Question about DC United x Vasco da Gama game

[MIGkiller]

I know now that back in 98 DC United beat Vasco da Gama a little after Vasco won Libertadores that year, but I don't remember anything about it. Could you guys give me more info about the game, like rosters, what was on stake, if it was a FIFA sponsored event, and how seriously the teams took it?

As a flamenguista it would be great ammo against our hated rivals knowing they faced such humilliation by a MLS team.

[Owen Gohl]

Although they won a third MLS Cup the following year, the victory over Vasco probably was United's greatest achievement.

Go here for CONCACAF report:

http://www.concacaf.com/graphics/newsletters/pdf/JanFeb99/JanFeb99.pdf

Soccer Times column:

http://www.soccertimes.com/langdon/1998/dec07.htm

DCU defeated Toluca in the semi-final:

http://members.tripod.com/~futbolworld/dcunited081698.htm

[John_Harkes_6]

Originally posted by MIGkiller
I know now that back in 98 DC United beat Vasco da Gama a little after Vasco won Libertadores that year, but I don't remember anything about it. Could you guys give me more info about the game, like rosters, what was on stake, if it was a FIFA sponsored event, and how seriously the teams took it?

As a flamenguista it would be great ammo against our hated rivals knowing they faced such humilliation by a MLS team. And why is it such a humiliation - because they lost to an MLS team? Blow off

[MIGkiller]

Originally posted by John_Harkes_6
And why is it such a humiliation - because they lost to an MLS team? Blow off

How old was MLS back then? And how popular was it at the time? Knowing the arrogant vascaíno fans I can tell that is a defeat they would definately try to hide, if they took the game seriously. So was it a face-off between the Libertadores champion and its CONCACAF counterpart?

[MikeLastort2]

Vasco losing to United was a major humilation.

1998 was the 100th anniverary for Vasco da Gama. DC United was three years old. Losing to such a young team, and an American one to boot, made Vasco look shameful to South American soccer.

[Serie Zed]

Two matches:

The first was at RFK and despite the fact that Vasco was more skilled at almost every position, DC passed the ball very well, used the gaping spaces left by Vasco (very undisciplined as a team) and deserved at least a point.

But United missed a couple golden chances (Williams? scuffed a wide-open look from about six yards) and then Felipe drilled one of the best goals scored at RFK.

0-1 to Vasco before they left for Japan.

Second game was about three weeks later in Miami (supposedly the home match for Vasco). They were undoubtedly tired from their trip four days earlier, but United more or less dominated, winning 2-0 for a 2-1 aggregate win.

Was Vasco a better team? Probably. But they thought all they had to do was show up to win and probably didn't care nearly as much as DC Untied did about the result.

Still quite an accomplishment for a team in a leage that had only been around for four years.

Also, the lineup DC fielded in those matches remains by far the best side ever fielded by an MLS team (for my money):

---------Moreno Lassiter
Harkes Etch Williams Olsen
Agoos Llamosa Pope Sanneh

That's all from memory, so the details could be sketchy.

[Saltenya94]

Originally posted by Serie Zed
Two matches:

....
Second game was about three weeks later in Miami (supposedly the home match for Vasco).

You know thanks for bringing this up MIGkiller, I've always wanted to ask why was the away leg played in Miami? Instead of in Brazil? I'm sure had Vasco played in thier home stadium, maybe Vasco might have fared at least a draw to not disapoint thier "hinchas" (aka fans)

[Anthony]

Originally posted by MikeLastort2
Vasco losing to United was a major humilation.

1998 was the 100th anniverary for Vasco da Gama. DC United was three years old. Losing to such a young team, and an American one to boot, made Vasco look shameful to South American soccer.

My cousin works with a Brazilian immigrant. When this guy found out I was a DC fan, he had my cousin call me so he could make fun of Vasco.

Granted, in the cosmic scale of Brazilian soccer, the game a not that big (Vasco losing the Toyota Cup that year was bigger), but I think people in Brazil knew about it.

[TCompton]

Originally posted by Serie Zed
Was Vasco a better team? Probably. But they thought all they had to do was show up to win and probably didn't care nearly as much as DC Untied did about the result.

This seems to be a common occurance when DC faces foreign opponents.


