Injuries, suspension limit lineup options Adversity has made itself at home with D.C. United.
Unable to string together two positive results in a crowded playoff race, United (9-9-11, 38 points) will face its latest crucial Eastern Conference clash on Sunday at Columbus (11-12-8, 41 points).
Starting center back Brandon McDonald will be out, and there’s uncertainty surrounding the health of its most important player, Dwayne De Rosario.
| Up Next |
| D.C. United at Columbus Crew |
| Where » Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio |
| When » Sunday, 4 p.m. |
| TV » Comcast SportsNet+ |
McDonald is suspended for yellow card accumulation after picking up a caution in Thursday’s 3-2 loss at Philadelphia, where De Rosario scored a league-leading 14th goal but left early in the second half with a right knee contusion.
“It’s come at a bit of a tough time, some of the injuries, and the suspension as well, especially with Dejan [Jakovic] being out,” said United coach Ben Olsen, referring to his other starting center back, who has missed the last five games with a right hamstring strain.
“There doesn’t seem to be any serious knee injury,” De Rosario said on Friday.
He is expected to travel with the team and will likely be a game-time decision.
If Jakovic isn’t healthy or sharp enough to return — he hasn’t played since Aug. 21 — Olsen must choose from a number of options to compensate for McDonald’s first absence in 14 consecutive matches since joining the team in June. The other half of the likely defensive pairing, rookie center back Ethan White, was also shaky against the Union.
Perry Kitchen, who played central defense earlier in the year but has held down the right side since McDonald’s arrival, said he’ll play anywhere he’s told.
“The older guys, veteran guys were saying this is the best part of the year,” said the 19-year-old rookie.
Left back Marc Burch could also slide into the middle, or midfielder Clyde Simms could shift back. But in each case, the moves force Olsen to utilize younger, lesser experienced personnel in the vacancies left behind.
“Taking lumps is part of this learning process for them,” Olsen said. “It doesn’t make it any easier on them and our staff and our fans, but overall, we’re OK. We’re in a spot, still, to make the playoffs, and that’s where we wanted to be at this point in the year.”
De Rosario, Hamid earn national team call-ups
Dwayne De Rosario has been called into the Canadian national team for a pair of World Cup qualifiers Oct. 8 at St. Lucia and against Puerto Rico in Toronto on Oct. 11. The latter game rules him out of D.C. United’s game at Vancouver on Oct. 12.
The U.S. national team, which called up D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid for the third time since August, also will play two friendlies next week — Oct. 8 against Honduras in Miami and Oct. 11 against Ecuador at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey. Hamid is expected to be available for the first match but rejoin United for the Vancouver trip.
D.C. midfielder Andy Najar, who made his international debut earlier this month, was a surprising omission from the Honduran camp.
