Matchday 26: DC United vs FC Dallas
September 27th, 2008 . 8:40 am . By: Jay BrownleePerhaps the most important game yet of the 2008 season will be played Sunday when the team from Washington DC comes to town. The city will be fixated. The fans will be pumped. The players will be feeling the pressure and the gravity of such an important game. The TV cameras will be dutifully recording the action, the announcers chirping away… That’s right; the Washington Redskins are coming to town. Meanwhile, up in Frisco, there will be vast seas of empty red-backed chairs, mocking two teams desperately fighting for their playoff lives. Unfortunately, this game is scheduled at the same time as the Redskins/Cowboys game. Before you start writing nasty letters to the smiling and beguiling Michael Hitchcock, however, this match was scheduled last winter for Telefutura; the NFL scheduled their game in April. It’s really too bad this game is going to be on the Friends & Family Plan only. The Hoops’ playoff hopes rest on the necessity of virtual perfection over the final five matches of the season. I was criticized last week for my negativity regarding FC Dallas playoff hopes, but the reality is the Hoops could win out and still end up on the outside looking in. According to SportsClubStats.com, if FC Dallas beats DC United on Sunday, their chances only improve to 47.7%. Call me negative, I guess, but there’s just not much room for error. DC United has the opposite problem. While technically “In” as of this week, United are watching their season unravel at the seams. United sits at 0-4-1 over their last five matches in all competitions, notching their only tie with- you remember- FC Dallas. If United loses this one, their playoff chances sink with it to 37.7%. Add in that an already tired team just sunk to 4th place in their group in the CONCACAF Champion’s League Group, and I think it would be reasonable to classify this team as desperate for a win. Now, check out this little statistic: FC Dallas has never beaten DC United at Pizza Hut Park. Dallas has not beaten DC United in a span of six matches, including the 2-2 tie from just two weeks ago in the capitol. It is time for the dam to break, I say. A tie simply does neither club any good. I believe these FC Dallas players think they still have a chance at the playoffs. This is amazing in light of the seemingly inconsolable minions who have already decided Schellas Hyndman is the worst coach they’ve ever seen. Of course, if you pay attention to certain soccer forums, there are way too many unemployed professional soccer coaches out there. Must be the economy… Look, love Hyndman or hate him, the team is the best it has been all year, not something often said about FC Dallas teams that annually suffer from Summer Swoon. Hopefully, it should get better this week. Duilio Davino and Victor Sikora should both return to the team. Both should start on the bench, but it would be surprising if Sikora did not see some time in a return to left wing. As for the starters, look for a repeat of last week. That means Jeff Cunningham and Kenny Cooper, Jr. up front. Andre Rocha and Marcelo Saragosa on the wings, Bruno Guarda in the attacking position with Pablo Ricchetti winning every single ball behind. In front of ‘keeper Dario Sala, Blake Wagner, Aaron “Put me in Coach, I’m ready to play!” Pitchkolan, Drew Moor and Adrian Serioux left to right. By the way, please do me a favor Sunday: give Pitch some extra love, why don’t ya? That guy has done a stellar job in Davino’s absence, and you should let him know just how much you appreciate the work he does for a lousy $33,000 a year. Injury riddled DC United should return Jaime Moreno, while Marcelo Gallardo won’t make the trip. Joe Vide could return for a few minutes, but Mark Burch will be suspended for a red-card he never earned on a play against David Beckham that was such a poor call, Becks actually showed support for the guy. MLS refs, right? Due to a combination of possibly tired legs and players returning from injury, this lineup is only a guess: a 3-5-2 with Crayton in goal, Namoff, Peralta and Martinez in back, Fred & Guererro on the wings, Simms and McTavish is the defensive midfield, Moreno attacking in front of Emilio and Boyzzz Khumalo. I said two weeks ago that this game would be won in midfield. Incredibly, I got it right and I think the theory holds in this one. Both teams like to run it up the wings, so the team that can get forward in those positions without exposing the defenses is going to win this one. Any way you measure it, this should be a great game. Too bad it’s going to be a secret. 6 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
LET’S GO HOOPS!
Not sure I agree that this is the best we’ve played, but it’s the best we’ve played since Guarda was shoved down our throats and Saragosa returned from suspension (or was it injury?). You get my point…
colorado won at red bull. Chivas is winning at home vs kansas city. FCD could be effectively done and dusted unless they win.
I attended the SMU game tonight. FC Dallas players and coaches in attendance. I also saw Coops and his family. I asked Mr Cooper about FC Dallas, he said they will not lose another game.
he also probably said they won’t win another game, either.
What a game. Tried my hand at liveblogging for the first time (from my phone, nonetheless):
http://www.los-toros.com/2008/...ive-blogging-the-fcd-dcu-game/