Forward’s pair of goals in debut display speed
Charlie Davies’ called his storybook return to competitive soccer the most special moment of his career.
But after scoring two goals in his D.C. United debut — a season-opening 3-1 win over Columbus — his teammates and coaches both had one word to describe the potential Davies has brought to both United (1-0-0) and Major League Soccer: “scary.”
“It could get scary,” said United coach Ben Olsen, who has little choice but to start Davies next weekend at New England. “You know, speed is real. It changes the game.”
It was speed that made Davies into a fearsome striker who was able to bypass MLS altogether coming out of Boston College, speed that made his future so bright in Europe — even in his short stint with Sochaux FC in France before his car accident — and speed that made him the hope of U.S. Soccer before the wreck robbed him of a spot at the 2010 World Cup.
Davies proved to himself — with the way he held off Crew defender Chad Marshall, then cut past charging goalkeeper Will Hesmer for his second goal Saturday — that after 18 months out of the game he has his speed again. Once the emotion and euphoria of his first match wear off, motivation will take over to prove the same to those who didn’t think it was possible.
“I think he’s had a lot of doubters, especially his club team in France,” United midfielder Dax McCarty said. “It’s sad that it came to him having to come back over here. But I think it’s the best thing for his career. I think he’s going to be an absolute force in MLS. I think we’ve seen about 75 percent of what Charlie Davies can be for this team. Once he gets back to his full form, it’s going to be scary. He’ll be one of the best forwards in the league.”
The trick for Davies will be to balance his determination and now overflowing self-confidence with the humbleness that landed him in tears after his first MLS match. His second will be equally emotional, a homecoming to the Boston area against the Revolution at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
“Being from that area and having so many friends and family … every game is going be an amazing experience, and I’m not going to take any game for granted,” Davies said. “I’m just looking forward to each game I can get out there and play.”
