On Saturday night at 5:30 PM eastern time, DC United heads to Portland (aka Soccer City USA) for a tough match at Jeld-Wen Field. So far through league play, Portland has not lost a match in the stadium filled with 18,000+ fans and a guy with a chain saw. So it is safe to say that this will be a tough match up for United.
First, it appears that Charlie Davies will be unlikely to play in this game due to a nagging injury leftover from a few weeks ago. DC fans were hoping that Davies would be ready to go, especially against Portland, but it looks like DC will be patient with Davies. In the long run, that is probably the smartest thing. Josh Wolff is back from injury and is probable for the match on Saturday. With Davies most likely out, Wolff will have to be on his A-game if DC is to threaten the Timbers. Brettschneider, who was DC’s lone scorer in last weekend’s friendly with Dutch club Ajax, will hopefully have another shot this weekend. This guy has had a knack for finding goals all year and that has me excited.
On defense, United has drastically improved. With Marc Burch unable to pass a fitness test against Seattle, Daniel Woolard took the role of outside back and has played great ever since and the defense has been stellar. Perry Kitchen has been solid at outside back and at the defensive midfield position lately as well, and fans can look to him to be a factor for DC this weekend. I really like Ethan White’s maturation this season as well. The DC academy product has been solid thus far this season. I think Olsen has found a consistent backline with Woolard-White-Jakovic-Kitchen. I look for that to be the starting back four against Portland on Saturday.
After Andy Najar was left off the Honduras national team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, United fans had to be breathing a sigh of relief. Najar had a slow start to the season but has begun to come back to form. He is probably DC’s most creative midfield player at the moment and will need to continue his form and setting up chances for himself and other players. During the three match homestand, DC did a good job on the defensive end, but goals were hard to come by. If United wants a good result at Portand, they have to have more chances and finish them to succeed.
I’m pretty optimistic about Saturday’s match, and I’m also excited. DC has the chance to be the first team to walk into Portland and beat them. Can it be done? I think so. Portland is a very solid team, but shouldn’t be considered one of the best yet. I, along with every other DC United fan, hope that Timber Joey doesn’t have to use his chainsaw on Saturday!
(image courtesy of dcunited.com)
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