Match Preview: D.C. United v Toronto FC

D.C. United v Toronto FC
8/6/2011, Saturday, 7:30 PM
RFK Stadium

Last Four Head-to-Head:

4/16/11 – 3-0 D.C. United (a) (Pontius x2, Davies)
3/12/11 – 2-2 Draw (n) (Davies, Ngwenya; De Rosario, Santos) – (Carolina Challenge Cup)
10/23/10 – 2-3 Toronto (h) (Quaranta, Moreno; De Rosario x2, Santos)
9/11/10 – 1-0 D.C. United (a) (James)

Tomorrow will be a meeting of two teams in search for an identity. D.C., with now not-so-newly acquired Dwayne De Rosario and Brandon McDonald, has shown to be not content with the rebuilding label and wants to win right now. Toronto is not quite as far a long. After a terrible first half of the season spent mashing square pegs in to round holes, they’ve decided it might be more advantageous to find some round pegs. Play-offs look out of their reach barring a miracle turnaround while almost an entirely new looking roster.

The clubs were in the opposite situations last year when they met in early September. D.C. was well adrift of the play-off race, hitting unfathomable lows of futility for a club that once sat upon the perch of MLS. Toronto was competing for the play-off spots, though the collapse that shortly followed is something United will want to avoid. Part of that collapse came at the hands of D.C; A 1-0 win at BMO Field that effectively signaled the end of Toronto’s play-off ambitions. The result was even more embittering as the goal came from former Toronto F.C. player Julius James.

Now D.C. United must avoid the same pitfall that saw Toronto tumble out of the play-off race last year. At home, against a team that should be beaten, United must do simply that; Beat them. It’s been the most discussed topic of D.C. United’s season. Olsen’s team has shown remarkable resilience away from home, but so far has unable to replicate those performances at RFK Stadium. While Toronto is arriving without a single road win this year, New England Revolution stepped into a sweltering RFK last month with the same abysmal road stat, and after weathering an early barrage led by Dwayne De Rosario, the Revs took the most of their few opportunities and ran out winners.

It’s unfortunate for United to be coming in to such a crucial game with squad issues. Three forwards(Josh Wolff, Joseph Ngwenya, Charlie Davies) are questionable to play. Andy Najar, who has broken out of his early season sophomore slump, is suspended due to his red card last weekend. While the possible return of Quaranta seems to be getting closer, rushing any players back from concussions is not an ideal solution for the short or long-term health of player or club. This shortage of attacking players will make it just that more difficult for D.C. to seize the initiative in games like this where they should and need to bring the game to their opponents.

Luckily, the defensive side of the team is coming together. The return of Dejan Jakovic adds more depth into a back-line that looks more capable by the week. With the return of Jakovic the team now has a player that may be better suited to match-up with the stronger and bigger bodies in MLS, a player like Toronto’s new D.P. Danny Koevermans. Paired with the athletic and intelligent Brandon McDonald, and the team, now more than ever, looks more capable of keeping clean sheets and protecting Bill Hamid’s goal.

The two teams barely resemble those that met earlier this year, where Pontius’ two superb individual goals and Davies rebounded effort lifted D.C. over Toronto at BMO Field. The list of key players that have left and arrived since then for both teams almost makes looking back at that last match irrelevant. What is relevant now is, while not nearly gelled, Toronto has players on their roster more suited to their preferred style of play. Frings has shown a new air of confidence and calmness in the deeper role of their three man midfield that De Guzman never showed. Ryan Johnson, if fit, is a powerful forward who relishes the wide forward role. Kouvermans, an intelligent, strong, and technically skilled forward gets himself into good positions and helps his teammates get involved.

That said, Toronto may have more sufficiently suited players for Winter’s vision now than in April, but it is a team that has been thrown together over the last month. I imagine their locker-room resembles the Mad Hatter’s dining table (CHANGE PLACES!). Not only is there an unfamiliarity, but their recent fixture congestion due to CONCACAF Champions League also means that D.C. should not only have the edge of understanding between teammates, but fresher legs.

It’s a game D.C. should win. it’s a game D.C. need to win. But it’s that type of win that has eluded D.C. all season. If D.C. want to be playing soccer in November, that has to change.

Other things to consider:

De Rosario dishing out revenge

It’ll be Dwayne De Rosario’s first match against Toronto after the Canadian club decided to deal him to New York Red Bulls. So far this season, De Rosario has relished playing against former teams. Against San Jose and New York Red Bulls, De Rosario has scored three goals in winning efforts. His long bout with TFC management for a new contract will make De Rosario’s performance that even more interesting to watch.

Filling the Najar void

Najar is such an important player for United. Not only is he an increasingly dynamic player going forward, but not many can match his effort and work off the ball defensively.

This may be a big moment for Da Luz. With Najar suspended, and options out wide and up front short, Austin Da Luz could get his first start for D.C. United. The only healthy and fit winger left on the squad, it would be no surprise to see Da Luz start the game on the left wing, while the current player operating out left Chris Pontius could be moved out right where he has played a number of times in the past.

Another option is Brandon Barklage, who got minutes at the end of D.C.’s last game. He could be brought into the vacated right wing spot, and Pontius could remain on the left. Though, his lack of minutes over the last few months might make the step to the starting line-up too much too soon.

Out of all the options, Santino Quaranta is the ideal player to come in for Najar, but like Barklage, questions over his fitness and lack of minutes are the stumbling block.

Disrupting Toronto’s midfled

Toronto must be credited. Results be damned, they are committed to their philosophy on how to play. Their desire to play on the ground and refusal to play defensively is a commendable ideology, but so far it has reaped little in the way of positive results. The likely duo of King and Simms in the midfield will have an important task of stymieing the creative and forward thinking of Toronto’s technically skilled but unfamiliar midfield trio.

The Offside’s projected line-up:

Assuming Wolff and Davies cannot go.

Update: Wolff has been listed as probable, and Davies is not even listed on the injury report. Possibly one or both could be in the starting line-up, though if I had to guess Davies may be paired with Brettschneider up front and Dwayne De Rosario moved into the midfield replacing King. If so, D.C. United would have a considerably more balanced attacking front five than the one listed above.

Category: Major League Soccer, Match Preview, Matches