DC United's Craig Ziadie (left) dribbles away from Arnett Gardens' Kevin Wilson during yesterday's Giants Cup match at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex. DC United won 3-0. - Dennis CokeBy Nodley Wright,
Staff Reporter
NATIONAL PREMIER League team Arnett Gardens were yesterday taught a football lesson by United States Major League Soccer (MLS) team DC United at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex.
The home team were thrashed by their North American rivals 3-0 in their first leg quarter-final Giants Cup match.
El Salvador international Raul Diaz Arce opened the scoring in the 39th minute. Carey Talley added a second in the 63rd minute and Diaz Arce sealed the win when he converted a penalty in the 68th.
The scoreline was only a partial reflection of the dominance of the American club which in the final 10 minutes of the game possessed the ball so much they appeared to be playing a game of starvation with their opponents.
Arnett Gardens managed to stay competitive in the game for the first 15 minutes until the master, Marco 'El Diablo' Etcheverry, took over and put on a show.
Once Etcheverry took charge it was like a one-way street - all the way to a DC United win.
Etcheverry, looking about 10 pounds lighter than last season, was mobile and always free to receive passes. He cut open the home team with his passes.
Arnett Gardens could not settle as key player Fabian Davis, probably because of a scouting report, was not allowed his dribble in and around the 18-yard box.
Diaz Arce fired his team ahead in the 39th minute when he stole behind the Arnett defence to convert.
Talley's strike came in the 63rd minute from an Etchverry freekick swung into the goal area. Diaz Arce completed the win in the 68th minute converting a penalty after goalkeeper Julian McLeish was ruled to have fouled Chris Albright.
The second leg of the quarter-final will be played on April 11 in Washington DC.
