4 games. 11 days. Playoffs at stake. After an entire season spent teetering between contender and also-ran, that’s all that remains for D.C. United, who can solidify their turnaround under first-year head coach Ben Olsen or head empty-handed into the offseason for the fourth straight year. It all starts in 30 minutes in Vancouver against the Whitecaps, who are what D.C. United was last year – spoiler – although they have a better excuse, being an expansion franchise.
D.C. United lineup: Bill Hamid; Chris Korb, Brandon McDonald, Daniel Woolard, Marc Burch; Andy Najar, Perry Kitchen, Stephen King, Austin da Luz; Josh Wolff (capt.), Blake Brettschneider.
Subs: Charlie Davies, Joseph Ngwenya, Santino Quaranta, Kurt Morsink, Clyde Simms, Ethan White, Joe Willis.
No, Dwayne De Rosario didn’t make the trip after playing 90 minutes for Canada last night in Toronto.
It will be interesting to see if Kitchen’s move to defensive midfield comes on merit alone or in part to preserve Simms for the final stretch. Brettschneider’s start is his first since playing at Sporting Kansas City on Aug. 21, and only his ninth of the year. White is listed as probable, meaning just maybe he’s not quite ready. I would also suspect if Olsen were asked about Davies and Quaranta, he’d say they’ll get their chance in the coming days, but Quaranta’s been outplayed by da Luz, and Davies hasn’t been crisp partnering with Wolff.
