GORDON WILLIAMS, Contributor

D.C. United's Devon McTavish (centre) scores a goal past Harbour View FC goalkeeper Dwayne Miller (right) as Robert Scarlet (14) and Christopher Harvey (27) defend during the second half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup game in Washington. D.C. United won 5-0. - AP

WASHINGTON D.C., United States

A first half strike, followed by a flurry of four second half goals, doomed Harbour View's chances of advancing to the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup (CCC) last night at the RFK Stadium here.

The Jamaica and Caribbean champions crumbled on a cool night and failed to follow up on a creditable 1-1 showing in the first leg of the quarter-finals in Kingston last week, stumbling into a 5-0 thrashing by rampaging American club D.C. United to crash out of the tie by a 6-1 aggregate.

Two goals each by Devon McTavish (26th, 68th) and Luciano Emilio (63rd, and 65th), and one from Fred (88th) sealed Harbour View's fate and sent the Major League Soccer club into the next round. There they will face the winners of tonight's game between defending CCC champions Pa-chuca CF of Mexico and CD Motagua of Honduras in the home and away semi-final series beginning the first week of April.

Yet the early exchanges gave little indication of the mauling to come. The game started off with Harbour View signalling they would not be intimidated by D.C. United nor the constant flag-waving, chanting and drumming by the home fans on a clear night in the U.S. capital. The aggression cost the Jamaicans early as they picked up two yellow cards for some crunching challenges, one by Richard Edwards (third minute), the second by Donald Stewart (18th minute).

Meanwhile, the Harbour View defence seemed more troubled by its own casual ball handling rather than the D.C. United attackers. But as the half progressed - one strewn with poor passing by both teams - D.C. United gradually took control.

D.C. United's Luciano Emilio celebrates his goal against Harbour View FC during the second half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup yesterday in Washington. D.C. United won 5-0. - AP

Harbour View's dangerous overlapping runs in the first leg hardly materialised and the Jamaicans rarely threatened to score. Forwards Kavin Bryan and Fabian Taylor were hounded by D.C. United's central defenders Gon-zalo Martinez and Gonsalo Peralto and Harbour View's first real shot at goal had to wait until the 36th minute via a hopeful, long-range blast from Edwards which flew high over the bar.

D.C. United, meanwhile, had already created the game's first real scoring chance. In the 10th minute a lovely chipped pass from Argentine-born playmaker Marcelo Gallardo found Emilio unmarked at the back post, but the striker's attempted lob of Dwayne Miller in goal, from barely six yards out, skimmed over the top.

The home team eventually took the lead, although in surprising fashion. Gallardo curled an inswinging free kick from the left flank following a needless foul by Stewart on Franco Niell. The ball escaped a crowd of stumbling Harbour View defenders in the penalty box and was met at the far post by McTavish, who slotted home.

Frustration appeared to start to set in for the Jamaicans as the half crept to a close. A 40th minute free kick by Gallardo from just over 20 yards ricocheted off the Harbour View wall. The Argentine's crisp follow-up volley was tipped onto the crossbar and out for a corner by a diving Dwayne Miller in goal. And D.C. United should have gone two up on the stroke of half-time. Central defender Jermaine Taylor misplayed a long forward pass straight to Niell, who dismissed Taylor before offering a feeble left footed shot from inside the box.

D.C. United came out much more aggressive in the second half. They pressed Harbour View back into their own half early with a more up tempo game and the visitors began to wilt. Defender Christopher Harvey picked up his team's third yellow card in the 50th minute for another tough challenge. Two minutes later Marc Burch's cross from the left flank was headed just wide by Emilio as the home team looked to extend its lead. Emilio's long range blast in the 57th also forced a fumble from Miller.

Harbour View responded meekly. Jermaine Hue's long range strike in the 61st minute was easily saved by Zach Wells in the D.C. United goal.

Goal number two was a classic. Some clever short passing by Fred and Emilio ripped open Harbour View's defence in the 63rd minute, before Emilio slotted easily into the net. The goal signalled the end of Harbour View's resistance as the Jamaicans appeared to unravel immediately. Substitute Santino Quaranta's blast in the 65th, after being set up by Fred, was blocked by Miller. But the ball rebounded straight to Emilio who nodded into the empty net.

With Harbour View now punch drunk, D.C. United swarmed forward like sharks smelling *lo** in the water. They should have increased the lead almost immediately, but Gallardo's nonchalant chip at the near post was easily saved by Miller.

The reprieve did not last. In the 68th Emilio played set up man. His high cross to the back post found Quaranta whose pass inside was met by McTavish to make it 4-0. As D.C. United further stamped their class, Fred sealed the scoreline by easily beating Miller when faced by the 'keeper one on one.

Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.