After a heartbreaking 2-1 loss at the New England Revolution’s Gillette Stadium, D.C. United must continue the form that allowed it to threaten an equalizer throughout the match. Despite an undeserved red card late in the match for Eddie Johnson, United were dangerous in the midfield and, for the most part, solid on defense.
The team needs to take advantage of each remaining match heading towards a potential playoff berth. Should both United and The Revs continue their form through the summer , as they both will have to endure playing 2-3 matches a week, it could make for one of the more attractive Eastern Conference Finals.
The key to D.C. United’s continued success is consistency in their central defense, especially Bobby Boswell. Against the Revs, they were compact for the entire first half and were able to keep New England’s midfield and attacking players at bay. They achieved this while feeding excellent service to their own midfield, creating chances for Eddie Johnson and Nick DeLeon. Jeff Parke has also been fairly consistent in the central defense for United and his continued success is critical to that of the team.
Equally important for Ben Olsen’s squad is that United keep players like Chris Rolfe and especially Fabian Espindola, healthy. Rolfe has usually been placed as an attacking midfielder when Johnson and Espindola start together up top, but the attacking pair of Rolfe and Espindola appears to be the more productive and dangerous. This is a big if, but if Eddie Johnson continues to be anemic in his ability to score goals, it may be worth considering playing the 4-4-2 diamond midfield that was used successfully for the first time against the Revs, but with Johnson at the attacking midfielder instead of Rolfe.
While it would be very unlikely to happen, it’s worth considering putting the best attacking duo we had, Rolfe and Espindola, in a flat 4-4-2 at the top of a diamond midfield 4-4-2. This would allow Johnson to make runs from deeper in the midfield and prevent ridiculous offside calls being made on him, while also allowing him to continue providing top-notch service to the forwards and players crashing the net. Again, this is unlikely in a game scenario as it isn’t clear whether Johnson would take the change in position very well. It’s a huge risk in general to change the position almost any player is assigned–just look at Landon Donovan for the first third of the season, with no goals scored and only seven assists through 9 matches.
With fixtures against defending MLS Cup Champions Sporting Kansas City, a third meeting with the Columbus Crew, a rematch against the Montreal Impact, and an after-bye week match with the league-leading Seattle Sounders, there is ample opportunity for United to make a move in the Eastern Conference. It will be critical to seal those next three wins to game some ground in the Eastern Conference standings. Three of United’s four opponents are in the Eastern Conference, with the Sporting Kansas City match being a must-win to leapfrog them into second place. It is also crucial to pick up points to catch up to the Revs, who now have a five-point lead on United in the conference.
If by the end of June there isn’t a three-point cushion between United (in either first or second place) and the next Eastern Conference team, then July will be equally important, albeit a slightly less rigorous schedule judging by current performance. With home and away matches against Toronto FC, the San Jose Earthquakes on the West Coast, and Chivas USA at home, it is United’s last opportunity to build a cushion before the schedule picks up in August and the playoff race begins in earnest.
The team is fully capable of making a run here, and challenging for the Supporters Shield. It has to start on the training pitch and in the team’s offices as they strategize. A win against Sporting Kansas City is the stepping stone, and Saturday’s match will definitely be one to remember.
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