D.C. United shut out El Salvador, 1-0, in hard-fought friendly

D.C. United keeper Troy Perkins makes a save against El Salvador. (photo by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine)

While most eyes were on the World Cup, D.C. United welcomed the El Salvador national team to RFK Stadium on June 19, 2010.  The game served as a charity event to support the Spanish Catholic Center and United for D.C.

The match decidedly had the air of two national teams playing a friendly match, with the majority of the 10,240 spectators wearing blue and white, the colors of the El Salvador flag.  One intriguing question before the game was which team would D.C. United midfielder Christian Castillo would play for, as he is a member of El Salvador National Team as well.  (As it turned out, the question was moot as he did not play.  He was later released by D.C. United.)

Surprisingly, it was the home team that dominated from beginning to end.  The United had a 5-1 advantage in quality shots in the first half.  Along the way, 36-year-old forward Jaime Moreno (#99) had ample opportunities to showcase his ball handling skills, consistently out-running and out-passing his younger opponents.

United coach Curt Onalfo made wholesale changes in the second half and gave goalkeepers Troy Perkins and Bill Hamid equal billing.  As a result, just six minutes into the half, substitute forward Adam Cristman (#7) scored the lone goal of the game with a beautiful cross shot from midfielder Kurt Morsink (#6).