DC United start their 2013/14 campaign on the road against reigning Eastern Conference champs, Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday (8pm). The Black and Reds will look to continue their success from last seasons excellent late run to end out there season which then extended to all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Ben Olsen's side immediately face one of the best teams coming into the 2013/14 MLS season in Dominic Kinnear's Houston Dynamo led by in-form midfielder Brad Davis. Yet despite offloading numerous key figures this summer, Olsen's squad continues to strengthen themselves with additions of Marcos Sanchez and veteran Carlos Ruiz. With Dwayne De Rosario and Chris Pontius back at full fitness, look for an even more potent attack with Lionard Pajoy rounding out the fierce attack.
The interim captain late in the season, Pontius will look to build off of his success last season. After taking plenty of time off and missing the second-leg of the Eastern Conference finals because of injury, and even turning down a US National Team invite back in January, Olsen has deemed one of his most versitile players "90 minutes fit." Olsen stated (via DC United.com):
"Chris took more time than we thought, which is fine […] We took our time with it, and now he's 100%, he's 90-minutes fit."
With Pontius fit, and Sanchez the newest addition to the DC ranks, this partnership could be quite promising. The Panamanian joins DC United on a one-year loan from Tauro FC, and brings both technical ability and vision in the attack.
On defense, look for Brandon McDonald to be the most important factor in front of Bill Hamid. The young back-line of Olsen's squad have plenty of experience to bring it to the Dynamo and with Perry Kitchen and Lewis Neal providing additional defensive support, the side should have a good showing. As Kitchen looks to further enhance his career with DC, Marcelo Saragosa's presence could surely play dividends against an established midfield led by Brad Davis with other key figures like Ricardo Clark.
The defensive unit will have plenty to work to do against Will Bruin in this match and will escape the newly-acquired striker Omar Cummings from the Colorado Rapids. Bruins has plenty of pace as United fans are well aware of. His crucial impact and finishing down the stretch is what helped his squad to MLS Cup.
Dejan Jakovic and McDonald will have plenty on their hands as Boniek Garcia is very capable of pinging in crosses left and right. Therefore, it will be equally as important that Nick DeLeon get back on defense as much as he loves to attack down the right-hand flank.
The attacking midfield role will be one in which Kitchen must keep a close eye on, as Giles Barnes may be Houston's biggest factor to see themselves have yet another successful season under Kinnear. Despite both sides numerous threats on all areas of the pitch, both Tally Hall and Bill Hamid will be the most crucial for their excellent shot-stopping abilities in recent seasons.
As the MLS season is only days away, the hype continues to swirl around the start of a new season. Both Kinnear and Olsen's men will have plenty to prove in the first match of the season as both hope to spring-board themselves up the table from the get-go…Game on.
Prediction: Houston 1 – 1 DC United (Goals from: Brad Davis, Lionard Pajoy)
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
