On an evening where D.C. United's offensefailed to score, a makeshift defense shut down Seattle's vaunted attack to earna scoreless draw at RFK. Key tothe performance was Dejan Jakovic, who came off the bench and turned in a ninety-minute effort inreplacing the suspended Brandon McDonald.
"He stepped in and did well to bevocal," veteran Robbie Russell said of Jakovic. "What we wanted from him was a big, physical presenceand he showed that. He did a greatjob."
Jakovic's main assignment on the night was toshadow Seattle playmaker Fredy Montero, who managed to put just one of his fiveshot attempts on frame. One of theleague's most dangerous attacking talents, the Columbian found little space asJakovic focused on denying service to Montero's feet.
"I wanted to be tight as possible, Ididn't want to pass him on to Perry [Kitchen]," Jakovic said of hisman-marking duties. "Ithought we did pretty well with not letting him get the ball and when he did wewere right up on him. It was apersonal challenge that everyone said I would be marking him and I thought Idid well."
"He did a great job in particular onMontero at times," Ben Olsen confirmed in his post-match pressconference. "Montero is areal player in this league, he's a handful. I thought we did a pretty good jobon him overall."
While word of McDonald's suspension allowedJakovic most of the week to prepare for his role against the Sounders, another D.C.defender wasn't so fortunate. WhenRussell came out injured late in the second half, Chris Korb was pressed intoemergency duty at right back. Korb, who said he had not come off the bench in defense since beforecollege, filled in admirably in a difficult spot.
"It's a little bit nerve-wracking to jumpinto a game like that," Korb admitted afterwards. "I was kind of cold, but ourtrainers do a great job warming us up on the sidelines. You just have to get into it as fast asyou can and just finish the game out."
"It's definitely hard to be called on when you are not expectingit," added goalkeeper Joe Willis. "ButChris is a great defender and a great player in general. I know whenever he gets the call he'sready."
United's defense has now allowed just a single goal over the club's last three matches. With D.C.'s back four limiting Seattle to a pair of shots on target, Willis earned his third career shutout and second blank sheet of the season.
