The quality and depth of D.C. United’s attack was affirmed last week with five goals against Columbus. But has anyone yet made the argument that United has perhaps the best defense in Major League Soccer?
The statistics are good evidence. It’s no surprise United leads the league in scoring (24 goals), but it is tied for the fewest goals against, just 10 in 11 games. The New England Revolution, which failed to score against United in a 1-0 loss on Saturday, also has allowed 10 goals but played nine games.
“We never took our chances. If we take our chances, we score,” said New England coach Steve Nicol after Saturday’s loss.
The Revolution had just three shots on goal so United’s improved defense deserves at least some of the credit.
“I don’t think they had too many opportunities on goal, and I think that attributes a lot to our communication in back,” said defender Bryan Namoff, who anchored United’s 3-5-2 formation with Bobby Boswell and Facundo Erpen. “We’ve gotten more a lot more games with that back three. It’s just getting accustomed to one another and gaining more confidence in one another, as well as [goalkeeper] Troy Perkins.”
Perkins earned his first shutout in eight games, a 2-0 win over Houston in April, and showed an ever-growing poise coming off his line to pull down crosses and dangerous long balls.
United also showed no signs of mental fatigue after three games in eight days.
“Especially when you’re playing your third game in a week, you start to go physically a little bit,” said goalkeeping coach Mark Simpson. “Usually communication isthe first thing to go. For us to keep our communication up is important.”
