It took halftime adjustments by new Coach Wayne Rooney to break DC United out of the rut they have been in for too much of the season. The first half was owned by Orlando as they moved more quickly and more surely while DC showed too slow a rhythm which allowed Orlando time to organize and frustrate the unimaginative attackers. “I told them one thing we had to do was up the tempo. Moving the ball from side to side was too slow.”, was Rooney’s description.
Speed of play in the second half was enhanced as the skills and movement of Ravel Morrison, just back from Jamaica, were built on by substitutes Martin Rodriguez in the 46th minute and Andy Najar in the 70th. Later substitutions, Ola Kamala and Kimarni Smith provided the last gasp assists that pulled United out of their one goal deficit.
We can see Rooney’s influence in the performances of Ravel and Rodriguez as their movement added to the dynamic play in the second half. Too often their runs toward space were not honored, but their positive influence should improve as their teammates recognize and reward them.
Another second half adjustment saw United placing their restraint line further up the field which gave Orlando less room to build through that space. It also meant that DC’s defenders were better placed to feed the attack. There is a downside to this in that the defenders are more susceptible to allowing passes over them from attacking diagonal runs.
Goalie Rafael Romo warmed up with a drill with two assistants which saw him using either foot to stop rolling passes and then change direction or sometimes to redirect to the other assistant with one touch. In the first half, there was little advantage as he played forward as a keeper/sweeper while the midfield remained somewhat open.
The important change in United’s defense meant that as Romo played even farther forward as a sweeper/keeper when DC had the ball it allowed the central defenders to push further into midfield as Captain Steve Birnbaum noted.
By placing the offside line forward the risk of being bypassed falls to the goalie who would be caught too far forward with potential to be easily bypassed or chipped. While Orlando’s goal by Junior Urso was not a classic case of beating a keeper well up field, Romo’s forward position when the shot was taken may have been part of a reflex recently developed. His initial steps to address the seeming breakaway made him a perfect victim of Urso’s chip.
It is notable that recent acquisition, keeper David Ochoa, is known for similar forays. That might explain Romo’s change in tactics. Are we seeing one of Rooney’s innovations? A sweeper/keeper enhances a long passing option which permits runs behind the defense when the middle is too clogged.
United travels to Charlotte on Wednesday and returns to Audi Field to face the Red Bulls at 7:30pm on Saturday. The team’s increased depth will be tested as the busy July schedule feeds into a similarly crowded stretch in the heat of August.
