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D.C. United Vs Real Salt Lake: Head To Head Preview
The defending Champs head to the Nation's capital.
Jun 4, 2010 11:51:00 AM
By Steven Streff & Jeremy Horton
On Form
D.C. United by Steven Streff: For the first time all season, United is playing with a bit of confidence. Using a victory over AC Milan in a friendly, United has now reeled off two wins in a row. First, they beat Chivas USA in a league match, that showed off two important aspects in the win. United showed that they could recover from a deficit, and United also showed enough mettle to win the game after they conceded late. Secondly, United defeated RSL midweek in an US Open Cup match, which will only breed more confidence throughout the club.
Real Salt Lake by Jeremy Horton: Another week and RSL continue to be one of the two hottest teams in MLS. Their 21 goals scored are tops in the league, and they have scored a scintillating 14 goals during their current 5-game winning streak. The "Latin connection" up top (Argentines Javier Morales and Fabian Espindola and Costa Rican Alvaro Saborio) are the deadliest offensive trio in the league, and the three are playing exceptional soccer at the moment. But teams can't afford to focus just on those guys, because everybody has been in the scoring. 11 different players have scored for Salt Lake this season, and in the last two weeks, two players (Robbie Russell and Chris Wingert) have scored their first MLS goals.
Off Target
D.C. United: Lack of clean sheets. United is getting better defensively, but they are still not there yet. And until they figure out how to work as a defensive unit, they won't be able to grind out 1-0 victories. Instead, they will have to outscore opponents, which looks rather unlikely, given their low goal output this season. The goalie play has improved, and the team is still missing three regular defenders, but a solution has to be found before results consistently start going United's way.
Real Salt Lake: Does anyone know if hamstrings can be transplanted? If so, RSL is certainly looking for donors. Wingert and Andy Williams both left last week's match at halftime with pulled hammies, and super-sub Nelson Gonzalez pulled out of training last week with…you guessed it: a strained hamstring. Add in the injury to Kyle Beckerman (peroneal tendonitis) and the absence of Robbie Findley (getting spa treatments in South Africa), coupled with the fact that Real are in the midst of a stretch of 4 games in 11 days and you've got a recipe for a stumble or two in the next few weeks.
Tactics
D.C. United: It has become apparent that the two kids on United's roster are the real deal. And with them in the lineup, United tends to perform better. Now, neither Bill Hamid in goal or Andy Najar in midfield are the x-factors yet, but it's no secret that United has played better with both of them on the field this season. Najar showed just how good he was in scoring the winner midweek in the cup match against RSL. So expect manager Curt Onalfo to find him a spot in his lineup again.
Real Salt Lake: With a USOC game against this same DC United team on Wednesday, and a crucial Western Conference showdown with LA on tap for next Wednesday, coach Jason Kreis will have to track minutes played Saturday very carefully. There won't be a lot of tactical changes except for absences we already know about, but expect substitutions more related to getting key players some rest instead of substitutions for tactical reasons.
Intangibles
D.C. United: Having just beat RSL on Wednesday, this group will have the confidence to know they can beat them again on Saturday night. It wasn't a full strength squad that United faced on Wednesday, but the victory will give them the slight mental edge when the teams meet again.
Real Salt Lake: If playing all that soccer isn't enough, Real Salt Lake will take a field trip to the White House to meet President Obama on Friday, by virtue of winning last year's MLS Cup. That could affect the team in one of two ways: they could be distracted and lose focus, or it could give them a shot of gumption that might carry them through this difficult stretch. What happens is anyone's guess, but Kreis is certainly thinking about the worst case. "I'm a little concerned that our focus may be a little misplaced," Kreis told The Deseret News earlier this week.
Prediction
D.C. United: United hasn't quite figured out all their defensive woes to properly match up against one of the best teams in the league. But playing in front of the home support will see them through to a 2-2 draw.
