In boxing, the tale of the tape is the pre-fight measurements between the two combatants. In 2013, we're telling the tale of the tape between D.C. United and its foe of the week.
Super Silva
Since joining D.C. United from Toronto FC on 7/9, Luis Silva has made two appearances, both starts, for his new club and netted two goals. Both strikes came from outside the penalty area, the first nominated for Goal of the Week (Week 21) as the fourth overall pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft has made an immediate impact for the Black-and-Red. In fact, Silva is one of only four MLS players (Mike Magee, Chicago; Walker Zimmerman, Dallas; Diego Fagundez, New England) with an active two-goal scoring streak.
The Di Vaio Offensive
Montreal Impact forward Marco Di Vaio has been caught offside more than any other player in MLS this season, being pulled back 45 times in the 19 games he has featured for the Impact, an average of 2.37 offsides per game.
No Impact in RFK
Last year, in what was the Montreal Impact’s inaugural season in MLS, D.C. United went 1-0-1 against Montreal in two games at RFK Stadium. In the first match on 4/18/12, the Black-and-Red secured a 1-1 draw. Later, on 6/30/12, United ran out 3-0 winners over the Impact, with United’s Chris Pontius among the contributors. Montreal has never won at RFK Stadium.
Youth Movement
With the club’s recent additions to its roster, D.C. United’s average age across all First Team Players is now 25.4 years old. The average age of all players who started the game against the New England Revolution on 7/27 was 25.5 years old. Meanwhile, the average age of the Montreal Impact starters against Sporting Kansas City on the same day was 30.2 years old.
Vulnerable Interval
Although D.C. United has yet to net a goal in the 76th-90th minutes of the match, the Black-and-Red will have a great chance to steal one late, as the Impact has let in nine of its 20 goals-allowed on the season in that time frame.
Montreal’s Road Woes
In the nine games it has played away from home this year, the Montreal Impact has a record of 3-4-2 and has not won away from Saputo Stadium since 6/1, when it defeated Sporting Kansas City 2-1. In 2012, the Impact recorded a less-than-stellar 2-12-3.
