WASHINGTON – Five goals from five games isn't exactly a total that sets the world alight – especially when four of those goals come in one contest.
But despite that meager goal output so far this season, D.C. United midfielder Danny Cruz believes his team's attack is on track at the moment.
“The offense is going in the right direction, for sure,” Cruz told MLSsoccer.com on Friday. “We are creating opportunities, but against Vancouver and Seattle, we didn’t finish them as well as we did against Dallas.”
The team's four-goal explosion against Dallas was sandwiched by two 0-0 draws, away to the Vancouver Whitecaps, and at home against the Seattle Sounders. There were chances to be had for United, and Cruz believes that once United find their finishing boots, all will be taken care of offensively.
“There were a lot of positives to take from those two games,” Cruz said. “If we finish our chances, we aren’t worried at all.”
Cruz, who joined United after an offseason trade from the Houston Dynamo, where he spent three seasons, wasn’t projected as a starter for this United side, with Andy Najar and Chris Pontius slated to man the wide midfield positions. With Najar on national team duty with Honduras, though, the opportunity arose this season for Cruz to have a shot – he has started the past three games, collecting a goal and an assist for the Black and Red.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my teammates and the coaching staff, and it’s been great all around,” Cruz said. “It was a nice change of scenery, and we have a good group. We are trying to succeed, and trying to get into the playoffs, and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
With just five points from five matches, United are still looking up at several teams in the Eastern Conference standings. Moving up in the standings won’t be easy this weekend, as they travel Saturday to Foxborough to face a New England side who have won two out of their last three games (4 pm ET, watch LIVE online).
“It’s going to be a battle between the two of us,” said Cruz. “The team that goes out and really fights for the three points is going to end up getting it."
The old I-95 foes sit right next to each other in the table, with New England having one more point than United after five games played. A win for either side could result in a major jump in the standings - for the time being, anyway.
With no love lost between the two, the game is expected to be close, as is usual between the pair.
“I expect [the game] to be fast paced and physical,” added Cruz. “It’s always a tough game between [United and New England].”
