At 1-0 down, D.C. United just about did its job.

Yeah, that's funny to say in a cup competition. Usually, you want to get a goal on the road to give yourself the best chance of advancing. But away goals don't matter in this competition for some perverse reason explainable only to CONCACAF officials.

Then again, you're not expecting your backline to not mark on the back post with ten minutes to play with that one goal deficit (and the job done) in the bag.

At 2-0 down, United has a significant task ahead of it.

It wasn't a performance for the neutrals by United. Zach Wells tried to waste time from the opening minute. The altitude sucked the life out of United late in the first half and late in the second half. It's difficult to adapt and play at altitude when you're not used to it and only have a day or two to adapt.

United didn't create much going forward, aside from a misplay by Calero and a couple of quickfire chances 15 minutes from time, but they didn't really need to focus on that. Fred looked tidy at points, while Marcelo Gallardo underwhelmed. This preference for the slide rule pass down towards the corner didn't make sense when Emilio couldn't get past the defense.

When Emilio went towards goal, he must have thought he was in MLS and not international play because he kept taking extra touches and refused to release the ball. The one time he did act quickly, he nearly set up a 2v1 and drew a yellow card for a scathing tackle.

Defensively, United looked solid for the most part aside from the goals.. Tough to have qualms with the back four aside from the second goal. Thought the defensive midfielders could have established themselves a bit more in the game, though Pachuca enjoyed most of the possession in the second half and United held up well. McTavish's tackle on Montes with 10 minutes to play was ill-advised and led to the second goal.

Both goals were poor to give away from United's perspective. Montes scores from a cross because Wells is sleeping or cheating off his line. It's not a goal that Perkins would have conceded. The second goal is desperately poor marking off a set piece. Coach Tom Soehn won't be pleased with the manner in which his side conceded.

Pachuca's coach, former Mexico coach Enrique Meza, did well to switch things up at halftime. Montes was an inspired substitute (two goals compels me to say that). Aside from that, it was rather comfortable for the hosts.

Can United turn it around in the second leg? Probably not. Pachuca has just a bit too much quality in midfield. Two goals should be more than enough to see the Mexicans through to the final. For United, the team wants trophies but this competition won't likely yield one on this evidence.