DC Hosts Houston in Battle of Champions

DC Hosts Houston in Battle of Champions

Mike Martin

June 03, 2008

United Players and fans celebrate DC's 1st goal
Photo: Martin Fernandez

DC United and the Houston Dynamo took home the all the MLS hardware in each of the last two seasons, but both have struggled this year and have only recently found a modicum of their expected form. Yet, DC is by far the more desperate team and needs to upend the defending MLS Champions to keep their hopes for this season alive.

Washington D.C., This will be a good gauge of how far DC has come out of that hideous hole they dug themselves into this season. Houston is a proud, two time defending MLS Cup Champion coming back to the field where they won the Cup last season. Plus, they have cobbled together a competent 3-1-1 record over their past five games, which has them within a point of leading the pathetic Western Conference.

“The way we started off, I think we were a little disappointed in how we started the season,” said forward Brian Ching. “But since then, we just put our heads down and have gotten back to playing how we are capable. Now we are working as a team and battling for results. I think in the past few games, you have really seen that.”

United on the other hand, is also clearly playing better as they have shown some tremendous form of late, but sadly has only four points to show for it. “It's getting better for us,” said midfielder Clyde Simms recently. “These are the three best games we've played this season, starting in Toronto.” Unfortunately, those three promising performances have led to only one win and the team remains mired in last place in the East.

Bottom line, United simply has to collect the full three points. Anything less, as unbelievable as it sounds, and this entire season is in incredibly dire straits in June. United simply cannot lose touch with the Toronto, who is in fourth place in the East, yet is a full seven points ahead of United heading into this match.

However, as dire as the situation is, there’s nothing like the old back against the wall scenario to push a team to success, especially when DC United has a lot of other intangibles pointing their way this time.

For one thing, DC is playing at RFK where they do exceptionally well and their fan support is unparalleled, while on the flip side Houston has never beaten DC in their only two visits to RFK to face United since the Dynamo were created in 2006. Houston even outplayed DC here last year, but couldn’t score when they had the bulk of the possession and fell 2-1.

But quite likely the biggest thing DC has going for them is that they will be starting their best XI for the fourth time in a row after a decent six day rest, while Houston will be missing some key players and are in the midst of a brutal 5 games in 15 days.

“You know another thing that was good, Tommy stayed with the same lineup,” said Santino Quaranta after the home win over Toronto when DC fell behind 2-1 after only two Toronto shots. “I think it would've been easy for him to make changes early on in the second half, change the formation. But I think we all learned a lesson in staying patient in that game, so it worked out.” And it has continued to work out if the NE match is any indication.

Houston will be playing their third game in seven days, and have two more games ahead in the next eight days. Plus, they will be missing their best defender in Eddie Robinson for certain as MLS extended his suspension an extra match due to his getting into a second altercation after his intemperate shove on Dallas midfielder Marcelo Saragosa. No doubt, Houston fans feel hard done, but I’m sorry, you don’t get a freebie in this league.

Robinson clearly earned his second yellow for a ridiculous two handed retaliation shove on Saragosa, who was yellowed for his forearm in the back of Robinson’s head by the way. Then, as Rocha goes after Robinson in the scrum afterward, the two exchange handbags, getting Rocha sent off. Well, MLS is evening up the scales, since Robinson shouldn’t be allowed to get away with his part in the Rocha incident. It’s only fortuitous that DC is the beneficiary of his undisciplined behavior that has led to his fifth game suspended this year.

Houston also is likely to be missing captain and left back Wade Barrett, who is still recovering from an adductor strain, and that has put a hitch in their defense to be sure. Plus, while DeRosario and Ricardo Clarke should be back, neither has played or practiced much with the team as they have been traveling and playing for their National sides. Nearly as bad as their two best defenders being out, goalie Pat Onstad is still away playing for Canada, leaving the stone fisted Scotsman, Tony Caig holding the bag as it were.

Now, I usually leave that daft breed, the goalkeeper out of my calculations as they are so unpredictable and so random to the success or failure of a team, but quite honestly I feel it my duty to point out that if Wells is outplayed by a sheep shagger from Gretna, then Bambi is dead to me. I’ve been patient with him to date, but if he gives up the winning or tying goal while wandering his box as aimlessly as a lost puppy, then it’s time to move on to Carvallo to see what he’s got in his bag of tricks.

Still, goalkeepers aside, all of this shuffling the decks in Houston, plus a woeful scoring record has left Houston with a few holes in their system and some question marks in how they will solve their problems. Obviously, some players will need some rest considering the team still has two more games in the next eight days after this one, so it is quite likely some random starter will be rested simply for player management. Who that is, is anyone’s guess, but it will help DC that’s for sure.

