D.C. United is gearing up to host another stubborn, defensive-minded visitor this weekend, as the San Jose Earthquakes hit town for the first Sunday afternoon match of the season at RFK Stadium. While only five points separate the teams in the overall league standings, an ascendant D.C. side is unbeaten in their last four games and will enter the contest as clear favorites on their home turf.
United have discovered a rich vein of form lately and will be eager to take on David Beckham and the West-leading Galaxy on national television in a week's time, but remain aware of the Earthquakes' ambush potential as the struggling expansion side looks to steal points in their only 2008 trip to the nation's capital.
"You would say the same thing about New York going to New England, and they were able to pull off what I feel is a good result for them," said D.C. head coach Tom Soehn, alluding to the Red Bulls' creditable road draw on Wednesday. "You just never know on a given day. I just want to make sure that as a unit, we make sure we take care of the things we can control and make sure we have the same intensity, same discipline, the same kind of [attacking] build-up [as last week]."
Last Saturday the Red Bulls traveled to RFK looking for a low-scoring draw, only to be put to the sword in a 4-1 rout and with his last-place squad laboring to notch both points and goals so far, San Jose boss Frank Yallop also looks likely to park the proverbial bus in front of goal on Sunday. United will need to maintain the creativity and attacking verve that has helped them rediscover their scoring touch in recent weeks.
"I think it's always vital that you get the first goal and force teams that bunker to have to play," said Soehn. "New York was content in defending: they started with one forward. I'm not sure what San Jose will do, but I imagine we'll see something similar and if you break a team down early and force them to play, it obviously plays to your strengths."
Sitting dead last in the scoring charts, the Quakes have found offense hard to come by in their return to Major League Soccer. But Yallop has constructed a veteran back line that's made life hard for many opposing teams, as demonstrated by their four shutouts -- which is four more than the United back line has earned this year.
However, Luciano Emilio, Jaime Moreno and the rest of the D.C. attack have grown quite confident on RFK's fast surface and as the club's fluid passing style has returned, strikers and midfielders alike are getting plenty of good looks at goal.
"Right now we believe in each other and we believe in what we're doing, and that's all we've got to do," said Moreno. "You saw in the last game that we created a lot of chances, playing good, moving the ball well. I think that's a key and we know, each of us, what we've got to do to make the team better and to get the three points."
United will have to do so without the services of Santino Quaranta, suspended due to yellow card accumulation, though right back Bryan Namoff and playmaker Marcelo Gallardo will return from suspension. Quaranta's absence could hand another opportunity to rookie Ryan Cordeiro, or prompt another start for Marc Burch, who has seen time at both left back and left midfield this year.
Whoever gets the start in midfield will be expected to slot into the dynamism and unpredictable movement that has made the United attack so difficult to defend in recent weeks. Wingers have floated all over the field to find space and time on the ball, while Moreno has routinely dropped deep to connect the lines and help advance possession.
But despite their abundant scoring, Soehn took his team to task after the Red Bulls victory for failing to better control the game's tempo, and that facet of their play will play an important role in limiting the Earthquakes' counterattacking opportunities.
"That's the beauty of soccer, having the ability to change in the flow of each play, or in the flow of a segment of 10 minutes," said the second-year boss. "All we require is that when it breaks down, we get back and get back our shape. Whether it's one guy playing in [another's] spot doesn't matter, it's just Xs. I think we're getting better at that, [but] we still have to improve upon that sometimes in the attack, making sure that we have the proper numbers back."
But in the end, his team's prospects for a third consecutive victory will likely hinge on their ability to pick apart San Jose's massed numbers at the other end. After a star-crossed spring, United seem to have the bit between their teeth at this point and restraining their offensive exuberance may prove a tall order for the Quakes.
"We have to win because we have to get more points to keep going up in the standings," said midfielder Fred. "I think we're going to have a good game."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
