CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP: UNITED FINDS WAY INTO SEMIFINALS.Byline: Fred J. Robledo Staff Writer FULLERTON - Three-time MLS See multilevel security. champion D.C. United D.C. United is a professional soccer club located in Washington, D.C. that participates in Major League Soccer. The club's official nickname is the "Black-and-Red" and home uniforms are black and white with accents of red. The team's name refers to Washington, D.C. , which suffered through a miserable and embarrassing 2000 season, took its frustrations out on Costa Rica's LD Alajuelense Liga Deportiva Alajuelense (LDA), is a Costa Rican football club, currently playing in the Primera División de Costa Rica, is one of the most important clubs in CONCACAF. Alajuelense was the first Costa Rican team to win a CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 1986. in Wednesday's CONCACAF CONCACAF Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Soccer) CONCACAF Confederacion Norte, Centroamericana y del Caribe de Futbol Asociacion (Spanish) Champions Cup match at Cal State Fullerton. United midfielder Ben Olsen For the American football player, see . Benjamin Robert "Ben" Olsen (born May 3, 1977 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) is an American soccer player, who currently plays midfielder for D.C. United of Major League Soccer. , who rejoined the team after being loaned to England's Nottingham Forest this winter, converted a cross from 18-year-old Bobby Convey with less than 30 seconds left in injury time, giving United an emotional 2-1 victory in the 92nd minute. United, which finished 11th among the 12 MLS teams this season, missed the playoffs for the first time in club history. Those bad memories could be erased, however, because United is one win away from the prestigious FIFA FIFA International Association Football Federation [French Fédération Internationale de Football Association] FIFA n abbr (= Fédération Internationale de Football Association) → FIFA f Club World Championships, to be held this summer in Spain. The victory over the reigning Costa Rica League champions sends United into Friday's semifinal at the Coliseum against the winner of Wednesday's late match between the Galaxy and Costa Rica's Real CD Espana. The winner of Friday's game not only earns a date in Sunday's championship, it qualifies them for the World Championships, where several European club powers are entered. United, usually dangerous on set pieces with crafty midfielder Marco Etcheverry, surged ahead 1-0 on a beautiful corner kick in the 15th minute. Etcheverry, spotting Carey Talley sneaking over the middle, sent a low cross that Talley volleyed on a short-hop with his left foot to the upper near post, leaving Alajuelense goalkeeper Alvaro Mesen no chance. Talley, however, let Alajuelense back in the match, tripping midfielder Carlos Castro one step into the penalty area. Luis Diego Arnaez took the penalty for Alajuelense, tying the match in the 71st minute. |
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