Many years ago Sir Alex Ferguson had a term to describe matches at the end of the year that were of the highest importance: squeaky bum time. Although there are perhaps less colorful ways to emphasize the importance of late season matches as a phrase it still carries weight. It is something that D.C. United will certainly keep in mind when they host Columbus Crew SC on Saturday night at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. The match will be played at 7PM EST and be shown live on CSN-Washington. Time Warner Cable in Ohio, and MLS Live in the U.S.
In their first encounter this season United put two past Crew SC to give them their first win at home against Columbus in four matches. Despite their recent troubles against Columbus, United hold a slender lead in their head-to-head series with 26 wins to 24 and 10 draws between the two. At home, United holds a strong advantage with a 19-8 lead all-time and four draws.
For D.C.(13-10-6, 45 points) a victory would earn them a playoff spot for the second consecutive season. It would also put them at the top of the Eastern Conference again. Nipping at their heels at fourth are Crew SC (12-9-8, 44 points ) who have their own designs for the top spot in the East.
D.C. United midfielder Chris Rolfe and Columbus Crew SC defender Emmanuel Pogadetz (photo credit Jennifer Jordan-Harrell)
After pulling out a last minute draw against the Colorado Rapids last week, United ended their three game losing streak. However the club’s attacking woes continue. United has scored just two goals in their past four matches and have yet to really see any production from forward Alvaro Saborio. Although Saborio has helped to open up space for midfielder-forward Chris Rolfe (9 goals ) and forward Fabian Espindola (3 goals) his scoring touch has yet to arrive from Salt Lake City, his former home. Crew SC have given up 48 goals this, which is tied for third-highest in MLS so there will be chances for D.C. remedy their current troubles.
Crew SC coach Gregg Berhalter has made some recent adjustments to his back four that appear to have paid off. By dropping Emmaneul Pogadetz and bringing in Tyson Wahl into the center-back position he has given his side a bit more size in the center of the pitch. Against a difficult Philadelphia Union side (a 2-1 win) Wahl and Parkhurst limited C.J. Sapong to mostly peripheral opportunities and kept a potent Union attack at bay. Sapong is a bit more athletic than Espindola but his style is similar enough that Crew SC will likely try a similar defensive posture.
The question for Berhalter is who to start in place of left-back Waylon Francis. Francis, who has started 24 matches for Columbus in 2015, is out with a right quadriceps strain. Berhalter will likely start Chris Klute in his absence but the question is whether Klute will start at center-back or if Wahl will shift over. Argentine Designated Player Gaston Sauro is also out with a concussion.
Columbus Crew SC midfielder Federico Higuain making a run against D.C. United defender Kofi Opare (photo credit: Jennifer Jordan Harrell)
United’s attacking woes aren’t their only problem. Columbus is one of the most to difficult teams to defend in MLS because of their array of attacking options. In Berhalter’s 4-5-1 midfielders Justin Mearam (4 goals, 5 assists,) Federico Higuain (7 goals, 7 assists,) Ethan Finlay (8 goals, 13 assists) and forward Kei Kamara (20 goals, 7 assists) form a dangerous quartet that are completely willing to cede opportunities to the others if they have a better opportunity at goal. Their unselfishness is what makes them balanced and ultimately such a difficult team to defend.
If there is a way to hold Crew SC back it would be to limit Higuain. The Argentine DP orchestrates the attack making diagonal passes either to Finlay or Mearam. That in turn opens up space for either Kamara or back to Higuain who has little problem with making the difficult shot. Higuain has little problem taking fouls due to his dynamic free kicks. So what it requires is someone who can track carefully but avoid making poor challenges.
With Davy Arnaud likely out that role will fall to Markus Halsti. The Finnish international has proven himself invaluable in recent weeks at managing the tempo of the United midfield and making excellent calculated tackles. Against a dynamic Crew SC attack D.C. United coach Ben Olsen will need someone with experience and patience in big matches. Haslti should give him that.
On the outside, left-back Taylor Kemp will need to avoid getting caught on the counter-attack. Higuain and fellow midfielder Wil Trapp like to put long balls into space for either Mearam or Finlay to reach. Both Kemp and right-back Sean Franklin are fast but Mearam and Finlay have the technical ability to get past them.
Both sides could use the three points in this match but it is D.C. that needs it more. With only four matches left in their 2015 campaign opportunities to take back first place are diminishing. If United want to end the regular season on a high note and enter the playoffs with poise and inspiration they need to turn things around on Saturday night against Columbus.
