With a spot in the knockout round of the CONCACAF Champions League secured, the stretch run to the MLS playoffs takes center stage for D.C. United, who will host its first Regular Season game at RFK Stadium in four weeks. Still at the top of the Eastern Conference with a postseason nearly within touching distance, United (14-9-6, 48 points) will welcome into town a Philadelphia Union (9-9-11, 38 points) side in need of points just to stay in the hunt.
“They’re battling right at the red line,” said D.C. United Assistant Coach Amos Magee, “So, it’s going to be a very difficult game for us, but again our group knows how to battle and fight and get results.”
As this squad has repeatedly proven, they know the importance of getting a positive result at home, where they’ve won nine times in 2014, tied for the most in the Eastern Conference, and conceded a league-low 11 goals. After a long stretch on the road – including matches in Vancouver, New York, Jamaica and Chicago - home is exactly where the Black-and-Red want to be. A two-game run at RFK is perfectly timed to get over the hurdle and back into the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.
“We’re at the end of a really long stretch, but the expectations remain the same,” Magee said. “That’s why we’ve been so successful this year.”
This test will prove as difficult as the last meeting between the I-95 rivals at PPL Park in early May, a match the Black-and-Red put away early, courtesy of a sixth-minute strike from Chris Rolfe. His 50th career goal was all the scoring United required while Bill Hamid chipped in four critical saves in the 1-0 shutout.
While the Union’s defeat then was part of a nine-game slide, D.C. will face a different team on Saturday, one that is 6-2-5 since Jim Curtin took the helm as Interim Head Coach, replacing John Hackworth in June.
“Since they’ve made their coaching change, they’ve been flying,” said Magee. “They added [Carlos] Valdes, who is a top caliber center back and does very well in this league, and they brought in that Algerian goalkeeper [Rais M’bolhi] from the World Cup.
“They’re a much more formidable group than they were when we saw them at the beginning of the year.”
United won’t have Rolfe (left forearm surgery) for the rematch, but midfielder/forward Chris Pontius has worked his way back steadily, increasing his minutes in each of four straight appearances. He made his first start of 2014 and scored his first goal in more than a year against Tauro on Wednesday.
Outside back Chris Korb has also returned to the fold, and Samuel Inkoom has made an impact since his announced signing at the beginning of September.
“Having Chris Korb and Chris Pontius get healthy again has made a huge difference for our team,” Magee said. “They just need to continue to up their minutes and get their fitness back. They’re two proven players in the league.”
Come watch the Eastern Conference clash this Saturday, September 27 at 3 p.m. Buy your tickets here!
