7 Real Salt Lake 30 10 10 10 40 39 +1 40
8 New York Red Bulls 30 10 11 9 42 48 −6 39 CONCACAF Champions League
9 Colorado Rapids 30 11 14 5 44 45 −1 38
10 D.C. United 30 11 15 4 43 51 −8 37 CONCACAF Champions League
11 FC Dallas 30 8 10 12 45 41 +4 36
12 Toronto FC 30 9 13 8 34 43 −9 35 CONCACAF Champions League[lower-alpha 1]
13 LA Galaxy 30 8 13 9 55 62 −7 33
14 San Jose Earthquakes 30 8 13 9 32 38 −6 33
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (S) Supporters' Shield
Notes:

CONCACAF Champions League

Group A

Club Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Honduras Marathón 6411125+713
Mexico Cruz Azul 631284+410
Costa Rica Saprissa 631279−210
United States D.C. United 6015413−91

Match results

MLS

Win Tie Loss
D.C. United playing Houston Dynamo in the 2008 SuperLiga.
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersRef.
March 29, 2008 Kansas City Wizards A 0–2 10,385 [12]
April 5, 2008 Toronto FC H 4–1 20,161 Emilio, Quaranta, Gallardo, Moreno [13]
April 12, 2008 Real Salt Lake A 0-4 13,193 [14]
April 17, 2008 Columbus Crew H 1–2 13,329 Namoff [15]
April 26, 2008 Real Salt Lake H 4-1 23,269 Moreno (2), Quaranta, Gallardo [16]
May 4, 2008 Colorado Rapids A 0-2 13,115 [17]
May 8, 2008 Chicago Fire H 0–2 18,605 [18]
May 17, 2008 Chivas USA A 1–3 13,113 Gallardo [19]
May 21, 2008 Toronto FC A 0-1 19,791 [20]
May 24, 2008 Toronto FC H 3–2 18,647 Peralta, Moreno, Emilio [21]
May 29, 2008 New England Revolution A 2–2 8,159 Emilio, Fred [22]
June 7, 2008 Chicago Fire A 1–2 19,256 Moreno, Emilio [23]
June 14, 2008 New York Red Bulls H 4-1 18,622 Emilio (3), Simms [24]
June 22, 2008 San Jose Earthquakes H 3–1 17,922 Simms, Martínez, Emilio [25]
June 29, 2008 Los Angeles Galaxy H 4–1 35,979 Moreno, Emilio (2), Gallardo [26]
July 23, 2008 Houston Dynamo H 0–2 14,460 [27]
August 2, 2008 Kansas City Wizards H 2–0 18,731 Emilio, Moreno [28]
August 10, 2008 New York Red Bulls A 1-4 15,038 Moreno [29]
August 16, 2008 Chicago Fire A 0–1 19,560 Fred [30]
August 20, 2008 New England Revolution A 1-2 14,962 Moreno [31]
August 23, 2008 Colorado Rapids H 3–0 17,283 Vide, Quaranta, Kirk [32]
August 30, 2008 New York Red Bulls H 0–0 15,616 [33]
September 6, 2008 San Jose Earthquakes A 1-2 10,121 Quaranta [34]
September 13, 2008 FC Dallas H 2–2 19,890 Moreno, Quaranta [35]
September 20, 2008 Los Angeles Galaxy A 2-5 27,000 McTavish, Khumalo [36]
September 28, 2008 FC Dallas A 0-3 12,138 [37]
October 4, 2008 Chivas USA H 0–3 28,145 [38]
October 12, 2008 Houston Dynamo A 0–0 17,531 [39]
October 16, 2008 New England Revolution H 2–1 16,672 Doe (2) [40]
October 26, 2008 Columbus Crew A 0-1 19,591 [41]

CONCACAF Champions' Cup

Win Tie Loss
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersRef.
QF March 12, 2008 Jamaica Harbour View A 1–1 6,985 McTavish [42]
QF March 18, 2008 Jamaica Harbour View H 5–0 12,394 McTavish (2), Emilio (2), Fred [43]
SF April 1, 2008 Mexico Pachuca A 0–2 18,642 [44]
SF April 9, 2008 Mexico Pachuca H 2–1 17,329 Dyachenko, Niell [45]

CONCACAF Champions League

Win Tie Loss
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersRef.
GS September 16, 2008 Costa Rica Saprissa H 0–2 6,105 [46]
GS September 24, 2008 Honduras Marathón A 0-2 8,000 [47]
GS October 1, 2008 Mexico Cruz Azul H 0–1 7,124 [48]
GS October 9, 2008 Costa Rica Saprissa A 2–2 10,000 Doe, Dyachenko [49]
GS October 21, 2008 Mexico Cruz Azul A 0-2 4,265 [50]
GS October 29, 2008 Honduras Marathón H 2–4 7,156 Doe, Janicki [51]

U.S. Open Cup

Win Tie Loss
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersRef.
R3 July 1, 2008 Rochester Rhinos H 2–0 2,752 Burch (2)
QF July 8, 2008 Chicago Fire H 2–1 (a.e.t.) 4,118 Doe, Namoff [52]
SF August 12, 2008 New England Revolution H 3–1 6,797 Emilio (2), Quaranta [53]
F September 3, 2008 Charleston Battery H 2–1 8,212 Emilio, Fred [54]

