Photo Credit: D.C. United
Everyone likes goals. Although there is nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned 0-0 affair soccer is at its best when teams are find goal-scoring chances and balls are going in the back of the net. Not everyone is successful at finding their scoring touch but when teams do find it can be magic. That is what D.C. United is hoping for Thursday night when they host the Montreal Impact in the knockout round of the MLS Cup Playoffs (7:30 pm UNiMas, TSN1, TSN5, RDS2, MLS Live).
This will be the third meeting between the two sides this season. In their first match on July 31st Mullins got the best of the Impact defense early lacing in a goal in the 20th minute. But Hernan Bernardello found the equalizer in the 86th minute. The two sides would meet up in Montreal just three weeks later with a similar result. It should be noted that Montreal have never won at RFK Stadium, losing three times and drawing twice.
At or around July of this year D.C. United found their scoring stroke. Thanks to the additions of Patrick Mullins and Lloyd Sam and Luciano Acosta finding his rhythm United lit up the Major League Soccer scoring charts in the second half this season. Since July 16th United has scored 36 goals in 16 matches, the most among any side in the league.
For a side that has mostly been known for having a conservative style and meager goal totals in the box score it was a marked shift for the club that paid off. Thanks to their enhanced goal-scoring abilities United moved up the Eastern Conference rankings and earned the number four seed.
It cannot be understated how important Patrick Mullins has been to D.C. United this season. Coming to the club in a midseason trade from NYCFC Mullins has made the most out of his chance with the Red and the Black, scoring eight goals in just 14 matches.
The University of Maryland alumni has taken over the forward position for D.C. and developed a good relationship with Acosta, Sam, and Patrick Nyarko. As previously mentioned, United under coach Ben Olsen has not exactly been known for their attacking veracity during his tenure and that has changed quite a bit this season.
The hope is that Mullins will be able to continue to for D.C. in the postseason. He has played just three postseason matches during his three years in MLS and has yet to score a goal. Now his only other experience in MLS second season came in his rookie campaign with the New England Revolution. But his and Acosta’s lack of experience in a very different type of game has to be a bit of a concern for United.
The good news is that he did show while playing with Maryland that he has little trouble playing under pressure. He was a major factor in the Terrapins 2013 College Cup. Mullins scored four goals in that tournament including one in the final. So he has proven that he can score in big matches. It is just a question now whether he can do it at the MLS level.
Mullins’ workload will be lightened if he can get by with a little help from his friends. Although Mullins has received a large amount of the praise for turning around United’s stodgy attack Lamar Neagle also deserves some credit as well. Although he has not played that many minutes this season Neagle leads the team in goals with nine. His late match heroics has given the club a spark late in games and earned them points in some difficult matches.
The other point of concern for United will be right-back. With Sean Franklin out due to a calf injury Olsen tossed DeLeon into the right back role. After having had mixed results in another new position this season in center mid it was a surprise for many to see DeLeon do well in such a different spot. That might sound like a knock against DeLeon but given that he has had so many stops and starts to who his career there is some skepticism that his developed around him. But he has proven the doubters wrong, helping United’s back four in allowing just 47 goals.
Against Montreal look for DeLeon to be tasked with containing Harry Shipp. Shipp has given United problems in recent seasons with his runs down the left flank and crosses inward. DeLeon has shown that he can tightly mark his target and narrow their crossing window. If he can do that against the Impact it will help United’s chances at winning.
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