D.C. United tonight welcomed Tottenham Hotspur to RFK Stadium for the second Capital Cup match between the two sides in as many years. The international friendly match also served as the farewell game for former United and U.S. National Team captain John Harkes who retired from professional soccer at the start of the season.
"We earned that win tonight and we've got a lovely cup to show for it," said United Head Coach Ray Hudson. "We needed something to smile about, we've had a lot of salt and vinegar and gone through a lot of adversity. I thought they were going to murder us, but our boys came in to play, stepped up and beat a powerhouse, we beat the glamour boys. Tottenham has talent and class coming out of their ears and it does us good to defeat them."
There was a festive atmosphere from the start with a tribute to Harkes being followed up with an intermingled team photo. Both sides attacked early, though neither was able to find connect on the final ball.
United midfielder Bobby Convey had the first clear opportunity after Santino Quaranta's through-ball split the Spurs' defense. However, the youngster's shot went wide and struck the outside of Kasey Keller's side netting.
Spurs responded with a break of their own with Robbie Keane getting a chance from just inside the box. His right-footed shot was easily saved by Nick Rimando.
The deadlock was broken in the 30th minute. Quaranta was dispossessed in the corner, but Ben Olsen ran onto the loose ball and dribbled along the endline. His pass into the center found the feet of Hristo Stoitchkov who made a nifty turn through his own legs. He poked an attempt towards goal and Spurs defender Stephen Carr deflected it into his own net past a helpless Keller.
United had a chance to double the lead eight minutes later when Convey was again on the end of a Quaranta through-ball. This time, though, his 18-yard attempt sailed over the crossbar.
The first half ended with Spurs missing on several half-chances. Jamie Redknapp shot wide and Robbie Keane was also denied just before the break.
Tottenham made four substitutions at the half and surged forward in an attempt to equalize. Robbie Keane found himself all alone inside United's penalty area when Ledley King's flick-on header beat the offsides trap. However, the Irishman's shot sailed high and wide of Rimando's right post.
After Spurs' initial increasing of the pressure, a slew of substitutions slowed the game down and both sides struggled to produce offensively. John Harkes made his final departure from the field in the 79th minute as Bryan Namoff stepped on to fill his spot.
Spurs best chance of the half came in the 86th minute as Milenko Acimovic struck a bending free kick from the left corner of the box. Just at the last moment, Rimando arrived to tip the ball safely over the crossbar.
Tottenham sent everyone forward in the last minutes of the match as United seemed happy to bunker in and wait for the final whistle. After two minutes of stoppage time, the referee ended the affair with United again defeating the Londoners by a 1-0 scoreline, thus capturing the Capital Cup for a second straight year. Spurs legend Jurgen Klinsmann was on hand to present United with the trophy, which John Harkes accepted for the home team.
United will return to action this Saturday night as the Black-and-Red host the Kansas City Wizards as part of a WUSA-MLS double-header at RFK Stadium. The Washington Freedom will face the Carolina Courage at 5:00 with United and Kansas City following at 7:30PM.
