D.C. United’s 1-0 win over San Juan Jabloteh in Port of Spain on Tuesday kept United alive in Group B of the Concacaf Champions League. “We’re still in it,” midfielder Clyde Simms said. “We knew if we got a win here, we definitely have a chance. We need to take care of business at home and hopefully get a good result in Mexico and we think we can still advance.”
Christian Gomez converted a penalty kick in the 14th minute, awarded when Noel Williams handled the ball in the penalty box, to give United its first-ever group stage win. United earned the win without several of its usual starters, some injured and others resting at home with the team in the heat of a playoff race. “It was a good team effort,” Simms said. “There were some guys for us who don’t normally get minutes getting good minutes and it was a good feeling to get the win. We got a little bit of a break coming up so it was huge to end this streak of games with a win.”
D.C. United now has three points in Group B and sits alone in the third place behind Toluca and Marathon, tied with six points apiece. The top two teams play Thursday night. Without an MLS game this weekend, D.C. should be well rested for its next Champions League encounter — at home against Marathon Sept. 24.