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CONCACAF Wrap: D.C. United routed by Alajuelense

    by Jonathan Tannenwald
    Published 

The first warning sign came when Bill Hamid, D.C. United's regular starting goalkeeper, wasn't in the lineup.

The second came when Alajuelense took the game to United with gusto right from the opening whistle.

Ninety minutes of soccer later, the Costa Rican champs had smashed five goals past Andrew Dykstra, Hamid's backup, to D.C.'s two.

For a brief time late in the game, there was hope for the visitors. Steve Birnbaum cut the deficit to 4-2 in the 89th minute, which would have given United a reasonable two-goal margin to overcome at RFK Stadium on Wednesday. But literally within a minute of that goal, Alajuelense scored again. Now D.C. must win 3-0 or 4-1 to advance to the Champions League semifinals.

Alajuelense: Ariel Rodríguez Araya 15', José Ortiz Picado 22', Johan Venegas Ulloa 27', José Ortiz Picado 54', Jonathan McDonald (90')
D.C. United: Fabián Espíndola 24', Steve Birnbaum 89'