After Saturday’s match against the New England Revolution, the Black-and-Red won’t play at RFK Stadium again until July 31. Such a long layoff between home matches means that collecting home points while you can is crucial to staying in the race for a playoff spot, something United head coach Ben Olsen is aware of.
“It’s obviously important, it goes without saying. We’ve got a month away after this game so it’s important for so many reasons but we know that,” Olsen said. “It’s not about harping on us needing to win at home. It’s about trusting in the process and trusting each other out there and these results will come.”
This season, Olsen’s team have played well on the road, managing to secure seven points in seven away games this season. And after RFK Stadium has served as a fortress for the past two seasons going 11-7-4 since the start of 2015, the Black-and-Red will look to reassert their home dominance after an RFK loss against Seattle on June 1.
The meeting against the Revolution on June 25 will mark the 69th regular season meeting between the two teams. United hold the upper hand over their Eastern Conference rivals 31-26-11 since 1996 (including an impressive 21-9-4 at RFK). After drawing 0-0 at Gillette Stadium then beating them 3-0 at RFK Stadium, United will be hoping for the same success against the Revolution in their final regular season meeting of 2016.
“We need to start picking up points, especially against Eastern Conference teams,” defender Kofi Opare said. “It’s a very important game...we’re playing at home and we want to pick up as many points as we can, with our fans and support behind us.”
Opare and the rest of the Black-and-Red defense will have their hands full limiting Kei Kamara’s opportunities in front of goal. The Sierra Leonean striker had a knack of converting against the Black-and-Red while at Columbus, scoring six goals in 13 appearances. The newly-acquired striker is still in search of his first goal for the Revolution, however, and the Black-and-Red can expect to face a hungry Kamara on Saturday.
“He’s a guy that you have to keep your eyes on at all times, especially when the ball goes out wide because he’s so dangerous in the air,” Opare said. “As a defensive unit, we need to communicate and have someone on him the whole time.”
While Travis Worra performed admirably in his 11 starts to start the 2016 season, the return of Bill Hamid has undeniably bolstered the United defense with the 2014 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year putting together a series of strong performances in goal for the Black-and-Red. The 25-year-old was a key component for the United defense that kept a clean sheet at BBVA Stadium against Houston last Saturday. The shot-stopper was in fine form, saving two last-ditch efforts from Houston (including a Week 15 MLS Save of the Week nomination) to deny the Dynamo a win and help secure a critical away point for D.C. United.
Don't miss any of the action; the match kicks off at RFK at 7 PM and is on NewsChannel 8.
