WASHINGTON – In a welcome break from the sultry norm this time of year in Washington, D.C. United practiced under gray, rainy skies on Wednesday morning. Yet several players were already thinking about the blazing, 95-degree conditions forecast for Thursday, when they host Seattle Sounders FC in an ESPN2 primetime matchup at RFK Stadium.
“It’s just going to be hot,” lamented Santino Quaranta. “I’d rather play in this weather, but it’s going to be difficult, and I guess it’s more tough for them.”
United almost sounded eager for a chance to run the life out of their visitors from the Pacific Northwest, who will play their fifth match in two weeks when they take the field at RFK.
“They’ve had a lot of games and they’re playing in this humidity, which they don’t really face a lot out west,” midfielder Clyde Simms noted on Tuesday.
In light of these teams’ rocky past, there might also be a bit of masochism at work. A year ago United and Seattle engaged in pitched battle on three occasions, with the US Open Cup final the pivotal showdown. Sigi Schmid’s expansion side got the better of their tradition-laden counterparts with brash impertinence both on and off the field.
Sounders general manager Adrian Hanauer challenged DC president Kevin Payne over US Soccer’s bidding process for the cup final venue, and in similar fashion the likes of Fredy Montero and Steve Zakuani shredded the United defense with speed and sharpness to win at RFK twice in September, in both cup and league competition.
While DC may not have been the only team whose feathers were ruffled by the exuberance and effectiveness of the league’s newest club, the four-time MLS champions quickly became the most prominent one.
United’s 3-2 win at Qwest Field last month did much to salve last year’s wounds, however, and this week the Black-and-Red paid tribute to their West Coast rivals despite the sophomore slump that has seen SSFC slip to the lower reaches of the standings.
“They came into the league as an expansion team and they had success immediately. They had a swagger that immediately, I think, led to rivalries,” DC coach Curt Onalfo said.
“But we don’t worry too much about that. We know we’re playing a very good team that’s well-coached. We’re just coming off four road games, we’re finally home, so we need to be really intelligent in our approach. We need to take care of business of home and get three points.”
The four lifetime meetings between these two teams have resembled track meets for long stretches, with 17 total goals scored. This time United hope to exploit Seattle’s eagerness to get forward down the flanks and may actually invite pressure in order to do so, though that will place extra expectations on the DC midfield.
“They love to push numbers forward with the attackers that they have – and they have some really good attackers," Simms said, "so the key for us is to keep the ball and not let them get a chance to get the ball, and deny service to their key players."
DC should also see the debut of recently signed Designated Player Branko Boskovic, though it's unclear in what role. Word is expected Thursday if the paperwork for felllow signee Pablo Hernandez will allow him to debut against the Sounders as well.
