DC United v Sounders FC
September 12th Kick off 4.30pm

Referee:

Prost Amerika All Ages Viewing Party with Free Pizza and Happy Hour Prices – Baltic Room Opening Specially for Sounders Fans, 1207 Pine Street

Open Cup Hangover for Sounders but DC Have Been Real Busy Since

So many Sounders fans’ minds are still on the US Open Cup triumph last Wednesday in Washington DC. Why wouldn’t they be? The Sounders haven’t played since and haven’t even had a chance to show off the trophy to the fans. The US Open Cup win is still very much the talk of the town in the Emerald City.

Not so in the capital. DC have played twice since the final, drawing 2-2 in Dallas and beating Kansas City 1-0 on Wednesday. The 2-2 draw in Dallas had pluses and minuses for Tom Soehn’s side. True, they did come from behind twice to draw level, proving that team spirit was well in tact three days after the Open Cup defeat. On the down side, they played the final 32 minutes against just ten men after Daniel Torres was sent off, and failed to take advantage.

Four days later and they were back at home with a resurgent Kansas City the opposition. DC won the game 1-0 after Luciano Emilio’s 9th minute goal secured all three points. It was a good day for the Brazilian whose country beat Chile 4-2. The three points dispelled a certain amount of gloom around the RFK and made reading the league table suddenly less traumatic for United fans.

Obviously, the repercussions of the Cup Final will hang over Saturday’s clash but there is an onus on both sets if players to tone down any nastiness. There is considerable ill feeling towards Fredy Montero from sections of the United fan base, notably those seeking to exonerate goalkeeper Josh Wicks for his two footed stamp on the Colombian. Others have been more realistic in their assessment of that incident, and blamed Wicks, and Wicks only for his actions. On the other side of the coin, it is not inconceivable that some Sounders players may harbour resentment at the assault on their team mate. Hopefully common sense will prevail and the game will rise above any recriminations or hangover form the last game.

There will be personnel changes that will benefit DC too. Freddie Ljungberg is suspended for card accumulation after his needless booking against Toronto for dissent. Julius James who was cup tied, having played in the tournament for Houston previously, can return for DC. It’s just as well, Marc Burch (ankle surgery) and Dejan Jakovic (bi-lateral hernia repair) have both opted for surgery and will miss the game, hoping one assumes to be back for the play-offs. Both Burch and Jakovic played in the final and were relatively influential, although United fans pointed to the number of free headers Sounders forwards got and could rightly finger point at them both. Burch however looked the most likely to trouble Kasey Keller with those 30 yard free kicks, which Christian Gomez regularly blasted over the bar.

Other Games:

Saturday, September 12
Toronto v Colorado 3pm
New York v Kansas City 4.30pm
Real Salt Lake v Chicago Fire 6pm
LA Galaxy v Dallas 7.30pm

Sunday, September 13
Chivas USA v New England Revs 12pm
Columbus v Houston 2pm

Updated USA League Table

DC Dangermen

Defender Bryan Namoff has started all 25 DC United MLS matches and played 2,236 minutes of DC United’s league season, way more than his closest challenger Clyde Simms. The thirty year old also started all 27 games in 2008 during his availability for DC and played the second most minutes (2,398) at the end of last month, and has been with the club since 2001. He will be wearing number 26, and with Burch and Jankovic out, DC will rely on his experience even more than before.

This is Costa Rican born Rodney Wallace’s first season in MLS after two seasons at the Maryland Terrapins. The Terrapins captured the 2008 College Cup, and Wallace started each of the 25 games he played in. He has started 21 games and notched two goals and three assists already. His 45 fouls committed is DC’s highest.

Jaime Moreno is not 99, he just wears the number. But he might as well be for all that he has done in the game. With 75 appearances over 17 years for Bolivia, he came back after a seven year absence in the 2007 Copa America. In 2008, Jaime helped his team to a historic draw against Brazil in a World Cup qualifier in September, before announcing his retirement from international play a month later. Previous clubs include Blooming, Middlesbrough, Independiente Santa Fe and the New York Metrostars. He has made over 300 MLS appearances. He was the first Bolivian to play in the EPL. He has only played 950 minutes this season, but has notched seven goals, trailing only Luciano Emilio.

Brazilian Luciano Emilio is DC’s most dangerous marksman, and netted the vital goal in that midweek win over Kansas City. He is DC’s top scorer with nine goals. His 27 shots on goal is the DC’s highest in that category. He has played in Germany for FC Köln and Allemania Aachen. Other clubs include Real España, Union Barbarense and CD Olimpia.

They Win Trophies - (We've Been Looking for an Excuse to Use This Picture)

About DC United – A History of Success

DC United are the most successful professional soccer organisation in the history of the United States. They have been MLS Cup Champions four times (1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004) and won the 1996 and 2008 U.S. Open Cups, the 1998 CONCACAF Champions Cup, the 1998 Interamerican Cup and the 1997, 1999, 2006 and 2007 MLS Supporters Shield. In short they are the benchmark for on field success in this sport in this era.

However, as you can see, they have had to sit back for four years now as Columbus Crew and Houston Dynamo took the big one, the MLS Trophy itself.

Nevertheless, their slogan, “We Win Trophies”, was an accurate barb for Kevin Payne to launch at the fledgling Sounders, who hadn’t won anything since … 2007. It also may have been the reason that Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer had a smile so wide after the Cup Final that even a Scotland striker could have stuck a football in it.

They play their home games at the RFK Stadium in Washington DC. John Harkes, Marco Etcheverry and Jeff Agoos are among the famous names who have donned the DC United jersey. George Soros was one of the original investors when the franchise started. Volkswagen sponsor their jerseys in the second most lucrative deal in MLS history. The German car company is sponsoring them to the tune of over $14 million over five years, beginning on May 6, 2008. If only they’d known how German Sounders FC was going to be!

DC United Fans

United’s largest three fan groups are Barra Brava, Screaming Eagles and La Norte. Barra Brava especially were impressive with their continual noise at the US Open Cup Final.


Also see:

Cup Final Celebration Podcast with Never Heard Before Interviews

Cup Final Photo Gallery

For another match preview, please visit Sounder at Heart.