WASHINGTON – D.C. United will have a chance to push their home unbeaten streak to a club-record tying 19 games this weekend, but they’ll have to overcome some challenges to do so.
First, their form will have to improve.
United have scored one goal in three games entering Saturday’s tilt with the Philadelphia Union (7 pm; MLS LIVE). And that solitary strike from Jairo Arrieta came as D.C. struggled to capitalize on a two-man advantage in a 1-1 draw with the nine-man New England Revolution last Saturday.
They lead the Eastern Conference by two points despite scoring at a slower rate (1.08 goals per game) than all but two of their conference foes.
“I just think we need to be a little bit more aggressive when we get the ball,” United attacker Chris Pontius said after training Friday. “Our movement. Our passing. We almost play it safe sometimes.”
The next challenge is their health, which can also be blamed for United’s struggles.
Last year’s leading scorers Luis Silva (hamstring) and Fabian Espindola (quadriceps) are still not ready for return. In Silva’s case, the injuries date back to last season, and with Espindola beginning this year on a six-match ban, the pair have only combined for 361 minutes and two goals.
Then there’s the recent schedule, with coach Ben Olsen opting to rest some regulars at times while his squad plays seven league matches in May and six more in June. United’s starting XI in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers featured only three players with more than three prior starts this season.
Still, Olsen admits things need to improve after a three-match winless stretch – their first since last September – in which they have managed only three shots on goal.
“We’re not getting enough looks,” Olsen said. “Some of that’s personnel and having to field lineups that maybe aren’t as attacking because we haven’t had that luxury. But there’s still work to do on the offensive end.”
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With offensive regulars like Pontius and Chris Rolfe expected to return Saturday, Olsen expects more chances created against the Union, who have won two straight, including a 1-0 win over D.C. on May 17.
Nick DeLeon (hamstring) could give D.C. an added boost in wide midfield if he plays after returning to training this week. But fellow midfielder Michael Farfan will miss substantial time after his injury suffered against New England was diagnosed as a grade two hamstring strain, Olsen said.
Then there’s the continued intrigue of new signing Facundo Coria. The journeyman Argentine attacker hasn’t scored a top-flight goal since winning Argentina’s 2010 Clausura with Argentinos Juniors. Yet he featured as a sub in both of D.C.’s matches since joining the club, providing an assist against New England.
“What’s his ceiling for us, and where does he actually fit in, and what areas can we rely on him other than being a sub late in the game when we need a goal, that’s some of the stuff we’re tossing around,” Olsen said. “The guy has some magic. A real set of tricks as well. He gives us something we don’t have right now.”