Real Salt Lake: RSL have been playing well at home and on the road lately, so this game may come down to what DC United bring. Was their impressive win this past week a fluke, or a sign of things to come? Salt Lake will create chances and probably score goals - that much is a given. Can DC match that? I say yes. Real Salt Lake 2-2 DC United.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
D.C. United by Steven Streff: For the first time all season, United is playing with a bit of confidence. Using a victory over AC Milan in a friendly, United has now reeled off two wins in a row. First, they beat Chivas USA in a league match, that showed off two important aspects in the win. United showed that they could recover from a deficit, and United also showed enough mettle to win the game after they conceded late. Secondly, United defeated RSL midweek in an US Open Cup match, which will only breed more confidence throughout the club.
Real Salt Lake by Jeremy Horton: Another week and RSL continue to be one of the two hottest teams in MLS. Their 21 goals scored are tops in the league, and they have scored a scintillating 14 goals during their current 5-game winning streak. The "Latin connection" up top (Argentines Javier Morales and Fabian Espindola and Costa Rican Alvaro Saborio) are the deadliest offensive trio in the league, and the three are playing exceptional soccer at the moment. But teams can't afford to focus just on those guys, because everybody has been in the scoring. 11 different players have scored for Salt Lake this season, and in the last two weeks, two players (Robbie Russell and Chris Wingert) have scored their first MLS goals.
Off Target
D.C. United: Lack of clean sheets. United is getting better defensively, but they are still not there yet. And until they figure out how to work as a defensive unit, they won't be able to grind out 1-0 victories. Instead, they will have to outscore opponents, which looks rather unlikely, given their low goal output this season. The goalie play has improved, and the team is still missing three regular defenders, but a solution has to be found before results consistently start going United's way.
Real Salt Lake: Does anyone know if hamstrings can be transplanted? If so, RSL is certainly looking for donors. Wingert and Andy Williams both left last week's match at halftime with pulled hammies, and super-sub Nelson Gonzalez pulled out of training last week with…you guessed it: a strained hamstring. Add in the injury to Kyle Beckerman (peroneal tendonitis) and the absence of Robbie Findley (getting spa treatments in South Africa), coupled with the fact that Real are in the midst of a stretch of 4 games in 11 days and you've got a recipe for a stumble or two in the next few weeks.
Tactics
D.C. United: It has become apparent that the two kids on United's roster are the real deal. And with them in the lineup, United tends to perform better. Now, neither Bill Hamid in goal or Andy Najar in midfield are the x-factors yet, but it's no secret that United has played better with both of them on the field this season. Najar showed just how good he was in scoring the winner midweek in the cup match against RSL. So expect manager Curt Onalfo to find him a spot in his lineup again.
Real Salt Lake: With a USOC game against this same DC United team on Wednesday, and a crucial Western Conference showdown with LA on tap for next Wednesday, coach Jason Kreis will have to track minutes played Saturday very carefully. There won't be a lot of tactical changes except for absences we already know about, but expect substitutions more related to getting key players some rest instead of substitutions for tactical reasons.
Intangibles
D.C. United: Having just beat RSL on Wednesday, this group will have the confidence to know they can beat them again on Saturday night. It wasn't a full strength squad that United faced on Wednesday, but the victory will give them the slight mental edge when the teams meet again.
Real Salt Lake: If playing all that soccer isn't enough, Real Salt Lake will take a field trip to the White House to meet President Obama on Friday, by virtue of winning last year's MLS Cup. That could affect the team in one of two ways: they could be distracted and lose focus, or it could give them a shot of gumption that might carry them through this difficult stretch. What happens is anyone's guess, but Kreis is certainly thinking about the worst case. "I'm a little concerned that our focus may be a little misplaced," Kreis told The Deseret News earlier this week.
Prediction
D.C. United: United hasn't quite figured out all their defensive woes to properly match up against one of the best teams in the league. But playing in front of the home support will see them through to a 2-2 draw.
Real Salt Lake: RSL have been playing well at home and on the road lately, so this game may come down to what DC United bring. Was their impressive win this past week a fluke, or a sign of things to come? Salt Lake will create chances and probably score goals - that much is a given. Can DC match that? I say yes. Real Salt Lake 2-2 DC United.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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