Preview: DC United vs. Kansas City Wizards, July 09 at 6:00pm
- By Joseph Schoenbauer Wed Jul 06, 2005
Background
DC United, Kansas City and the NY/NJ MetroStars are all currently neck and neck in the Eastern Conference standings, on 22, 22 and 21 points, going into their games this weekend. If the first 16 games of the season are any indication as to how the standings are going to look at the end of the season, then expect a dogfight to the finish for the final two playoff spots behind conference leading New England and Chicago. The other team in the conference, the Columbus Crew, are seemingly falling out of the race little by little, as a gap is appearing between them and the others.
Team News
Both DC United and the Kansas City Wizards are planning on missing players for several weeks due to National Team commitments. The Gold Cup, which begins July 7th and ends July 24th, is a tournament that Bruce Arena is hoping to win and has called in many of the top players available to him. Both Ben Olsen and Santino Quaranta have been called in from DC United, while Kansas City will be missing Jimmy Conrad and Josh Wolff, along with Khari Stephenson, who plays for the Jamaican National Team. DC United can also expect to be missing Alecko Eskandarian, Steve Guppy and Bryan Namoff, who are all still overcoming their respective injury problems.
On a different note, Freddy Adu has been all over the news again, this time because of controversial comments made by newly appointed General Manager and President of the NY/NJ MetroStars, Alexi Lalas. In short, Mr. Lalas said that he hopes Freddy Adu gets so upset with his lack of playing time at DC United that he asks to be transferred, because he would be playing every minute if he were wearing a MetroStars jersey. Not surprisingly, DC United President Kevin Payne reacted angrily towards Mr. Lalas’s words, replying that he is in no position to comment on this subject and that he should focus on the past 10 years of underachievement by the MetroStars instead.
Key Players
Chris Klein – He has been a consistent performer throughout his MLS career and this season has been no different. Using his large physique to his advantage, he has quietly scored more goals and created more goals than anyone else on his team. Without the presence of Josh Wolff this Saturday, the pressure will be even greater for Chris Klein to hit the back of the net.
Bo Oshoniyi – The DC United fans present at the 2004 MLS Cup Championship in LA last year certainly have not forgotten the torrid time they gave the Kansas City goalkeeper that day, nor is it likely that Bo has forgotten either. It will be interesting to see how he reacts Saturday, especially if he notices the banner in the crowd asking “Bo, who’s your daddy?”
Freddy Adu – In his first game back after the U-20 Championships in Holland, Freddy Adu was substituted at half time for a more defensive look. Since then, the aforementioned Mr. Lalas has taken swipes at DC United for their handling of the teenage phenomenon, to which DC United President Kevin Payne reacted angrily. It will be interesting now to see if Head Coach Nowak changes any of his plans to incorporate Freddy Adu into his starting lineup more often. If he does, look for Freddy Adu to take this opportunity by the scruff of the neck, as he certainly has expressed his desire to play from the beginning whistle several times in the past.
Probable Starting 11’s
Kansas City (4-3-1-2): Oshoniyi; Burciaga Jr., S. Thomas, Garcia, Victorine; D. Gutierrez, Zavagnin, Klein; Preki; Sealy, Arnaud
DC United (3-5-2): Rimando; Wilson, Boswell, Prideaux; Gros, Simms, Carroll, Gomez, Kovalenko; Moreno, Adu
Prediction
DC United has climbed over Kansas City and the MetroStars in the standings in recent weeks and will be looking to improve on these performances. With Ben Olsen and Santino Quaranta at the Gold Cup and Eskandarian just recovering from a concussion, Peter Nowak will be looking for Clyde Simms and Freddy Adu to have big games in their place. DC 2 - KC 1