Also, the lineup DC fielded in those matches remains by far the best side ever fielded by an MLS team (for my money):

---------Moreno Lassiter
Harkes Etch Williams Olsen
Agoos Llamosa Pope Sanneh

That is a very impressive line-up.

[gocaps]

Originally posted by MIGkiller
How old was MLS back then? And how popular was it at the time? Knowing the arrogant vascaíno fans I can tell that is a defeat they would definately try to hide, if they took the game seriously. So was it a face-off between the Libertadores champion and its CONCACAF counterpart?
IIRC, Corinthians (I think) took out an ad in a Brazilian newspaper after Vasco lost to DC "congratulating" Vasco on being the Interamerican Cup runners-up :D

And to answer your question, DC won the CONCACAF Champions Cup that year, so it was indeed a matchup of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL winners for that season.

[MikeLastort2]

Originally posted by gocaps
IIRC, Corinthians (I think) took out an ad in a Brazilian newspaper after Vasco lost to DC "congratulating" Vasco on being the Interamerican Cup runners-up :D

Actually, I'm pretty sure it was Flamengo congratulating Vasco for being the "vice champions" of the Toyota Cup, coming in second place to Real Madrid.

:)

There were a helluva lot of Flamengo fans behind one of the goals down in Lockhart, cheering against Vasco. At first I though they were bunch of DC fans, since they were all wearing black and red.

[Adler]

This, from the Soccer Times article (link from prior thread) on DCU's aggregate win over Vasco:

Coaching. Selection of personnel. Training. That's what distinguishes D.C. United from the rest of Major League Soccer . . . . .

. . . . The problem is the rest of Major League Soccer needs to catch up. We don't need D.C. United cut back to the rest of the pack. We need the rest of the pack to elevate itself.


Gag. Tough reading for a cold Monday morning.

[Section106]

DC United sold videos of the games, and luckily for me I have them! I don't know if the vids are still available but what a great piece of United history to have in your collection. Now, if the front office would only release a "box set" of the glory years, I'd be a happy man!

[Serie Zed]

Originally posted by Adler

Coaching. Selection of personnel. Training. That's what distinguishes D.C. United from the rest of Major League Soccer . . . . .

. . . . The problem is the rest of Major League Soccer needs to catch up. We don't need D.C. United cut back to the rest of the pack. We need the rest of the pack to elevate itself.

Too bad MLS selected Plan A.

[greenbill]

Originally posted by Section106
...Now, if the front office would only release a "box set" of the glory years, I'd be a happy man!
We can only dream.... :(

[MarioKempes]

Originally posted by gocaps
IIRC, Corinthians (I think) took out an ad in a Brazilian newspaper after Vasco lost to DC "congratulating" Vasco on being the Interamerican Cup runners-up :D



OMG, this is absolutely priceless! :D

[MarioKempes]

Originally posted by Adler
This, from the Soccer Times article (link from prior thread) on DCU's aggregate win over Vasco:

Coaching. Selection of personnel. Training. That's what distinguishes D.C. United from the rest of Major League Soccer . . . . .

. . . . The problem is the rest of Major League Soccer needs to catch up. We don't need D.C. United cut back to the rest of the pack. We need the rest of the pack to elevate itself.


Gag. Tough reading for a cold Monday morning.

Brings back fond memories of the glory years. Where have you gone Joe Dimaggio?

[SABuffalo786]

Now we know why Vasco fans burned American flags in their stadium this past spring. :D

[JoeW]

Originally posted by Serie Zed
Also, the lineup DC fielded in those matches remains by far the best side ever fielded by an MLS team (for my money):

---------Moreno Lassiter
Harkes Etch Williams Olsen
Agoos Llamosa Pope Sanneh


Even more impressive results given that not only do you only have DCU fielding a lineup with just 10 players, but no GK as well! ; ) Now that should really shame the Vasco fans--losing to a team that didn't field a keeper!

[Onionsack]

Originally posted by Serie Zed


Also, the lineup DC fielded in those matches remains by far the best side ever fielded by an MLS team (for my money):

---------Moreno Lassiter
Harkes Etch Williams Olsen
Agoos Llamosa Pope Sanneh



Let us not forget the Bruce!