D.C. United are now in their fourth day of preseason training at Las Palmas Hotel & Suites in sunny Sunrise, Fla. The team has been practicing twice a day - once in the morning and once in the afternoon - as it prepares for a March 15 date with CD Guadalajara in the semifinal round of CONCACAF Champions' Cup.
Head coach Tom Soehn has provided his team with a varied number of drills and small-sided games, with a focus on improving match fitness. The team will continue to practice in Sunrise until Saturday when it returns to D.C.
Houston Dynamo have joined United in the Champions' Cup semifinals as they triumphed over Puntarenas FC 2-0 last Thursday night. By clinching the first Champions' Cup win by an MLS team against a Costa Rican team since 2000, Houston is set to face off against the Mexican club Pachuca.
An All-American final could be on the horizon, guaranteeing an MLS team a spot in the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup, if United and the Dynamo win their respective semifinal series. The CCC home leg featuring the Black-and-Red against Chivas is set for March 15 at 8 p.m. ET. Single-game and special-pack tickets are available online at www.dcunited.com or by calling 202-587-5000, so get them NOW!
FIU
The Black-and-Red host Florida International University Tuesday afternoon in a match that has been dubbed the "First Annual BobbyBoswell.com Tribute Match," in honor of both Bobby Boswell's time at FIU and the upcoming launch of his website on March 20.
Boswell has predicted a 6-0 victory over his old team. United draft pick Shawn Crowe is also a former member of the Panthers and will be facing many of his former teammates.
Trialists
Jamil Fearington joined United on Sunday and has trained with the team the past two days, while Welton Silva traveled with the team from D.C. to continue his workouts. Both players are expected to be with the team for the rest of the stay in Florida and will be available for selection in Tuesday's match against Florida International.
Ownership sighting
Spotted with the Barra Brava last Thursday night was United co-managing director Will Chang. Showing his enthusiasm and appreciation for the team's fans, Chang joined in the tailgating festivities with United president and CEO Kevin Payne. During the match, he braved the rain by re-joining the hearty supporters in the stands as they cheered on the Black-and-Red to victory.
Look-alike contest?
On Monday evening at dinner, Boswell began a very serious conversation with this question to his teammates: "If you had to pick an actor who looked like you to play you in a movie, who would it be?"
The overwhelming favorite for midfielder Clyde Simms, was Orlando Jones, while, aside from his unique nose, Owen Wilson was considered a good fit for Brian Carroll.
Most agreed that a young Samuel L. Jackson would suit defender John Wilson. Devon McTavish was an easy pick according to Ben Olsen, who immediately named The OC's Adam Brody. Olsen also had a few ideas as to who would play him in a movie, but thought if they made a film about his life it would be an all-encompassing lifelong piece. To that end, he said Fred Savage of The Wonder Years would play him in his early days, Benicio Del Toro during his 20's and 30's and for his later years, a bearded Robert De Niro.
