D.C. United would like to forget all about the last time –and the first time – the Montreal Impact visited RFK. On a dreary Wednesday night in mid-April, the Black-and-Redcame out listless and needed a late goal from Maicon Santos just to salvage apoint from the Canadian expansion side.
“We just didn’t have that pep, that anger we need tonight,”D.C. Head Coach Ben Olsen said afterwards. “Now, the second half was great, but it takes me to get themriled up at halftime to get that kind of response.”
Despite out-possessing the visitors (53% - 46%) andcompleting nearly 80% of their passes, D.C. managed just two shots on target.
“We have to understand you just have to bring it every nightif you want results,” Olsen continued in his post-match press conference. “It doesn’t matter who you play: If youdon’t bring that in this league, it’s going to be a long night.”
The 1-1 draw was one of the few times this year where Olsenopenly criticized his team’s emotions after a match. The manager seemed to get his point across, as – just fourdays later - United pounded New York 4-1.
D.C. has played ten league matches since the Impact’s lastvisit, but the lessons of that mid-week disappointment haven’t faded.
“You have to stay focused for the whole ninety minutes,”said defender Brandon McDonald when asked about the April 18 encounter. “I think it was a growth opportunityfor us. From where we were at thatpoint of the season to where we are now, I think we are still building off itand growing from it.”
So will revenge be a factor on Saturday?
“Anytime you play a team that you’ve seen before you alwayswant to do better than you did last time,” added defender Robbie Russell. “This is one of those games where wecan definitely do a lot better.”
