As many as 10 players were out late last week
D.C. United got away from soccer last weekend — without a game on the schedule, the players were given a three-day break — but the team can’t seem to shake the injuries or the concerns over their dreadful start to the season.
Forward Danny Allsopp and defender Julius James are the latest to join United’s casualty list, which claimed as many as 10 players late last week from D.C.’s 26-man roster. At least starters Juan Manuel Pe?a and Clyde Simms have returned to practice, along with reserve defender Barry Rice, giving United some hope that they can turn the corner during a make-or-break stretch that begins Wednesday.
“I don’t think it’s desperation,” said midfielder Santino Quaranta. “I think we just got to a find a way to win, and it just changes a lot. The more you keep losing, the tougher it gets. I don’t think it’s going to get any easier, even with a win.”
FC Dallas’ visit also is the first of four United matches in 11 days, but as a U.S. Open Cup qualifier, it doesn’t bear as much as importance as the three regular-season matches that immediately follow. D.C.’s 0-4 start in league play matches the worst in franchise history.
With that in mind, Wednesday would be ideal to hand 19-year-old goalkeeper Bill Hamid his first MLS start. But United also could use the chance to bolster the fractured confidence of starting netminder Troy Perkins.
“Troy had a very good week of training last week, and he’s got his confidence back,” said United head coach Curt Onalfo. “It’s just a matter of, do you utilize this game as a springboard to help as we get into these three games in one week with MLS? Or do you give him a rest? Those are things that we’re evaluating, and I’m not going to reveal my cards right now the day before the game.”
Wednesday’s winner will face either Real Salt Lake or San Jose for a berth in the tournament itself. United reached the final of the 2009 edition, losing at home to Seattle, and beat second-tier Charleston to capture the trophy in 2008.
