June 2009. That was the last time DC United won two matches in a row in league play. It’s almost hard to believe, but that was two seasons ago. Now, DC faces the chance of a post season berth, and the ability to win two matches in a row is vital right now. This week, they travel up to CenturyLink Field to face off against the number two team in MLS right now: The Seattle Sounders.
Coming off a great performance last week, DC will need Charlie Davies to continue with his run of good form. Surely nobody expects a hat trick every week, but Davies needs to become a bigger threat to make up for the unfortunate loss of Chris Pontius. Over the summer, Davies had a run of short injuries that inhibited his scoring, but with those in the rear view mirror, it looks like Davies can pick up where he left off earlier this season.
Speaking of the Pontius injury, DC United fans should not be overly worried about a fall in the overall team form. Pontius was a big part of the DC United attack this season, but the options that DC has at midfield to replace Pontius are some of the best in the league. This team is built in a large depth at midfield. The two players who have the best chance at cracking the starting line-up to replace Pontius are Austin da Luz and Santino Quaranta. Quaranta probably has the best chance being a 10 year veteran in the MLS and he has started matches in the past. This year has been more of a disappointment for Quaranta however as he has had to battle with a concussion for the earlier part of this season. Da Luz is a newer acquisition for DC that has seen little action this season but has a lot of upside to him. Both are good options to have for DC, and it will be interesting to see who coach Ben Olsen selects on Saturday night. Besides the Pontius injury, Dejan Jakovic is listed as questionable and keeper Bill Hamid is listed as probable even though he played all 90 minutes between the pipes against Chivas USA.
In Seattle, DC will be facing a tougher team than last week. Earlier this year saw DC win 2-1 at RFK, and Seattle will want to get revenge on that loss. Over the past few years, Seattle has developed sort of a jealous “little brother” approach when it comes to DC United. They crave for the trophies and prestige that DC experienced early on in the MLS. The fact that DC has four stars above their team crest and Seattle as zero does not sit well with Sounders fans. This year, they currently sit second place in the Western Conference and have a very good chance at getting their first league championship. This is all due to the great team play by Seattle. Fredy Montero has started to heat up at the right time scoring four goals in the last three matches for Seattle. Through the entire year, Montero leads Seattle with nine goals, and along with nine assists as well. Montero is one of the most dangerous players in the MLS. Probably the most dangerous factor when playing against Seattle though is that anyone can score. This season, 15 players have scored with Seattle, including six players with five or more goals. Names like Montero, Alvaro Fernandez, and Mauro Rosales are the ones that every MLS fan hears every week, but the entire team is a threat on the offensive end.
If DC can get a win in Seattle this weekend, it will speak volumes for their playoff chances. Not only is Seattle a serious contender for the MLS Cup this year, they have never been swept by DC United in the season. On the flip side, DC United has never lost at CenturyLink Field. If DC can come into the match with the confidence and form they displayed against Chivas, the match ought to be a very good one.
(Image provided by Jeff Golden/Getty Images)
