When Toronto FC face Steven Birnbaum and D.C. United on Saturday, August 5, they will see a team that dominates in the air. When a ball is coming down, there is a pretty good chance a United head is going to make contact first.
United are third in league in aerial duels won with 306. Stalwart center back Steven Birnbaum accounts for 78 of those wins, which leads the league. His dominance in the air has served the Black-and-Red offensively too, as Coach Ben Olsen has been known to push him up the field to win headers in the opposition half.
Toronto haven’t found much success in the air, only attempting 260 corners or crosses this season, which is last in the league. Forward Jozy Altidore, who recently won the CONCACAF Gold Cup with the USMNT, will be a challenge for the United defense. He has only scored one goal from a header this season, but as a strong, physical player, Altidore is never easy to defend in the air.
United’s defense has struggled in recent weeks, but Birnbaum still has confidence in himself and his teammates.
“We’ve got a good team and we know that,” he said. “We just haven’t played to our standards we know we can play to. It’s [about] self evaluation and it’s [about] going into the weekend knowing that if we play our game, we can get a result.”
Olsen believes in his team and thinks they have a chance to come away with points on Saturday night.
“[Toronto] obviously have individual players that separate them from others in MLS,” he said. “They’re probably, on balance, the best team in the league and we’re looking forward to getting something out of the game.”
The game kicks off at 7 PM ET at RFK Stadium and on NewsChannel 8.
