Using a makeshift back line and resting several key players, D.C. United resumed their fine form on Saturday night, rebounding from a midweek loss at the hands of the San Jose Earthquakes to take three points on the road in Toronto. The win kept D.C. United in sole possession of second place in the east, while sending Toronto FC to 0-8-0—an MLS record of futility to start a season.
United got the win without the services of several of its starters. Defenders Emiliano Dudar and Dejan Jacovic remained sidelined with injuries. Robbie Russell was given the afternoon off after playing more minutes in DCU’s first 10 games than any other player. Rookie sensation Nick De Leon picked up a minor hamstring ailment during the week and was held out.
There were other shifts in the lineup as well. With De Leon out, United Head Coach Ben Olsen gave midfielder Lewis Neal his first MLS start. Defender Daniel Woolard was shifted to a central role, with Chris Korb taking his place on the left. Andy Najar—who’s struggled to find minutes in his usual attacking midfielder role—was shifted to right back. Perhaps the most notable change of all came in goal, with Bill Hamid wrestling his starting spot back from Joe Willis.
The results were mostly positive. In United’s 5-3 loss earlier in the week, San Jose forwards Chris Wondolowski and Steven Lenhart made quick work of United’s defense, scoring at will and exploiting every bit of space normally closed down by Dudar and Jacovic. Toronto, however, had a much rougher go of it. They found little room to operate in the box and were often challenged on the counterattack by the offensive minded pairing of Korb and Najar.
The first half was largely uneventful. While United failed to find its rhythm on offense, Toronto looked content to sit back and not push the ball. The only real opportunities for either team came during a minute long stretch where both keepers were tested. Bill Hamid calmly dealt with a Ryan Johnson attempt, and Toronto keeper Milos Kocic thwarted a low blast from Maicon Santos.
Toronto’s failure to attack hardly went unnoticed by the home crowd. Groans and boos abounded, and United’s traveling supporters—made up of members of La Barra Brava, Screaming Eagles, District Ultras and La Norte—were often louder than the 18,000 or so other fans who filled BMO Field.
“You’re 0-7, why not go for the win?” midfielder Dwayne De Rosario said. “It’s supposed to be attacking-style football. It was difficult for us to break down but they didn’t pose a threat going forward. I’m glad we kept our composure because it can get frustrating.”
Olsen again shifted things around in the second half, inserting Branko Boskovic for Neal, moving De Rosario up front and dropping Chris Pontius to left wing. The moves would pay dividends almost immediately.
Only seconds after what appeared to be a missed handball on the line by Toronto, Pontius would collect a Brandon McDonald feed, take one touch and drill the ball into the upper left hand corner from some 25 yards out. It would be Pontius’ fifth goal of the season, and it would prove to be the game winner. United would add one more, on a spectacular side-volley by super sub Hamdi Salihi in the 75th minute. It was Hamdi’s second in as many games, after his deft touch found its way past San Jose keeper Jon Busch on Wednesday.
Some Thoughts: I actually love the idea of Andy Najar at right back, but I’m not sure it’s the most practical. Necessity may be the mother of invention—and it’s hard to deal with a player of Najar’s caliber not starting—but I don’t think he possesses the proper skill set for that position. I also miss him in the midfield. I know that Danny Cruz has grit and frustrates the opposition, but he lacks a final touch at times and often holds the ball too long, failing to find options around him. Call it a side effect of Cruz’s over-exuberance, but I still think Najar is a better midfield option.
Player of the Game: Daniel Woolard. Seriously. I know what you’re saying—he didn’t score, what about Pontius? But he was the glue in the back for a Dudar-less DCU, and he’d also get my vote for “unsung hero of the year.” I had zero expectations out of this guy at the beginning of the campaign and expected he’d be the latest United failure at left back. What a pleasant surprise he’s been. Even when shifted to the middle, he gave Toronto fits all game—his work rate was phenomenal. Oh, and his diving header against San Jose wasn’t too shabby, either, as he’s proven to be a threat on offense from time to time as well.
Team Notes: More good news on the stadium front, as there seems to be a more definite timetable for negotiations to resume … Former Toronto players De Rosario and Santos were booed almost every time they touched the ball … United next gets the Houston Dynamo on May 12—Houston’s first game in a brand-new BBVA Stadium … As for Toronto, if they want to avoid an 0-9-0 start, they’ll have to win their next game on May 19 at RFK against D.C. United.
