It’s been a crazy week for me and an exciting week for DC United and its fans. While I’ve been busy studying and taking finals (and now moving out), United has done work of their own. Finally, for the first time since 2009, fans can say we’ve won two matches in a row. It was sure nice to get it out of the way as well. And since I’ve been away for a few weeks, let me catch myself up on all that’s happened.
First, DC United shellacked New York 4-1 off a Chris Pontius hat trick. This was easily Pontius’ best performance in a black and red uniform. Plus it was against New York (Nobody likes New York…Nobody!), and it was on national TV. Good revenge for last season. Then, after playing three matches in eight days, DC got a six day break from matches and beat Houston 3-2 in a match that showed true grit and determination. Gaining the lead then losing it twice, DC was able to get the match winner from a strong header by Maicon Santos. And there you have it! Six points in two matches. Which brings us to the present.
San Jose is another dangerous club and could be one of the toughest matches all season thus far. Chris Wondolowski, San Jose’s big scorer with eight goals, is having another good year. Also paired up with Wondo is Steven Lenhart, a tall striker who has given defenses fits this year. This powerful duo up top could be extra dangerous since United will be without centerback Emiliano Dudar. Dejan Jakovic is still dealing with an injury, and Ethan White is recovering from offseason surgery. So the backline, especially at centerback, is thin. Two things could happen as a result of this. Either Ben Olsen can put Perry Kitchen on the backline again, as he did against Houston, or Robbie Russell could play centerback and Olsen could use Chris Korb on the outside in Russell’s place. It will be interesting to see what Olsen decides.
The backline will be the centerpiece story for the next few matches and possibly the season, especially if Dudar and Jakovic can’t shake the injury bug. On the attacking end, it was nice to see De Rosario get his first goal of the year. Yes, it was a weird one, but a goal is a goal right? He’s still making a huge impact even without goals with five assists this season. So goals or no goals, as long as he’s having a hand in creating points, I don’t care.
Santos is playing out of his mind at the moment, and hopefully he can keep it up. He’s the leading scorer for DC so far this season with six goals in nine matches, and he’s well on his way to having the best season of his career. I won’t predict his goal scoring will remain constant all year, which it probably won’t, but he’ll be an impact player to watch all season.
It’s another mid-week match, which means extra writing for me and a less amount of rest for the club, but that’s alright. It also means more soccer to watch, and who honestly could argue against that? Certainly not me. I’m looking forward to watching the match tonight, and I’ll also say I’m really looking forward to the new stadium they’re building in San Jose. From the designs, that place looks awesome.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
