D.C. United set for fireworks in Fourth of July matchup against Crew in Ohio
By: Craig Stouffer
Examiner Staff Writer
July 5, 2009
Crew finds its stroke » It took eight games for the 2008 MLS Cup champions to win their first game this season. But the Columbus Crew has been one of the hottest teams in the league entering Saturday's first-place showdown with D.C., boasting one loss since Apr. 5. Reigning league MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto was named MLS player of the month after posting four goals and two assists in June.
Quartet on international duty » United (5-3-8) and Columbus (5-3-7) are both missing two players due to national team call-ups for the CONCACAF Gold Cup: Crew midfielder Robbie Rogers and defender Chad Marshall are with the U.S. national team along with United midfielder Santino Quaranta, while Dejan Jakovic is representing Canada. United also will be without Jaime Moreno (hamstring). Luciano Emilio (knee) is questionable, and Fred (adductor) is listed as probable.
United unlikely to stock goalkeeping corps » With the summer transfer season underway, D.C. is exploring options for improving its depth at central defender. But it appears content to carry just two goalkeepers on its roster. Backup Milos Kocic had a solid outing in Tuesday's U.S. Open Cup win over Ocean City.
"I guess the coaches made a good decision to keep Josh [Wicks] and myself, young goalkeepers," said Kocic. "They're trying to establish us as really good goalkeepers. We push each other every day, and it's the same story every week: try as hard as you can, push the other guy. I'm really satisfied."