References

  1. ↑ "United trade defender Prideaux to Colorado". USA Today. December 15, 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  2. ↑ Goff, Steven (April 4, 2008). "Gallardo Is United's Highest-Paid Player Ever". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 4, 2008.
  3. ↑ "United acquire Kirk from Galaxy". Retrieved February 16, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Major League Soccer: Roster: Player Bio". dcunited.mlsnet.com. Archived from the original on March 24, 2010.
  5. ↑ Goff, Steven (April 23, 2008). "United's Start Has a Familiar Look". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 2, 2008.
  6. ↑ "D.C. United acquire Craig Thompson" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: D.C. United. June 30, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
  7. ↑ "Crayton geht, Almerares kommt!". FC Basel (in German). August 7, 2008. Archived from the original on August 18, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Player Bio: Ryan Miller". D.C. United. Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
  9. ↑ Butler, Brian (September 16, 2008). "Teams beef up rosters prior to freeze deadline". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
  10. ↑ "Niell Close to Joining DC United". January 8, 2008. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Khumalo signs for DC United". Kickoff.com. September 10, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Wizards win season opener, blank D.C. United". ESPNSoccernet.com. March 29, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  13. ↑ "D.C. United overwhelms Toronto FC". ESPNSoccernet.com. April 5, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Beckerman scores twice as Real Salt Lake romps". ESPNSoccernet.com. April 12, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Moreno, own goal send Crew past United". Carolina RailHawks FC. April 17, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Moreno scores twice, propels D.C. United past Real". Associated Press. ESPNSoccernet.com. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Peterson, Erpen power Rapids past D.C. United". ESPNSoccernet.com. May 11, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Mapp, Blanco fuel Fire past D.C. United". ESPNSoccernet.com. May 8, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Second-half explosion fuels Chivas USA past D.C. United". ESPNSoccernet.com. May 17, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  20. ↑ "Dichio, Toronto FC keep D.C. United reeling". ESPNSoccernet.com. May 21, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  21. ↑ "Moreno, Emilio help United snap skid". ESPNSoccernet.com. May 24, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  22. ↑ "Dube rallies Revolution to draw". ESPNSoccernet.com. May 29, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Emilio's late goal helps D.C. United edge Fire". ESPNSoccernet.com. June 7, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  24. ↑ "Emilio's hat trick leads DC United past Red Bulls". ESPNSoccernet.com. June 14, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  25. ↑ "Second-half flurry sends United to third straight win". ESPNSoccernet.com. June 22, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Emilio lifts D.C. United past Galaxy". ESPNSoccernet.com. June 29, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  27. ↑ "Dynamo survive weather and D.C. United". ESPNSoccernet.com. July 23, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  28. ↑ "Moreno, Emilio help United top Wizards". ESPNSoccernet.com. August 2, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  29. ↑ "Angel leads New York past D.C. United". ESPNSoccernet.com. August 10, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  30. ↑ "Fred leads D.C. United past Fire". ESPNSoccernet.com. August 16, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  31. ↑ "Twellman stars as Revolution down United". ESPNSoccernet.com. August 20, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  32. ↑ "Vide, Quaranta push United over Rapids". ESPNSoccernet.com. August 23, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  33. ↑ "United claim Atlantic Cup in scoreless draw". ESPNSoccernet.com. August 30, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  34. ↑ "Alvarez, Huckerby fire Earthquakes to victory". ESPNSoccernet.com. September 6, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  35. ↑ "Rocha nets FC Dallas draw with D.C." ESPNSoccernet.com. September 13, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  36. ↑ "Donovan hat trick powers L.A. past D.C." ESPNSoccernet.com. September 20, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  37. ↑ "FC Dallas dominates D.C. United". ESPNSoccernet.com. September 28, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  38. ↑ "Kennedy, Chivas shut out DC United". ESPNSoccernet.com. October 4, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  39. ↑ "D.C. United, Dynamo play to a scoreless draw". ESPNSoccernet.com. October 12, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  40. ↑ "Doe propels D.C. United to much-needed win". ESPNSoccernet.com. October 16, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  41. ↑ "Columbus 1–0 D.C.: United eliminated from postseason". ESPNSoccernet.com. October 26, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  42. ↑ "United draw Jamaica's Harbour View to open Champions' Cup". ESPNSoccernet.com. March 12, 2008. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  43. ↑ "United route Harbour View to advance to CONCACAF semis". ESPNSoccernet.com. March 18, 2008. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  44. ↑ Latest News | MLSsoccer.com Archived May 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  45. ↑ "D.C. United: News: D.C. Can't get goals they need in win". dcunited.mlsnet.com. Archived from the original on June 30, 2009.
  46. ↑ "Match Report: D.C. United vs Saprissa" (PDF). CONCACAF. September 17, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  47. ↑ "Match Report: Marathón vs D.C. United" (PDF). CONCACAF. September 25, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  48. ↑ http://www.concacaf.com/competitions/matchreport/7169.pdf
  49. ↑ "MATCH STATISTICS/ESTADISTICAS DEL PARTIDO" (PDF). www.concacaf.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2009.
  50. ↑ "CCL 2008–09 Match Report: Cruz Azul vs. D.C. United" (PDF). Confederation of North, Central American and the Caribbean Association Football.
  51. ↑ "MATCH STATISTICS/ESTADISTICAS DEL PARTIDO" (PDF). www.concacaf.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2009.
  52. ↑ Tenorio, Paul (July 9, 2008). "Moreno Comes In, United Moves On". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  53. ↑ "Emilio, Quaranta brace propels United to USOC final". D.C. United. August 12, 2008. Archived from the original on January 3, 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  54. ↑ Leon, Chris (September 3, 2008). "Battery edged by DC United in Cup Final Thriller". Charleston Battery. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
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