MLS 2005: CD Chivas USA – DC United Preview
- By Joseph Schoenbauer Fri, April 1, 2005
Background Info:
Saturday April 2, 2005 marks the opening day of year 10 of MLS, an outstanding achievement for the league in which the quality of play has increased dramatically, soccer-specific stadiums continue to be built, and interest from within the US and oversees grows. The season has the potential to be the best and most intriguing one yet, especially with two new expansion franchises being established in Real Salt Lake and CD Chivas USA.
CD Chivas USA became a reality when the owner of Mexican League team CD Guadalajara (whose nickname is “Chivas”, which translated to English means “goats”), Jorge Vergara, committed to establishing a franchise in MLS. The franchise is expecting many things, all of which have created a special interest in the team and league, both in the US, Mexico and even around the world. Among them, to enlarge the already massive fan base of CD Guadalajara of Mexico, to attract more of the Hispanic-American fans to the league, and last but not least, to bring a Mexican attacking style of play to the league, which many believe will be in stark contrast to the “run all-out for 90 minutes” style of play most of the rest of the MLS teams employ.
If CD Chivas USA wished to begin their history against a standard bearer of the league over the last 10 years, then they got exactly what they wished for. DC United, the current reigning champion of MLS, has won the league a record 4 times. In addition to their league titles, DC United has won the US Open Cup, InterAmerican Cup and CONCACAF Champion’s Cup, making them by far the leagues most successful team in it’s history.
Preseason Form:
CD Chivas USA is a newly formed expansion team full of players that have been playing with each other for no more than a couple months and their first few preseason games reflected exactly that. In a three game span, they lost to the US National team 7-0, the San Jose Earthquakes 3-0 and Atlante of Mexico 2-0. 12 goals conceded, and 0 goals scored. However, since then things have changed for the better. Head Coach Thomas Rongen made changes, reverting away from the 3-4-3 formation that CD Guadalajara famously uses, to a 4-3-3 in hopes of providing more defensive cover for the midfielders. In their last four preseason friendlies, CD Chivas USA went 2-1-1, scoring 9 goals along the way, albeit 6 of them being against the PDL Fresno Fuego.
DC United had an impressive preseason that built on their run to last years MLS Cup title. In their busy preseason schedule, they have won virtually every game when playing with their top players in the lineup and have faired decently when fielding a team consisting of players looking to make the squad or break into the first team. Along the way, they have won the Aloha Super Cup over the LA Galaxy and have advanced to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals after defeating Harbour View F.C. of Jamaica in the quarterfinals. In their last preseason game, they defeated the Columbus Crew 3-0 with goals from Mike Petke, Christian Gomez and Jaime Moreno.
Team News:
CD Chivas USA’s Dutch head coach Thomas Rongen has quite possibly been dealt the heaviest hand of all MLS coaches to date. Their first full training camp ever occurred just 2 months ago in February. Over the 2 months, Coach Rongen has been using all of his experience, which includes an MLS Championship with DC United in 1999, to mold a team together made up from a roster that included 8 players from CD Guadalajara’s side in Mexico and a large unit of players that have little to no previous experience in MLS. Since then, 1 player, Luis Sandoval, has returned to Mexico, and another, 35-year old captain Ramon Ramirez, has left the team, sighting visa issues with his nanny and gardener, only to return to the team weeks later. Coach Rongen, captain Ramirez and Co. will be under pressure to perform from the beginning, most importantly to win over fans and give credibility to a team that’s image has been defined for them by one of the most successful teams ever in Mexican club soccer. On top of this, Coach Rongen and the rest of his teammates who don’t speak Spanish, have been forced to deal with a language barrier while taking lessons. Altogether, a whirlwind start to the beginning of CD Chivas USA.
The biggest question mark that hangs over the head of DC United revolves around the departure of captain Ryan Nelsen to the Blackburn Rovers of the English Premier League. Since his departure, DC United has actively sought a sturdy replacement from a foreign destination, yet has not found anyone to fit the bill. Nevertheless, Mike Petke has been playing solidly in the middle of the back three throughout the preseason, and the experience of Bryan Namoff and Brandon Prideaux is still there. In other news, the arrival of the 36-year old Steve Guppy from Wycombe Wanderers of the English fourth division has raised a few eyebrows. Steve Guppy should be competing for time on the left wing with Dema Kovalenko, who is set to return from injury shortly, and 15-year old Freddy Adu. Both Santino Quaranta and Eliseo Quintanilla, who had suffered injuries and were out for a large percentage of last season, are back to full fitness and will also be competing for time in the attacking 3-5-2 formation preferred by Head Coach Peter Nowak.
Players to Watch:
35-year old Ramon Ramirez has been a big part of CD Chivas’s whirlwind preseason. After coming very close to leaving the team permanently following the visa issues he encountered, Ramon Ramirez returned to the side, much to the pleasure of the CD Chivas USA socios. Ramirez will be expected to be a huge leader on and off the field for his largely inexperienced side and much of the pressure will likely fall on him if the team fails to perform.
Francisco Gomez can be regarded as Chivas’s most experienced player in terms of MLS experience. His left-footed set pieces and defensive capabilities in the 3-man midfield will be essential for the team to be a successful side.
Christian Gomez joined DC United only last August and promptly played a major role in the team’s march into the playoffs, through the playoffs, and on it’s way to MLS Cup 2004. This season will be his first full year and with the highly regarded number 10 accompanying his name on the back of his jersey this year, the DC United faithful will be hoping for even more from him.
Last year was Freddy Adu’s first year as a professional soccer player. Despite all the hype, media attention and increased attendance in the stadiums wherever he went, Coach Nowak brought him along slowly and cautiously throughout the season, which may prove to be a great move for the future of Freddy Adu. Nevertheless, Freddy Adu is a soccer player, and like anyone else, his desire is to play as much as he can. To help himself, over the off season he has matured as a person and has gained 15 pounds of muscle in order to deal with the bigger and stronger defenders. Everyone who saw his goal at RFK last season against Los Angeles has to believe in his capabilities. Now it’s up to Adu to prove to Coach Nowak that he deserves more time.
Probable Starting Teams:
CD Chivas USA (4-3-3): Brad Guzan; Orlando Perez, Douglas Sequeira, Ryan Suarez, Ezra Hendrickson; Francisco Gomez, Ramon Ramirez, Hector Cuadros; Matt Taylor, Thiago Martins(Isaac Romo), Arturo Torres
DC United (3-5-2): Nick Rimando; Brandon Prideaux, Mike Petke, Bryan Namoff; Steve Guppy, Ben Olsen, Brian Carroll, Christian Gomez, Josh Gros; Jaime Moreno, Alecko Eskandarian
Prediction:
CD Chivas USA has been playing together for such a short period of time in contrast to DC United, who has much of the same team that won MLS Cup 2004. Their experience together should be too much for “the Goats” 2-1 DC United