But, even if they don’t rest someone, Dominic Kinnear has had a devil of a time solving two huge problems in his tactics. One problem is who to use to replace Wade Barrett at left back, where he has tried Cameron and Waibel, neither of whom was very convincing, which led to a very enterprising fling with a three back system that was very successful in the last match, but that just might have been because they finished the match 10 on 10.

Now the other, even bigger problem is who to partner with Brian Ching at forward. Caraccio has had the most time there, but has been sporadic at best. Wondolowski is way better coming off the bench than as a starter, DeRo has played there and Mullan played there in the last game, and both were lively, but in the end losing them from the midfield negated their reasonable success as forwards.

So, Houston has some crucial decisions to make, and my gut says Caraccio returns to the forward line and Kinnear stays with three in the back, especially since Rico can play in this match. A back three of Waibel, Boswell, and Ianni should be sufficient, especially if Clarke and Mulrooney run interference in front of them. That leaves Mullan, Holden and DeRo in their natural roles attacking in support of Ching, and Houston only has to keep their fingers crossed that Caraccio has a good game.

DC on the other hand, is completely healthy and should be at full strength assuming Fred’s wife doesn’t go into labor tomorrow afternoon. Now, God bless them a healthy and happy child, but lord please wait to bring him into the world until next Monday!

Anyway, whether Fred is available or not, DC should trot out their failsafe 4-4-2 with everyone playing a role they are comfortable with, which has clearly helped them to play so well over the past few games.

So, looking at the matchups, DC has some very clear advantages going forward. Quaranta and Namoff pushing Holden back is a reasonable assumption especially as Ianni playing that side is the weakest link in their defense. The right side is an even more juicy matchup. You’ve got Fred going at the gritty Waibel, and Martinez in a steel cage death match with Mullan. If Fred is out, Burch maybe makes this an even matchup, but if Fred plays, you gotta like DC’s chances down this side of the field.

Gallardo again for the third game in a row will likely struggle against essentially two defensive midfielders in Clarke and Mulrooney, but Jaime is showing distinct signs of figuring out how to help him, and assuming Emilio continues to play outstanding, DC might even have the edge down the center of the field as well.

“He's causing a lot of havoc.” Coach Tommy Soehn said of Emilio after the New England game, and no truer words were ever spoken. As shocking as it is to think, but Emilio is literally night and day different these past three games than he has been the previous eight. He’s controlling the ball, facilitating the attack, beating players off the dribble, getting shots off, etc. But more importantly he’s now following up on others shots consistently. Emilio is easily the most deadly garbage goal scorer in the history of the league, and he rode that to an MVP trophy last season, if Caig gives up any rebounds, you gotta think Emilio tucks them in like King Pete puts away waffles.

Considering former DC defender of the year BobbyBoswell.com will be playing in his first game back after asking to be traded, and is a known quantity, Emilio and Moreno should have some deliciously precise plans to expose their former team mate. They certainly have plenty to work with as Stone Cold's positional weaknesses and poor reactions can be exposed if DC is able to work quickly through midfield. Bozilla is best if he’s only asked to clean up loose balls and be tough on set pieces, he gets more than bit shaky when asked to actually defend often in the run of play and DC should have the skills to put him under pressure if they choose to exercise them.

However, as much as DC’s offense has some decent advantages, the big rub will be how well DC’s defense plays. The team simply cannot keep losing concentration and giving away a goal or two a game. Ching and Caraccio are easily manageable for Peralta and McTavish, Martinez controlling the feisty Mullan is a reasonable assumption, as is Namoff keeping Holden at bay and Simms staying with DeRo for the most part. But, if they decide to coast a few plays here and there as has been their wont, then Houston can absolutely punish them.

If United’s defense plays well and keeps the game tight, DC should be able to score more than they give up, but if the team has more brainfarts up their sleeves, then it’s anybody’s game. At that point, you gotta hope the home field advantage kicks in and wills the team to victory like they did against Toronto. But, it could be a debacle as Houston is much tighter and tougher than Toronto will ever be. If they get spotted a goal or two, DC is not likely to reel them in.

So, there you have it. DC’s destiny is in their own hands. If they chose to fight and concentrate, they should win. If they chose to take the odd play off here and there, Houston will punish them and the season will be essentially over.

DC certainly has a lot more to play for than Houston. The Dynamo lose and they still are within a win of the Western leaders. DC loses and they’re seven points down from fourth place Toronto and the Canadiens will have a game in hand at that point. With Superliga only four games away, that might be too big a mountain to climb by the time they return to MLS action.

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