If D.C. United was looking for an opponent to cure their issues on the road they picked the toughest one. On Friday night Ben Olsen and the boys travel to Sandy, Utah to take on Real Salt Lake (8-5-3, 27 points). The match will be shown on UniMas at 1030 pm EST which, as the league has pointed out many times, can be played in English using the SAP button.
D.C. United has had a bit of a rocky history on the road against RSL. Although their thrilling 1-0 Open Cup final victory in 2013 at Rio Tinto Stadium is one of the most important victories in the club’s history it masks an ugly truth: D.C. have struggled in Utah. Since RSL entered the league in 2005 United have just one regular season win against their Western Conference foe on the road. And that was in their inaugural season!
If RSL’s 2016 home form is any indication United faces a tall task of earning even a point in this match. Salt Lake is undefeated at home this season, winning five matches and drawing just once. With a plus five goal differential and their lone draw coming in a match against Sporting Kansas City that saw five yellow cards United will be playing against perhaps their most formidable opponent of the season.
Both sides could use a bit of that scoring touch on Friday. Before their 2-0 win last Saturday night against the New England Revolution United scored just one goal in their previous four matches. RSL has not fared much better at finding the back of the net. Meanwhile, RSL were shut out in their 2-0 loss on the road against FC Dallas last week.
The good news is for both sides is that with the Copa America over both teams should have the remainder of their starters returning. For RSL that means Kyle Beckerman back in the midfield and for D.C. United Steve Birnbaum back at center-back.
Perhaps the biggest question for United on defense will be if coach Ben Olsen chooses to start Jalen Robinson. Robinson, a Homegrown Player, made his first-ever start for the club. Although he made the start at center-back and with Bobby Boswell back from suspension Olsen may opt go with the tried and true formation. But for a team that has lacked energy and looked a bit lethargic in recent matches Robinson could be the spark that the team needs.
The match-up to keep an eye on will be United midfielder Marcelo Sarvas against RSL’s Javier Morales. The two have a bit of a checkered history when Sarvas was with the Los Angeles Galaxy and if there is anything that would be a lock it would be that the two would get in some scrap during the match.
Physical challenges aside, if D.C. is to secure a point out of this match Sarvas will have to limit Morales’ opportunities at the top of the eighteen. Morales does not have particularly eye popping numbers (1 goal, 2 assists in 12 matches) but he serves as the facilitator for a very balanced RSL attack. RSL does not have one prolific goal-scorer but rather three skilled attacking options in Yura Movsisyan (5 goals), Joao Plata (5 goals), and Burrito Martinez (5 goals). That balance and openness will pose a problem for D.C. and may be the difference-maker on Friday.
In terms of D.C.’s attack, the club is still without both Patrick Nyarko and Chris Rolfe due to concussion issues. In the New England match D.C. found success with Lamar Neagle breaking through the right flank. Neagle and Luciano Acosta have formed a strong partnership in recent weeks and if they can continue their recent trend they may be able to break through a vulnerable RSL defense (26 goals conceded).
Friday night is going to be a difficult test for United. But as the season wears on the challenges are not going to get any easier. If United has any hope of making a run in their 2016 campaign they will need to start figuring out how get results in difficult matches. Real Salt Lake is a good place to start.
DC United
