While the Washington region enjoys what for most is an extended July 4th holiday weekend, D.C. United had its cut short, returning to training Sunday after three days off following last Wednesday’s 3-2 victory at Kansas City.
A number of United players spent much of those days together watching World Cup quarterfinal matches.
Coming off a 4-0-2 record in June, Eastern Conference-leading United (10-1-5) starts another busy stretch of four games in 11 days with an Independence Day visit to the home of Western Conference-leading F.C. Dallas on Tuesday.
“That’s how it is,” said midfielder Brian Carroll. “We’re just battling Dallas for the lead in MLS right now.”
With the heat and busy schedule, observers continue to look for rotation in United’s starting lineup. But D.C. has used the same starting 11 in the past two matches.
United is thrilled with Freddy Adu’s first goal and the improving fitness of Santino Quaranta and Alecko Eskandarian could also boost D.C.’s offense.
“We’ve been playing good together, certainly not our best,” said Carroll, “but good enough to get results and competitive to place ourselves in a position toward the end of games to win.”
