It’s not the best start in Major League Soccer history. But it’s close.
The Los Angeles Galaxy opened MLS’ inaugural season in 1996 with 12 straight wins, and a number of teams have reached the 16-game mark with just two losses. But with a victory or a tie in Kansas City tonight, D.C. United (9-1-5) can become the first team in league history to reach the season’s midpoint with just one loss.
“For the most part, we really do go into the season thinking that we’re going to be good,” said United senior vice president Stephen Zack, who has been with United since its formation in 1996. “We had a positive feeling [this year]. But I don’t think anybody expected us to be doing quite as well as we’re doing right now, both offensively and defensively. Everything seems to be coming together.”
Here are four reasons why United has surpassed expectations thus far:
» Roster continuity. United lost one only starter in the offseason — Dema Kovalenko — and his departure made the inclusion of Freddy Adu in the starting 11 a no-brainer.
More importantly, the returning nucleus is made up of talented young players, all with less than four years’ experience — like Brian Carroll, Bryan Namoff, Bobby Boswell and Alecko Eskandarian — who are close friends off the field and tireless workers for one another during games.
“When you have a core group of guys back, I think it makes a little bit easier to come back the following year and have the same goal,” said defender John Wilson.
» Bitter memories. With so many players returning, no one needed to be reminded of Chicago’s 4-0 drubbing of United in the MLS Eastern Conference semifinals at RFK Stadium.
“We’ve grown up a lot from last year,” said midfielder Ben Olsen. “There’s a lot of negatives from last year, a lot of big losses, and going through that I think we learned a lot of lessons.”
» An Eastern Conference in shambles. Red Bull New York offered up the latest coaching casualty this week, firing Mo Johnston on Tuesday. Columbus Crew coach Sigi Schmid, in his first season, graces the team’s media guide, which is always a bad sign. Chicago started the season with nine straight road games while waiting for its new stadium to come on line.
And then there’s also the World Cup.
“Kansas City lost three key guys, and I think they’ve done well to stay where they are,” said United assistant coach Mark Simpson.
» No distractions. United started early in 2005 to play in the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup and also took a midseason trip to Chile for the Copa Sudamericana. But this year’s grueling two-month preseason was spent focused on one thing: winning in MLS. Ironically, should D.C. finish the regular season with the league’s best record, they’ll earn a spot in next year’s Champions’ Cup.
D.C. United (9-1-5) at Kansas City Wizards (6-5-2)
» Where: Arrowhead Stadium
» When: Tonight at 8:30
» TV: None
» Radio: WMET-1160 AM, WACA-1540 AM
