With D.C. United’s 2-1 victory over Seattle last night done and dusted, there’s a temptation to play down its importance, especially with another challenge just two days away in FC Dallas.
But it’s also important to recognize that there was a real sense that D.C. might’ve been on the precipice of another downward spiraling season coming into the Sounders game, and not only did United pull itself back from the edge, it may have learned a few things along the way that will help in a big way going forward.
“It was a tough week,” United forward Josh Wolff said. “We had some real conversations and some honesty with each other. Not that it’s anything throwing anyone under the bus, but it’s just some realness to it. At times, it’s necessary. For this team to move forward, you have to have those.
A couple thoughts:
*The night’s defining play was either of the two wickedly precise goals by the triumvirate of Andy Najar, Wolff and Charlie Davies. It was rookie Perry Kitchen fighting for his life to deny Alvaro Fernandez a clean look at a corner kick midway through the first half.
“It’s physical, and that’s what we’ve been talking about because set pieces have definitely been one of our problems,” Kitchen said. “Whatever it takes. If you have to grab them, and maybe it’s a foul, maybe it’s not. Whatever you can get away with.”
Marshaled into duty at right back, Kitchen was clearly nervous to start the match, but that kind of fight and spirit helped him gain confidence, as did his own sneaky volley later in the half that nearly gave him his first professional goal. By the second half, he was showing some quick, deft touches, and there’s no doubt he’s given D.C. head coach Ben Olsen an option at outside defender with Jed Zayner and Marc Burch both saddled with hamstring issues.
Kitchen’s move is also possible because Ethan White again showed himself to be capable of handling the demands in the middle, part of a much better overall team effort.
“I think the biggest difference was that our team defending was so good, it was easier for guys to get into those tackles,” midfielder Clyde Simms said. “If they got past one guy, we were so tight that the next guy picks up that slack.”
*The difference in D.C.’s midfield with the return of Najar to the starting lineup was dramatic, as was the 18-year-old’s flair on the ball. Not only did he look inspired himself going forward, Najar eases the pressure on players like Dax McCarty to make more uncomfortable attacking runs. Instead, they simply have to find Najar, and he makes things happen.
“It was really nice to see him back again, I like him a lot more than you guys [journalists], believe me,” Olsen said. “He is one of my favorite guys that I’ve had around in my professional career. His energy looks better, his spirit looks better, and I was very excited for him to be back.”
*Davies took a step forward in his partnership with Wolff, but more importantly with his own game, showing the ability to become a physical presence with his back to the goal, not just as a forward trying to rediscover the speed that has traditionally made him so dangerous.
“That’s the Charlie of old,” Davies said. “For me, that’s a huge step forward for me. Coach Olsen has really harped on that the past week or two, me being more physical, holding up the ball, not only being dangerous in behind but being able to come up and hold the ball, and tonight I was able to do that, and I think that really helped the team, being able to keep the ball and keep it in their half. If I keep doing that, I’m going to be pretty happy with myself.”
*Bill Hamid made the crucial reaction saves that both D.C. United needed and he needed himself. They also seemed to be a direct result of his preparation leading up to the match.
“I actually wrote on my gloves, ‘Stay up, stay big,’” he said. “I can’t believe how many times today I just kept saying it to myself. I kind of focused in on that and it paid off.”
“Bill’s worked hard to try to get to the standard that he expects of himself,” said Pat Onstad, who has also made the adjustment over the last week to purely coaching Hamid and not simply training with him. “I know he wasn’t happy with the way things had been going, but tonight I thought he came up with two, maybe even three, fantastic saves, not to mention that I thought he dominated his area as well and his kicking was very good. I thought by far he had his best performance of the season.”
For a 20-year-old, Hamid also has perspective, enough to realize the chance he had to start opposite Kasey Keller.
“He was one of the first guys I definitely made sure I walked up to after the game,” Hamid said. “When I shook his hand and gave him a hug, I said, ‘Thank you. It was a pleasure playing against you.’ You gotta take your hat off to everything he’s done for U.S. Soccer, everything he’s done to open the door for me. He’s dominated in Europe. He’s dominated on the national team level. So I made sure at the end of the game I walked up to him and said, ‘Thank you, it’s a pleasure.’”
