Hey everyone. First off, I’d like to apologize for my lack of updates recently. I’ve been pretty busy with some other stuff. But the point is, I’m back and ready to go. So here it comes.
After RSL’s disappointing loss to Toronto last week, they should be hoping for a good performance against DC United, a team they’ve crushed once already this season. This time around, however, I find a win to be a lot less likely. First of all, RSL has suddenly lost 3-4 players to injury. James Edward of the Deseret News says that Fabian Espindola, Matias Mantilla, Yura Movsisyan, and Nathan Sturgis are all nursing injuries and might not be able to play. This brings down the options in the forward position, so too much of the game will have to rely on the recently disappointing Robbie Findley and Dr. Deuchar. Another problem is that with the absence of Sturgis, the only player left in that D-Mid position is old man Talley, the very man who single-handedly gave up two goals against Chivas. The addition of Talley alone becomes a major threat on our defense, something we didn’t have to face last time we played DC.
This game should show us more of what DC is made of. Last game, DC coach Tom Soehn decided to sit newcomers Marcello Gallardo and Gonzalo Martinez as well as the lead goalkeeper Zach Wells. These three players, who will likely play this week, provide a whole new level of talent for DC. They strengthen DC’s field in every aspect. Offensively, Gallardo will give service to the very talented DC forwards, and will pose a threat to Nick Rimando and the defense in front of him. Defensively, Martinez will eliminate the three man backline that Soehn tried against RSL in the last encounter. RSL’s forwards will have to work a lot harder to get through this suddenly solid defense. Zach Wells will be able to stop much more, and won’t have jitters like Jose Carvallo did.
Depsite all these factors, RSL still may have some positive things to find. This game may be the first we see of Jameson Olave, the Colombian center back that Kreis and Co. signed in the offseason, over Matias Mantilla, who’s nursing an ankle injury. After seeing him in practice a few times, I’m ecstatic to see Olave finally on the field. He’s a huge guy, with some good feet under him. He’ll look like a giant out there. Due to Ian Joy’s poor performances in past weeks, we may see Tony Beltran in the starting lineup as well. Beltran, although not the biggest player, will provide great speed and may even get into the offense a bit. He and Wingert on the wide-backs should prove to be a great combination.
Here’s my speculated lineup:
————-Rimando————–
–Beltran—Olave–Borchers–Wingert–
————–Talley—————
—-Kovalenko——–Beckerman——
————-Morales—————
———Findley—-Deuchar———
The thing I find most concerning about this lineup is the front line. So far this season, I haven’t liked the Findley/Deuchar combination at all. But with the looming injuries to Movsisyan and Espindola, there isn’t much else we can go with. I think RSL will have trouble scoring goals, while Talley will leave the middle of the field for DC to control. For RSL to win this game, they have to be on top of everything. They’ll have to play some masterful soccer on the road. My money’s on a loss in this one.
2-1 DC.
RRRSL 