Everyone remembers their first goal. It is the opportunity, the buildup, and the execution that make the moment such an important part of every player’s life. Oh and every once in a while it helps one’s team win a game. On Wednesday night in Colon, Panama D.C. United’s Miguel Aguilar got to experience that moment. The rookie out of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico who travelled to this country at a young age with his family got his first big moment as a professional. In D.C. United’s CONCACAF Champions League opener Aguilar’s strike proved to be the difference in the club’s 1-0 win over Arabe Unido.
Playing without most of their regulars and head coach Ben Olsen, D.C. United looked tentative early on. With just one regular in their starting eleven in Colon (center-back Steve Birnbaum) United struggled to find their rhythm. Very passes reached their targets and often defenders were running into one another, a sign of a lack of communication.
Unido nearly took advantage of this disorder in the tenth minute when midfielder Rigoberto Nunez hit a piercing shot from long-range. His effort was eventually saved by United goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra but it gave Unido the confidence to continue to probe deeper into United’s defensive half. In the 22ndd minute forward Renan Addles would hit another shot from similar distance that went wide of the goal.
Although United faced some tests early, the squad began to pull out of their defensive shell and push forward. In the 26th minute midfielder Chris Pontius’ corner found forward Jairo Arrieta in the box with a chance. Arrieta’s header was on target but a bit too high and would ultimately go out of bounds.
Arrieta would have another opportunity in the 35th minute when left-back Jalen Robinson’s cross would find him with space. Once again Arrieta appeared to have a golden opportunity to give United the advantage but he was unable to square his header and the shot would ultimately go out of bounds.
The second half brought a little more promise for both sides. United nearly pulled ahead in the 56th minute thanks to a scintillating strike by Arrieta. Although it was hit with some level of pace and inspiration, Arrieta’s shot was inevitably saved by Unido goalkeeper Miguel Lloyd.
Unido would respond back with their own opportunity in the 78th minute when forward Enrico Small would find space at the top of United’s penalty box. Small’s shot brought the partisan Unido crowad to their feet but was unable to deliver on its original promise. Although Unido would press D.C. their shots were mostly from long distance, a product of a high press that forced their attackers offside and to deliver most of their shots from long-range.
But D.C. would take the lead late thanks to Aguilar’s strike from the top of the Undio penalty box. Credit to Michael Farfan with the backheel pass to a surging Aguilar to give United the decisive goal.
With the victory D.C. moves into a tie with Unido for first place in Group H (1-0-0, 3 points). They will next host the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday in MLS league play and Montego Bay United in CCL play next Wednesday.
For Arabe Unido (1-0-1, 3 points) the loss puts them in an uncertain position entering into their final two matches of CCL play. If the club has any aspirations of playing in the later rounds of the CCL they will need to win on the road at D.C. (9/15) and Montego Bay (10/22).
