the five inches of snow that blanketed the area early this week.
The Black-and-Red began training in earnest Tuesday in preparation of their first-round CONCACAF Champions Cup match on March 9 with Jamaican side Harbor View FC. Head coach Peter Nowak will likely use this part of the preseason schedule to fine-tune the mind, rather than the body, as United look to become accustomed to the weather in which the match will be played.
Due to construction at RFK Stadium, the first-round match will be held at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md. Individual game tickets are now on sale at TicketMaster and the Maryland SoccerPlex. Groups of 20 or more may purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $16 per seat. All seats are general admission. Seating capacity at the Maryland SoccerPlex is limited, so be sure to purchase in advance. Call us now at (202) 587-5000 or log on to www.dcunited.com for more information. Tickets will go fast!
Déjà vu all over again
MLS Cup MVP Alecko Eskandarian was on hand in Plano, Tex., today to award U.S. youth national team forward Lee Nguyen the 2004 Gatorade National High School Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Nguyen, who attends Plano East Senior High School in Plano, has already spent time with the U.S. under-18 and under-20 men's national teams this year.
In January, Nguyen traveled with the U-18 MNT to Guadalajara, Mexico, to compete in the Copa Chivas tournament, and the speedy forward scored four goals in four games, including notching his first international goal against Holland. Two weeks ago, the Dallas Texans standout got his first call-up to the U-20 MNT and scored the equalizing goal during an exhibition match against the San Jose Earthquakes in Bradenton, Fla.
Eskandarian was previously selected as the Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2000 while attending Bergen Catholic in New Jersey. He was also chosen as the NSCAA/adidas New Jersey State Player of the Year after leading New Jersey in scoring with 66 goals and 15 assists through 25 games during his senior year.
Injury update
Trialist Stephen Deroux suffered a non-union fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during training camp in Hawaii. He met with United's medical staff today in the first steps of determining the course of rehabilitation.
