HOUSTON ARRIVAL
Following a truncated training session on the RFK Stadium field this morning, D.C. United has arrived in Houston ahead of Friday night's contest versus the Dynamo (8pm ET, FOX Soccer). With temperatures expected to be near 80-degrees at kickoff tomorrow, Houston will once again prove a difficult place to get a result. In fact, United is 0-4-1 all-time at Robertson Stadium, with the lone draw coming in July of 2008 - a 0-0 battle that saw goalkeeper Louis Crayton earn a shutout for DC. The Black-and-Red will look to buck history and earn three points for the first time in Houston.
INJURY UPDATES
Head Coach Ben Olsen was the receipient of both good and bad news this week, as both Branko Boskovic (knee contusion) and Kurt Morsink (concussion) will miss Friday's match, while Jed Zayner (hamstring strain) and Steve Cronin (left wrist fracture) will be available for selection. Boskovic and Morsink both suffered their respective injuries in Tuesday night's 3-2 Open Cup play-in loss to the New England Revolution. For Cronin, it will be his first opportunity to dress in 2011, after suffering a broken wrist during the final stages of preseason. Zayner, meanwhile, has recovered from the hamstring strain suffered in the home opener on March 19.
ONSTAD'S ROLE
For the first time this season, Assistant Coach Pat Onstad will not be pulling double duty. The 43-year old netminder, who retired at the end of 2010, but returned to the field for the Black-and-Red prior to the start of the 2011 campaign following Cronin's injury, will only have to worry about offering directions from the sideline Friday evening. With Cronin earning a spot on the 18-man roster, and Bill Hamid the presumed starter for a third straight League match, Onstad can focus solely on coaching for the first time this season. For the time being, Onstad will remain under contract and be available for selection should Olsen need to call on him. It is, perhaps, fitting that Onstad not dress against his former team, with whom he won two MLS Cups (2006, 2007). The Canadian is set to be honored post-game by the Dynamo organization for all of his contributions to the club.
