At the time of D.C. United's last match, Toronto FC were a winless, goalless, struggling team which had leaked 10 goals in their first four matches. But while D.C. took a week off, the expansion side roared into life -- and actually surged ahead of United in the Eastern Conference standings thanks to two gutsy home victories.
Having knocked off league champs Houston on Wednesday night, TFC's confidence is soaring, and they will fancy their chances to run their winning streak to three games when United hit town this weekend. Throw in the startlingly rabid crowd support at BMO Field and a few familiar faces wearing red and white, and D.C.'s inaugural trip north of the border looks begins to look like an intriguing proposition.
"It's a pretty hostile environment," said United coach Tom Soehn. "It's going to be great for our league to have that kind of fan support. As we look to give our guys experience, hostile environments like that will make you a better player. So I'm looking forward to it."
Wednesday's game at brand-new BMO Field was nearly sold out despite bleak, wet weather conditions, further bolstering the reputation of the enthusiastic fans who have practically willed their new team to victory with constant noise.
"I watched their game on Saturday, when they beat Chicago, and it's a great environment for MLS," said Josh Gros. "It's definitely not going to be an easy place to play. ... I'm sure they'll keep the momentum rolling."
D.C. will be reuniting with Alecko Eskandarian, the hard-charging striker and all-around locker room personality who powered the Black-and-Red to their last championship, but was traded to Toronto for allocation money just before Christmas. He keeps in touch with many of his old teammates and he'll likely feel he has a point to prove to his former employers.
"We know what his strengths are and we'll try to take them away," said Soehn. "I'm sure he will be hungry to make an impression and make us feel that we got rid of him for the wrong reasons. But mine and Alecko's relationship is fine. I truly thought he was great for us while we had him. It was just time now for him to do it somewhere else."
Bobby Boswell is energized for the task of stifling "Esky," who overcame a calf injury to play 65 minutes against Dynamo. United's center back says he and the voluble Eskandarian still "talk trash about each other, because that's just how we are," trading long-distance gibes via texts, e-mails and their respective blogs.
"He and I were always going against each other in practice, sometimes kicking and dirty," said Boswell. "He's a fighter and he just wants to win, and I'm a fighter who wants to win. So you put us against each other and it's fun to watch, some people say. ... Hopefully he'll be healthy and able to play. We're looking forward to going against him and trying to shut them down, especially in a packed house."
Toronto's recent revival has been paced by improved flank play, aided in no small part by the return of Ronnie O'Brien from injury. The Irishman has a checkered history with United on account of past run-ins with hard man Dema Kovalenko (now playing for the New York Red Bulls), and Gros -- who has recently shifted to a more traditional left back role for D.C. -- will play a key role in limiting his service from the right wing.
"He's a very good player. I think he helps them out a lot," said Gros of O'Brien, who suffered a horrific broken leg against the Black-and-Red in 2003. "I think just about everybody has something against D.C. -- they always like to beat us."
United have picked up four points in their last two matches, but have yet to click on all cylinders in MLS competition this year. While Soehn's shift to a 4-4-2 formation has shown signs of stabilizing the defense, D.C.'s talented strike force has still not met its own high expectations. But with Brazilian midfielder Fred's recuperation from a mild groin strain, United should feature an abundance of creativity on the BMO FieldTurf and Jaime Moreno believes his side's persistence will soon be rewarded.
"I think it will come," said the United captain. "I know a lot of people are wondering, but we're working. I think once you work, sometimes it doesn't go your way but at one point it's going to turn around and it's going to pay off."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
