Despite being down played by D.C. United technical director Dave Kasper earlier this week, Robert Ssejjemba’s hat trick for United in its reserve match last weekend against Real Salt Lake apparently made a lasting impression.
United officials announced Friday the team has signed the 26-year-old Ugandan on loan from the minor-league Richmond Kickers for the remainder of the season.
“We have another option up top, considering that [forward Alecko Eskandarian] is right now healthy, and we do not have too many options,” said United head coach Peter Nowak. “I think Robert showed some promise during the [USL second division] season and also during the reserve game last Sunday against Salt Lake City.”
Nowak also remains concerned about the health of forward Jaime Moreno, who has several nagging injuries and came off the field for a rare substitution in Wednesday’s draw at New England.
United can clinch the Eastern Conference’s top playoff seed with a draw or win Sunday. That would give both Eskandarian and Moreno time to heal and take the urgency out of United’s final four regular-season matches, including the finale against Chicago, which bounced D.C. from the playoffs last season. United has a 1-1-1 record against the Fire this season.
“They always play us tough. We just got to go in there with the right mentality. We were unlucky last time,” said midfielder Clyde Simms of United’s 3-0 loss in the U.S. Open Cup less than two weeks ago. “If we stick to our game plan, I think we’ll do just fine.”
D.C. United (14-3-10) at Chicago Fire (10-9-8)
» When: Sunday, 4 p.m.
» Where: Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Ill.
» TV: ESPN2
» Radio: WMET-1160AM, WACA-1540 AM
