For the Black-and-Red, defense is critical. With standout center backs Steven Birnbaum and Frédéric Brillant, MLS veteran goalkeepers Bill Hamid and David Ousted, and United’s 2017 Defensive Player of the Year Kofi Opare at the heart of the back line, the Black-and-Red are well-versed in defending. Leidos—the presenting partner of D.C. United—provides systems, solutions, and services covering air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace for Defense and Intelligence customers worldwide. Sponsored by Leidos, this weekly feature delves into some of the defensive storylines for United.
United’s depth will be put to the test against New York City FC as the Black-and-Red will be without at least four key players who are off on international duty, which means they will have to rely on a strong performance from their defense more than usual Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
Thankfully, the absences will not tamper too much with United’s backline, which has rounded into form as of late. Led by the central pairing of Steven Birnbaum and Kofi Opare, and backstopped by goalkeeper Bill Hamid, the D.C. defense has conceded only five goals in their last five matches.
The defense's recent improved form includes a masterful performance last Sunday that held the league’s best attack, Atlanta, to just one goal, and snapped MLS goal-scoring leader Josef Martinez’s nine-game scoring streak.
While Sunday's victory was huge for the Black-and-Red, head coach Ben Olsen knows his shorthanded squad will face an uphill battle away at Yankee Stadium, where they have yet to taste victory.
“[Absences due to call-ups] is part of this. Every team has to deal with it,” Olsen said. “They’re in the same boat. They’ve got a few internationals gone as well so there will be no excuses, and we need to figure out the best group to get a result in a tough place to play.”
NYCFC will also be without four regulars for Saturday’s match, including leading goal scorer Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, but team captain and offensive star David Villa will still be in uniform and ready to go. Villa and midfielder Maxi Moralez will likely be the focus of United’s defense throughout the match, as the two will take on the weight of New York's attack in the absence of Tajouri-Shradi.
Though Villa has not been quite as prolific as Atlanta's Martinez this season, a similar game plan of crowding the middle of the field and keeping him off the ball could serve just as well. Give Villa any relatively-open looks, and the cool and confident forward can strike at the drop of a dime.
The task of shutting down New York's primary threats will likely be shouldered by defensive midfielder Russell Canouse, who has found another level of play in the past few weeks. Canouse's impressive recent run of form will come in handy on Saturday as he will be without regular defensive mid partner Júnior Moreno, who is off representing Venezuela in international friendlies.
Regardless of who takes the field Saturday, the Black-and-Red know a positive result would be a massive boost in their hunt for the playoffs. Above all else, United will rely on their grit and will to win during the challenging road trip.
