What: DC United host Metropolitan Dallas Area's team Where: Buzzard Point neighborhood of the District of Columbia, USA When: Saturday October 13th - 5PM (according to my notes; originally scheduled for 3:30pm) Watch: Univision (blech) or online somewhere, I'm sure (twitter?) According to MLS dotcom - DCU (11-11-8): Suspended: None Suspended after next caution: M - Russell Canouse International duty: M - Junior Moreno, M - Ulises Segura Injury Report: OUT: D - Taylor Kemp (labrum surgery), GK - David Ousted (elbow surgery), D - Chris Odoi-Atsem (fatigue), D - Vytas (hip injury), Kofi Opare (hip injury), D - Oniel Fisher (knee surgery); QUESTIONABLE: D - Nick DeLeon (knee injury), F - Dane Kelly (metatarsal injury) Projected Starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left) GK: Bill Hamid — Nick DeLeon, Frederic Brillant, Steve Birnbaum, Joseph Mora — Russell Canouse, Chris Durkin — Zoltan Stieber, Luciano Acosta, Yamil Asad — Wayne Rooney Dallas (16-6-9): Suspended: None Suspended after next caution: M - Carlos Gruezo International duty: D - Reggie Cannon, M - Carlos Gruezo, D - Maynor Figueroa Injury Report: OUT: D - Kris Reaves (left foot stress fracture), F - Cristian Colman (torn ACL) Projected Starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left) GK: Jesse Gonzalez — Ryan Hollingshead, Matt Hedges, Reto Ziegler, Marquinhos Pedroso — Abel Aguilar, Victor Ulloa — Michael Barrios, Maxi Urruti, Santiago Mosquera — Dom Badji All-Time Series Overall: D.C. United 15 wins, 77 goals … FC Dallas 21 wins, 77 goals … 8 draws At D.C.: D.C. United 9 wins, 47 goals … FC Dallas 6 wins, 32 goals … 5 draws Last meeting at D.C.: D.C. United 0, FC Dallas 3 (March 26, 2016) Officials Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero Assistant Referees: Nick Uranga, Gianni Facchini 4th Official: Silviu Petrescu VAR: Jon Freemon Important game for both clubs - with a win we edge closer to maybe making the playoffs in the East; they all but wrap up the top spot in the West I hope this is a trap game for them Seems fair after last week. I just noticed MLS lists the line-ups right-to-left - that is odd, what's wrong with them? My lame prediction: DCU: 2 FCs: 2 I would be happy to be very wrong as long as DC comes out on top As soon as this match was delayed I printed my parking pass for it so mine says I can enter Lot H/I at 12:30, your passes may vary depending on Lot and date printed/downloaded
Odd that the MLS projected line-up has both DeLeon and Stieber starting but not Arriola. Presumably Arriola will start in place of one of them - hopefully DeLeon...
Arriola posted on Twitter yesterday that his Dad just passed away. Heaven gained another angel last night. You were loved by so many, you made my brother and I into the men we are today. Until we meet again dad I love you and miss you. pic.twitter.com/cU8DuwDTAz— Paul Arriola (@PaulArriola) October 12, 2018
MLS is notoriously wrong about many things. Goff's lists: D.C. probable starters: GK Bill Hamid; Ds Paul Arriola, Frederic Brillant, Steve Birnbaum, Joseph Mora; MFs Zoltan Stieber, Chris Durkin, Russell Canouse, Luciano Acosta, Yamil Asad; F Wayne Rooney. Dallas probable starters: GK Jesse Gonzalez; Ds Ryan Hollingshead, Matt Hedges, Reto Ziegler, Marquinhos Pedroso; MFs Michael Barrios, Roland Lamah, Victor Ulloa, Maxi Urruti, Santiago Mosquera; F Dominique Badji. probably both wrong
D.C. United's Paul Arriola returned home to California to be with family after the death of his father this week. It's uncertain whether he will be back for Saturday's match against FC Dallas in Washington. The team will have more information in the morning. #dcu #mls— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) October 12, 2018
Also, Durkin has a broken nose. Hopefully this does not affect his availability, because I'm not sure who gets plugged in next to Canouse. Let's also hope Canouse doesn't pick up a yellow tomorrow or Wednesday so he can get the good behavior bonus.
I think the defensive-minded midfielder next in the queue to Durkin is Jeffrey (Actually, I rather like Jeffrey, but I know he has a poor reputation with many here.)
Goff still has him in his starting lineup, but on Twitter he admits that he might not be back and might even miss Wednesday's match.
The lovely Univision video proves Goff blew that one, or Arriola didn't bother to get his permission to go home first. Stands started to look full at 30 mins. Ghost town on the $$ side early on.
It's not like FCD did not need that game. LAFC and SKC are right behind them trying to win the west and get first round byes. Wasn't the best played, but we overcame a few bad calls to maintain control over our fate. If we win and on wednesday, we can clinch on saturday by matching MLS result on saturday. The Chicago game might be one we don't even need!
No excuses or apologies necessary, the team showed desire, heart, and a belief that they could win. A real transformation they have to be very confident at this point.
Tough, well played game on both sides. Both DCU and Dallas were prepared to stop the other, Dallas really cut off the LuchaRoo passing lanes. DCU largely forced Dallas to take shots from distance and, except for the breakaway, had someone right in front of the Dallas player. Great save from Hamid, Canouse scores a hockey goal. Sixth place and above the playoff line with a game in hand. I'll take it.
Indeed, this team is showing a lot of grit and drive, much more so since Rooney joined the squad. It's reminiscent of the 2012 "You can't hold us back" side. Rooney's brought the team into life and has given other players more space in which to play.
Just making the playoffs is an incredible accomplishment, and I'll go out on a limb and say we're about to do that. Can we win 1 or 2 playoff series? Maybe. I don't know.