WASHINGTON – Whenever D.C. United make the trip north to Toronto, the experience carries extra significance for defender Dejan Jakovic.
The third-year MLS veteran moved to the Toronto metropolitan area when he was 6 years old after civil war broke out in what was then his native Yugoslavia. The 25-year-old lived in Toronto until he left for college in the United States and identifies it as his hometown.
He’s excited to return this coming weekend when D.C. United pay a visit to Toronto FC (Saturday, 7 pm ET, FOX Soccer), and hopes to taste success with his current squad.
“It’s a great feeling when you get to go back home,” Jakovic said. “I’m going to have a lot of family at the game. [Getting to] play in front of my family and my friends – I don’t get to see them often and it’s always nice going back to your hometown to play against Toronto.”
Not only will he get to see familiar faces but the Canadian international also has a big role to play for a DC team still searching for its first road point of the season. A good defensive performance would go a long way in setting the foundation for that.
Heading to BMO Field won’t be easy, though. Toronto crowds are known for being among the most vocal in the league, but Jakovic looks forward to the occasion of playing in front of a packed house.
“They definitely have one of the better fan bases,” he said. “For me, personally, I like it – the more fans the better. I like playing when there’s a large crowd. [It] makes my game a little better.”
Toronto coach Aron Winter’s 4-3-3 system will pose a challenge for DC’s defense. While United are somewhat familiar with it – the teams played each other during preseason in Charleston, S.C. – Jakovic knows the Reds have improved and will pose a big test.
“It’s going to be a good challenge for us," he said. "They’re a lot better than what we’ve seen in preseason. Obviously they’ve had a few changes, a few trades, but it’s definitely not going to be easy.”
