The players are admit they’re run down, the injuries are starting to take their toll, and the hot, muggy conditions don’t help.
But even if they aren’t playing with their usual free-flowing, attacking style, D.C. United is still producing results, showing remarkable resolve to grind out two 1-0 shutouts last week.
“Sometimes, the soccer is not great,” said United coach Peter Nowak after United’s fifth win in seven matches and third victory of the year over Kansas City in the rain on Saturday night. “This is not what we’re looking for, but you have to fight through it with running, fighting, scratching, grabbing. The last two games weren’t easy, so if you win the games, close them down. Of course it’s going to be nice if you win 3-, 4-0, but we’re not there, yet.”
“(We are) very tired, I think everyone can see that,” said forward Jaime Moreno. Despite being held without a first-half goal Saturday for the first time in nine matches, Moreno needed a mere 40 seconds after play resumed following a second-half weather delay to score the game’s only goal.
Missing veterans like Nick Rimando (leg contusion), Jamil Walker (lower back injury) and Alecko Eskandarian (MCL strain) will be a true test of United’s depth. But D.C. has no reason right now to believe it isn’t the best team in Major League Soccer.
“We knew were the better team [Saturday],” said goalkeeper Troy Perkins, who equaled his season-high with six saves and earned his league-leading fifth clean sheet against Kansas City. “We knew we wanted to win, not just settle for one point or no points. We made that early and said, ‘Let’s just go out and take it.’”
