So much for late spring weather being here to last. At D.C. United training today, it felt exactly like late March should: cool and crisp. Here’s what was going on as United returned to work following Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Vancouver:
The sour taste of the U.S. under-23 national team’s shocking exit from Olympic qualifying remains in the mouths of everyone around the sport. With Bill Hamid and Perry Kitchen intimately involved, the lingering effect on D.C. United is certainly a concern. Both players are expected back in Washington on Tuesday evening.
United coach Ben Olsen said at that point he will evaluate the status of the ankle injury that hobbled Hamid and played a key role in the two goals he allowed in Monday’s 3-3 draw with El Salvador in Nashville, Tenn. There’s no reason to suggest that either Hamid or Kitchen will be available when D.C. hosts FC Dallas on Friday. Dallas will have to make a similar determination with Brek Shea.
“It’s been emotional ride for them, too,” Olsen said. “We’re all disappointed with the result, and I’m sure they’re a little bit more disappointed than your average guy. So we’ve got to sit down and talk with them, see where they’re at. Physically and emotionally, they’re still young guys, and it’s a lot, a lot to go through.”
Kurt Morsink had his first training session since foot surgery during preseason, while Dejan Jakovic spent the training session jogging after missing the Whitecaps game with a groin strain. Marcelo Saragosa limped off the field at the end of the day with what appeared to be a gimpy right ankle, but the extent of any injury remains to be seen.
Springfield native Joel Helmick (Longwood, W.T. Woodson High), who was selected by the Colorado Rapids in the 2012 MLS supplemental draft, joined in training as United’s third goalkeeper.
Lewis Neal was absent; he’s apparently working on getting his visa sorted out. Rookie Lance Rozeboom, after suffering a major knee injury in training last week, also wasn’t in attendance.
“It was a clean tackle, a good tackle,” Olsen said. “Those things are so freak sometimes, guys are landing wrong. It’s a shame because he was real promising. We didn’t get a chance to look at him in a real game, but he was a guy that certainly we would use throughout the season.”
While the U.S. is out of the Olympics – Andy Najar and Honduras face Trinidad & Tobago tonight – Dwayne De Rosario gave a dose of support to the Canadian under-23s, who are on track to face Mexico in the CONCACAF semifinals, with a place in London on the line.
“Maybe I could see possibly a 1-0 Canada win,” De Rosario said.
And a spot as an overage player this summer in England [much to D.C. United’s likely dismay]?
“I hope so,” De Rosario replied. “That would be a dream come true.”
