D.C. United defender Sean Franklin getting ready to take the throw-in against the New York Red Bulls in the MLS Eastern Conference Semi-Finals (Photo Credit: Jennifer Jordan-Harrell Photography)
Second chance do not come around very often. On Tuesday night D.C. United will get the chance to avenge a terrible start to their 2015 campaign by traveling to Queretaro city to take on Liga MX side Queretaro F.C. in the CONCACAF Champions League (8pm EST FS1, Univision Deportes).
This will be the second consecutive season that D.C. United have started their campaign in the knockout round of the CONCACAF Champions League. In 2015, United had their first match of consequence against Alajuelense. In that match, D.C. United were throttled 5-2. Can D.C. learn from last season’s mistakes? It is difficult to determine.
Much like last season United start at a disadvantage at goalkeeper with Bill Hamid out due to knee surgery. Hamid has started in 150 matches over the past five seasons for United and is considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in all of Major League Soccer. Without Hamid, United will once again turn to Andrew Dykstra who started in that 5-2 drubbing last season to control the match tempo in a very difficult environment.
If D.C. are going to get any points out of this match they will need an improved performance from their back four. During the Alajuelense match, center-back Steve Birnbaum and Bobby Boswell were caught out of position on several plays leading an unsuspecting Dykstra to fend for himself. Considering that Dykstra was playing in his first match after rupturing his Achilles tendon he played like any player would play coming back from a serious injury: fraught with nerves and a bit tentative. For D.C. it is very simple: they need Dykstra to avoid having any mental errors in this match.
Better communication along the back four will also play a role in whether D.C. can get a result tonight. United’s 45 goals allowed were not terrible last season but were certainly a downgrade from their 2014 campaign which saw the team allow just 37.
The problem seems to stem from a lack of communication. In many matches Birnbaum would go too deep into the attacking half leaving Boswell to fend for himself against younger and faster opponents. Even left-back Sean Franklin and Taylor Kemp at times were too focused on creating goal-scoring opportunities and not showing more caution. The back four have to pay greater attention to their teammates position on the pitch so as to avoid a lapse in defense. A trademark of Mexican and that of Queretaro coach Victor Vucetich is to hammer opponents on the counter-attack. Picking and choosing one’s battles will be key factor for determining success at Estadio La Corridgedora.
The big question for D.C. entering this match will be in the midfield. With the additions of Luciano Acosta (Boca Juniors,) Marcelo Sarvas (Colorado Rapids,) and Patrick Nyarko (Chicago Fire) United have dramatically changed their midfield into one that is a bit more attack-minded. The club will also be without Miguel Aguilar, who is serving a one-match suspension due to yellow card accumulation. Can all of these new pieces mesh with one another to achieve a result against a side that is already seven matches into their season?
In fragments during the preseason it appears that Sarvas has struck a good partnership with Nick De Leon, who has made the transition from a winger to more of an attacking center-midfielder. In his time with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Sarvas showed good prudence in developing plays from the back. With all of the new parts at coach Ben Olsen’s disposal look for him to play a major role against a Queretaro side that likes to force opponents out of position.
Up top Fabian Espindola (5 goals, 7 assists in 2015) and Chris Rolfe (10 goals, 7 assists) will look to rekindle their 2014 partnership that helped lead United to first in the Eastern Conference standings. Although Rolfe set a career-high for goals scored in 2015, the United attack did not have the same spark that it did in 2014. Injuries and suspension to Espindola are a large reason for this but United’s conservative style did not help. De Leon taking over for Perry Kitchen as the playmaker should help with that as De Leon is a bit more attack-minded. In theory that should open things up more for Espindola down the middle and for Rolfe down the left flank.
Keep an eye on Acosta as a late substitute. The Boca Juniors product size (5’3″) may pose problems for a Los Gallos Blancos side that lacks speed on the outside. Given his experience in the Copa Libertadores going to Mexico and dealing with the hostile crowds will not be much of a change for him.
Despite being at a disadvantage in terms of match time, D.C. does have an opportunity here to pull out a result. Although some of the pieces have changed, many of the core pieces have not for United. If they can learn from their mistakes against Alajuelense and play a more compact but engaged style then they will have their chances against Queretaro. It is just a matter if the club can weather the pressure early on and avoid mistakes.
