Perched atop both the Eastern Conference and the overall MLS points standings, some six weeks removed from their last league defeat, D.C. United is running on all cylinders as they travel to southern California for an MLS Primetime Thursday showdown with Chivas USA, presently the hottest club in the West.
The stage is set for a compelling match at The Home Depot Center, one that will likely prove influential in the race for the 2007 Supporters' Shield -- and to hear United head coach Tom Soehn tell it, it will also be a meeting of mirror images, as he sees much of his side's style reflected in the present Chivas squad.
"You know, the one thing you'd say about them is, they're pretty organized in the attack and organized in their defending," said Soehn of the Red-and-White. "As a team we do things similar to them, but I think individually we've got a few more guys that can hurt them. So, two similar teams, and if our team comes in the way they should, I give us the advantage. But they're playing very well and they're a team that I've said all along, as I watched them, they emulate what we do the most."
Both in-form sides are led by former MLS players making their head coaching debuts this season, and the connections run deeper still. Last year Chivas boss Preki apprenticed under former head coach Bob Bradley, who himself learned much of his trade as a United assistant to Bruce Arena during the club's dynasty era, while Soehn spent the past three seasons serving as Peter Nowak's right-hand man in D.C.
Bradley and Nowak have since taken charge of the U.S. national team, while their successors -- blessed with a deep, first-hand understanding of the league and its demands -- have blended continuity with innovation to get the most out of their respective sides.
"You could just look at it as the evolution of our game and our coaches," said United midfielder Ben Olsen. "These are the first coaches who have played from day one ... go through a career in America, and now they become coaches. So they've got a full lifespan of American soccer and I think you see that."
Olsen played against Preki many times during the two-time MVP's illustrious MLS career, and he's seen the Yugoslavian-born star stamp his own authority on the promising nucleus that Bradley built at Chivas USA.
"Everybody loves Preki in this league. He's an interesting guy, a real character and no one's really had as much success as him in this league," said Olsen. "He had Bob in front of him to learn, and I think that's always key for guys to do a little bit of the assistant coach stuff and learn the ropes from the right guy. They transformed that team into the team they wanted, and he's kind of taken over in getting them to the next gear."
After a slow start to the season, Soehn has gradually molded United into the championship contender that observers expected them to be, tinkering with positions and formations and even benching established starters when he believed they were underperforming.
Bobby Boswell is a prime example. The reigning MLS Defender of the Year had been a mainstay in the starting XI until last month, when he was relegated to the bench for three matches.
"I think Tommy, he motivates with hard love," said Boswell, who earned his spot back for last week's 4-0 pounding of FC Dallas. "'Accountable' is a good word for him -- that's his word and I think that's good for him. If you make plays and you get the job done -- not just on the field, you have to do it in practice, too -- then he's still going to come down on you, but he just wants the best out of you. He looks at, in my opinion, everything in terms of potential. It's not how good you're doing, it's how good can you do."
United's defensive corps has been outstanding of late, but could be in for a busy evening on Thursday. Cuban striker Maykel Galindo's pace has proved to be an ideal foil to the movement and finishing of veteran hitman Ante Razov up top, while United alumnus Jesse Marsch and young U.S. international Sacha Kljestan anchor a diverse, talented midfield.
"They look very good," said Olsen. "I've heard a lot of talk about how sharp they are right now, in their attack, mostly counterattacks. They do a good job with Galindo, and that little quick kid on the left -- [Francisco] Mendoza -- he's always trouble. They've got Sacha and Jesse Marsch sitting in there and doing a lot of the dirty work for those guys. It's a very talented team. They're hot right now, we're hot right now, so I think it's going to be a great matchup."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
