United falls short in series despite late rally

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Two late goals last night gave D.C. United a win but not enough of one to advance past Mexican club Pachuca in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup semifinals.

United earned a 2-1 victory on goals from substitutes Rod Dyachenko and Franco Niell in the last five minutes last night at RFK Stadium, but Pachuca claimed the series 3-2 on aggregate after beating United 2-0 at home last week.

"We had a plan, and I thought we executed it well, but we didn't put away chances early, and that put us behind the eight-ball," United coach Tom Soehn said.

It was the third time in four years United failed to get past a Mexican club in the Champions' Cup.

Soehn felt United should have been awarded a penalty kick early in the second half when Fred, who had two assists on the night, was pulled down in the box.

"In these big games for an official to blow a penalty call like that is a game-changer," Soehn said.

In order to get goals, Soehn fielded an offensive formation, starting the attacking trio of Luciano Emilio, Jaime Moreno and Santino Quaranta and going with just three defenders at the back.

Emilio had two great chances in the game , but United's top goal scorer last year seemed less sharp than usual.

"Tonight wasn't our night, and we've just got to shake it off," Emilio said.

United goalie Zach Wells pulled off a big save in the 17th minute, stopping a header from Andres Chitiva.

United managed just two shots on target in the first half against a disciplined team that was not frightened to attack United's reconfigured back line.

Emilio had a perfect chance to tap home Devon McTavish's low cross in the 28th minute, but the Brazilian shot wide.

Pachuca appeared to have taken the lead just after the break, but the goal was disallowed for offsides. Wells then pulled off another fine save, tipping Leobardo Lopez's header over the bar.

At the hour-mark Marc Burch came off the bench to replace Quaranta and had an immediate impact, setting up a cross for Emilio, who again saw his effort go wide.

In the 65th minute Soehn replaced McTavish with Niell. But it was all but over for United in the 76th minute, when Burch, attempting to defend, played the ball into the path of substitute Damian Alvarez, who drove a low shot past Wells.

Dyachenko, a late substitute for Moreno, gave United a glimmer of hope when he fired home Fred's excellent cross in the 85th minute. Then in the last minute of regulation time, Niell got the winning goal off another assist from Fred, but it wasn't enough for United.