Posted on October 9, 2008

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It’s sink or swim for United’s reserves in Costa Rica

With more injuries piling up and their MLS playoff hopes in peril, DC United sent a marginally experienced 16-man squad to the Monster Cave in San Jose, Costa Rica for the away leg of their CONCACAF Champions League series with CD Saprissa.

Saprissa were clearly the better side in their 2-0 whitewash of United at RFK Stadium over three weeks ago. United were left shorthanded for the final 55-minutes of the match following a marginal red card to Devon McTavish for an altercation with Alexander Robinson.

Perhaps with white flag in hand, United boss Tom Soehn decided to leave many of his pivotal players at home to rest or nurse injuries. Soehn took 9 rookies in tow to play the Purple Monsters in one of the most volatile environments in CONCACAF.

One of those rookies however, is defender Gonzalo Martinez, a former Colombian National Team veteran, who is the only player on the roster with significant experience in this type of venue.

Goalkeeper Zach Wells is the MLS veteran with just three years under his belt including a trip to Puntarenas, Costa Rica last year with the Houston Dynamo in their 1-0 loss to Puntarenas FC in a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal match. In that match, Wells replaced Pat Onstad after the starter injured his calf in the 18th minute and stopped a penalty kick shortly thereafter.

“That’s why we play soccer, to get into games like this and situations like this. Growing up you always dream about going and traveling and playing the best teams in the world”, said Wells.

“The first time is probably a shock”, Wells added. “After that, you learn to tune it out and just focus on the game. When you play these tough away matches, you just don’t want their fans to really drive them ahead and keep their momentum going. It’s important for us to get an early goal, or at least to stifle them as much as we can and take our chances going forward and keep the crowd out of it, a non-factor.”

No American team has ever won at the Monster Cave, which also sports a Field Turf playing surface. The Costa Rican federation received special dispensation from FIFA to hold the first ever World Cup qualifier on the state of the art surface. United however, have not fared well on the artificial turf this year, losing all three matches they have played by a 9-1 combined score.

“It would be pretty cool if the DC young guns can go down there and steal three points”, said smiling midfielder Joe Vide, who has only 35 professional games under his belt after being drafted 5th overall by New York in 2006.

“I think it will be another good opportunity for us to get out there and get some games under our belt. Were traveling a little light, we’ve got a lot of injuries, but I think it’s going to be a good experience for us.

“I know its a tough place. They’ve got Field Turf, good fans, and it’s right in the middle of San Jose, added Wells. I kind of know a little bit of what to expect, with our experiences in Jamaica, Mexico and Honduras before.

“We’ve played in hostile situations before, and to be honest, that’s the kind of stuff I live for. I love playing in those situations a bunch of fans yelling at you, throwing whatever they have at you, batteries and piss, and whatever else. I think that’s’ the best environment to play in.”

In such an environment Soehn, who is making the trip along with assistant Chad Ashton, will need to maintain his team’s composure. Assistant coach Mark Simpson stayed behind to prepare the remaining players for Sunday’s match at Houston. Soehn, Ashton and several of the players will fly directly to Houston after the match while the others will come back to Washington.

“There’s a lot of things that go on. We’ve been in a lot of those environments. Nothing will shock me”, said Soehn with a sheepish smile. “I just think it’s a great experience, especially for the young guys, to play in that environment and understand what it’s like. They’re going to learn a lot.”

With the injury bug hitting United again, Soehn has been forced to rely on these younger players for the remainder of the season.

Fred is now out for the remainder of the regular season with a hamstring injury which came a day after Marcelo Gallardo was diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain of the Medial Collateral Ligament in his left knee.

Luciano Emilio (hamstring) is doubtful for Sunday’s match and Jaime Moreno, who has not trained all week due to swelling in his knee that was drained last week, is serving the second game of his two-game red card suspension for elbowing a Dallas player during their September 28th match in Dallas. Morenos appeal was denied on Tuesday.

“It’s not even worth talking about. It’s kind of been the forte for the last few months. You can’t dwell on it. You just have to move forward and make sure that you’re organized, manufacture goals other ways, and make sure that now the team comes together even more not just for next season but for this season”, said a frustrated Soehn regarding the injuries.

He is keenly aware however that these matches afford him and the club the opportunity to look at these young players for the immediate and long term future.

“Theres’ plenty of guys that are going to play an important role in the next three games yet. Obviously, the result didnt go the way we wanted it to the other night, but a lot of results went our way so we’re right in the same situation we were.

“We can still control what happens to us. We have to go out and now make sure that we do the things we need to win ballgames. A lot of those guys are going to have a big impact on that”, Soehn continued.

Gallardo’s return in the 3-0 loss at home to Chivas last Saturday brought significant energy and quality to the side until a horrific gaffe by goalkeeper Louis Crayton and a defender gave former United player, Alecko Eskandarian perhaps the easiest goal of his career in the 35th minute.

United was clearly the better side until the goal; moving the ball crisply and creating decent opportunities. Fred had a very good opportunity early on but chose to pass instead of taking a shot and Santino Quaranta got into dangerous positions but could not put the ball away.

“When you lose some of the creativity from the players that normally make plays for you, you have to come up with different ways, whether it be set pieces, defending better, winning balls higher; all the little things that are going to create quality chances”, said Soehn.

“We have to start believing in ourselves. I’ve always said winning’s a habit, but so is losing. We’ve got to break that habit right now”, he added. “No matter what happens, if a break goes against us, we have to find a way to now get through that. That’s something that we’re going to have to do together, not one guy, as a team. We have to stand by each other and make sure we get through this stretch.”

Tagged with: Alexander Robinson, Altercation, Concacaf Champions Cup, Concacaf Champions League, DC United, Devon Mctavish, Flag In Hand, Goalkeeper, Houston Dynamo, Man Squad, Pat Onstad, Penalty Kick, Peril, Puntarenas Costa Rica, Rookies, San Jose Costa Rica, Saprissa, White Flag, Whitewash, Zach Wells

It’s sink or swim for United’s reserves in Costa Rica

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