MLS MATCHDAY 21
D.C. United vs Columbus Crew
Saturday, August 4 - 7:30 PM ET
TV: Comcast SportsNet | channel finder
When D.C. United traveled to Columbus two weeks ago, theBlack-and-Red was facing a team on the ropes. After winning just one of five matches, rumblings about Crewcoach Robert Warzycha’s job security were becoming a daily occurrence. Two days before facing D.C., ColumbusGeneral Manager Mark McCullers came out in support of his embattled coach - and48 hours later Warzycha’s players did the same in a 1-0 win.
Things have changed quite a bit as the two teams prepare fora rematch at RFK on Saturday. TheCrew have since defeated both Stoke City and Sporting Kansas City whileclimbing within reach of an Eastern Conference playoff spot. A side once struggling for confidencenow has no shortage of it.
“Our mentality has been different,” Crew midfielder DillyDuka told theCrew.com. “Two weeksago, we came out and knew (D.C.) was a good team. We knew we had to battle from the first minute to the last. We definitely jumped on themearly. We were hungry.”
After going a month without hosting an MLS match, Unitedgladly return home Saturday. TheBlack-and-Red are 7-1-2 in Washington this season, thanks in large part to thespace afforded them at RFK.
“I think it’s the size of the field,” explained rookiemidfielder Nick DeLeon when asked about D.C.’s improved home form in 2012. “When we play here we really spread thefield and when we do that it is hard for teams to press because it’s so spreadout. With one or two passes youbeat the press and you wear teams out that way.”
Despite the fact that there will be more room to operatethan during their previous meeting, each team is expecting a physical encountercome Saturday. In Columbus theCrew were by far the more physical group – committing 11 fouls compared to justeight by D.C.
“Sometimes you have to play physical to win,” Crew defenderSebastian Miranda told theCrew.com. “This weekend is no different in the battle because (D.C.) has a verygood team with their forwards and the midfielders.”
“Looking at the last game I think we have to have a littlemore bite all together,” said defender Brandon McDonald. “Around the league, when teams play us,they are nicking us and we aren’t nicking them back. We still have to put inthe quality but we need a little more bite.”
» ANALYSIS: Volkswagen Keys to the Match
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REFEREE: Allen Chapman. MLS Career: 6 games; FC/gm: 22.2; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 1; pens: 1
SAR (bench): C.J. Morgante; JAR (opposite): Steven Taylor; 4th: Juan Carlos Rivero
INJURY REPORT:
- D.C. UNITED -- OUT: MF Lance Rozeboom (L knee ACL tear); DF Robbie Russell (L plantar fasciitis)
- COLUMBUS CREW -- OUT: FW Tommy Heinemann (L knee surgery); GK William Hesmer (R hip surgery); MF Kirk Urso (R adductor tendonitis); DF Rich Balchan (sports hernia rehab); MF Bernardo Anor (L knee ACL tear); DF Nenamja Vukovic (L ankle sprain); QUESTIONABLE: MF Danny O'Rourke (L ankle sprain); MF Milovan Mirosevic (L adductor strain); PROBABLE: DF Chad Marshall (R ankle impingment)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: DC: Andy Najar (Honduras; Olympic Games)
SUSPENDED: CLB: Cole Grossman (through Aug. 5)
WARNINGS:
- SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: none
- SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: CLB: Bernardo Anor, Tony Tchani, Sebastian Miranda … DC: Maicon Santos, Chris Pontius, Dwayne De Rosario, Andy Najar, Dejan Jakovic
HEAD-TO-HEAD
- ALL-TIME (52 meetings): United 23 wins (5 shootout), 76 goals … Crew 21 wins (0 shootout), 74 goals … Ties 8
- AT RFK STADIUM (25 meetings): United 16 wins (3 shootout), 52 goals … Crew 6 wins (0 shootout), 34 goals … Ties 3
- FUTURE MATCH: 10/20: D.C. United vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET
- It’s the second meeting between the teams, the first a 1-0 Columbus victory at Crew Stadium on July 21, the game’s only goal scored by Chris Birchall in the opening minute of the second half.
- The two teams split their two meetings last season, each winning at home. The Crew haven’t lost in Columbus to D.C. United since 2007, a span of five matches (4-0-1).
- The Crew have come away with the full points on three of their last five trips to RFK Stadium, since 2007.
- Coaches record: Ben Olsen vs. CLB: P4 W1 L3 T0 … Robert Warzycha vs. DC: P9 W7 L2 T0
LAST MEETING (MLS): - 7/21: CLB 1, DC 0 (Birchall 46)
- The Crew hit for the game's lone goal a minute after the halftime break. From the midfield stripe, Jairo Arrieta held off a challenge and slipped the ball through to Chris Birchall off a well-timed run. Birchall dribbled into the left side of the box and connected on a low left-footed strike from 10 yards out.
- COLUMBUS CREW (4-2-3-1): Andy Gruenebaum - Sebastian Miranda, Carlos Mendes, Chad Marshall (Julius James 76), Josh Williams - Chris Birchall, Cole Grossman - Eddie Gaven, Dilly Duka (Ethan Finlay 74), Justin Meram - Jairo Arrieta (Eric Gehrig 89).
- D.C. UNITED (4-4-2): Joe Willis - Chris Korb, Brandon McDonald, Dejan Jakovic, Daniel Woolard - Nick DeLeon (Josh Wolff 76), Lewis Neal (Maicon Santos 65), Perry Kitchen, Chris Pontius - Dwayne De Rosario, Hamdi Salihi (Long Tan 72)
