2008 Woodie Awards
Rookie Teen Freddy Adu A-Didn't
D.C. United wonder kid has a so-so performance in his Los Angeles debut.
Bob Teichmann
Issue date: 4/14/04 Section: Sports
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 Media Credit: Jorge Gallegos A FOOTHOLD - Los Angeles Galaxy veteran midfielder Cobi Jones, left, tries to keep 14-year-old D.C. United rookie Freddy Adu away from the ball in his Carson premiere at the Home Depot Center Saturday. |
"We have to all be patient," said United head coach Peter Nowak. "He was all over the place; in the middle and left and right."
The 14-year-old Ghana native, in only his second professional game, was brought in at the start of the second half to a standing ovation from the Home Depot Center crowd announced at 27,000. He is the youngest athlete to play On a professional American team since 14-year-old Fred Chapman started for Philadelphia in Major League Baseball's American Association in 1887.
Adu controlled the ball on several occasions, and attempted his first pro goal in the 90th minute, with Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman making the save. Veteran midfielder Cobi Jones pressured Adu for most of the game, facing him one-on-one midway into the second half. Jones chased Adu from the United side of the field, slide-tackling him moments later.
"Cobi still has some wheels on him," Adu said. "He is an all-time great and I was really excited to be going up against him."
Soon afterward, Adu, a 5-foot-7, 140-pound teenager opened his physical game. Los Angeles midfielder Andreas Herzog stole the ball, heading up the sideline. Adu chased him down, committing a foul and sending Herzog to the ground before he could score (Herzog is a former member of the Austrian national team, is five inches taller, 36 pounds heavier, and 21 years his senior).
"I lost the ball and wasn't going to let him go down on a breakaway," Adu said of the play. "Obviously it was a foul, and I admit it. But I did it to help my team out."
Jones was impressed by Adu's performance, including his 25 touches in the game.
"He's obviously a talented player," Jones said. "He's got a lot of skills. I still think he's got a long way to go to step up to the professional level."
Adu attempted other plays, including a precisely-timed pass to midfielder Bobby Convey while breaking through the defense in the box. Convey's shot, however, flew off to the side.
The only D.C. goal came in the 68th minute when forward Ronald Cerritos finished a set of passes from midfielders Earnie Stewart and Joshua Gros with a shot to the top right corner of the goal.
Los Angeles responded with an offensive show from forward Carlos Ruiz. He picked up a deflected pass, stood down D.C. midfielder Brian Carroll, then sent a right-footed shot over goaltender Nick Rimando for his second goal of the season.
The league expects each of Adu's games to be sold out. His professional debut was a sellout, with a crowd of 24,603 in the season-opening 2-1 victory against the San Jose Earthquakes April 3 in Washington.
"As the games go on, we will start getting lucky," Adu said. "We need to finish our chances."
