Author: Sean Maslin.
It is never easy to carry the weight of an entire league on your shoulders. Yet this is the situation that D.C. United finds itself in as the club enters the knockout stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. Their 2015 season begins tonight as they travel to Alajuela, Costa Rica to take on LD Alajuelense (8PM EST Fox Sports 2).
While the CONCACAF Champions League is not exactly the most glamorous tournament in football, it certainly carries importance in the region. It represents a certain level of respect both within the region and globally and is something that MLS has desperately sought.
No MLS club in its modern state has ever won the tournament and both D.C. United and the Montreal Impact are looking to change that.
D.C. United made it to the Quarter-finals of the 2014-2015 CONCACAF Champions League after dispatching Waterhouse FC and Tauro in Group 4 in the First Round. Alajuelense meanwhile took care of Chorrillo and shocked defending CCL champion Cruz Azul in Group 6.
While D.C. United have yet to play a regular season match in 2015, Alajuelense have already begun play in the Costa Rican Primera Division. The club currently sits in second place (5-2-3, 17 points) behind Saprissa (6-0-2, 18 points). Over the weekend, Alajuelense suffered a 2-0 to Saprissa and did play their regular starters.
Despite Alajuelense being without starting goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton and midfielder Kevin Sancho, the Black and Reds will be a very difficult team to topple. Led by defender Johnny Acosta and midfielders Johan Venegas and Ariel Rodriguez, Alajuelense are a team that looks to grind out results and break their opponent’s spirit.
If D.C. United are to come out of this match with points, they are going to need to be patient. Alajuelense will try and break them down within the first 15 minutes, using forward Armando Alonso (3 goals in CCL) as a destroyer. United center-backs Bobby Boswell and Steve Birnbaum will have a tall task at controlling the tempo of the game and keeping goalkeeper Bill Hamid’s box clear.
The one position that should be of concern to D.C. is midfield. Newly signed defensive midfielder Markus Halsti is out of this match with a knee injury. That leaves last season starter Davy Arnaud as the likely starter. Although Arnaud can still be effective, he is 34 and will be playing against a squad that likes to hit teams on the counter-attack.
The biggest question for United will be on the attack. The club is still without Luis Silva (11 goals in 2014) due to a hamstring issue that limited his production late last season. Forward Eddie Johnson has also not made an appearance during the preseason because of an undisclosed condition.
Without Silva or Johnson, United will look to Fabian Espindola for the club’s scoring touch. Espindola was tied with Silva last season with 11 goals, but also led the team with 10 assists. United’s newest Designated Player, Espindola plays with a certain level of aggression passion that can sometimes get him into trouble (as evidenced with his impending 6 game suspension in MLS) but is the perfect player to play against Alajuelense defense that plays with the same attitude.
Perhaps Espindola’s greatest attribute will be to the benefit of United in this match. Espindola likes to drive deep into the box and find his teammates in open space. Look for Chris Pontius or Chris Rolfe to play a huge role in this match and try to expose inexperienced goalkeeper Alfonso Quesada.
If United need a late goal, then expect Jairo Arrieta’s number to be called. The ex-Crew SC forward has extensive experience at Alejandro Moreno Soto Stadium while playing for Saprissa and Brujas earlier in his career.
Any points in this match will greatly help United in their cause for making the next round. If they can withstand the pressure early on then they should be able to get at least a draw.
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