It’s the team nobody wants to play, unbeaten in its last five games, boasting arguably Major League Soccer’s most passionate fans and its toughest home venue, where visiting opponents have scored only once this season.
For years that team was D.C. United. But mired in its worst start since its inaugural campaign 12 years ago and with pressure mounting, United (2-6-0) has the added task of being a heavy underdog tonight at BMO Field against new league darling Toronto FC (3-2-2).
“We’re getting a lot of criticism right now, all the way across the board,” said United head coach Tom Soehn. “It’s brought us closer together. We have to count on ourselves now.”
D.C. has done its best to close ranks, but slumping forward Luciano Emilio, who hasn’t scored since United’s 4-1 trouncing of Toronto just under seven weeks ago, unloaded some of the blame he has carried for United’s current offensive woes (one goal in three games).
“I think we’re not getting enough service in the box to begin with for the forwards to have enough opportunities,” said Emilio, adding that the reason he was held out of United’s first eleven last weekend at Chivas USA was due to injury.
“I feel better now, and I expect to be in the starting lineup tomorrow night,” said Emilio.
A defeat tonight would be United’s first in four matches against Toronto since the Canadians entered the league last year and would match D.C.’s worst-ever start in 1996, when it went 2-7. United won MLS Cup that season, of course, and hasn’t lost four consecutive league matches since 2001.
“This game is very important for everybody, not just the players, but the coaches as well,” said United midfielder Santino Quaranta. “From the top to the bottom, everybody needs to figure out a way to win. I think that this game has potential to be — there are certain games that you look at on the schedule, and this game, right now, can be a season-changer.”
