United’s traditional control game failed them in 2009 because the team focused too narrowly on central attack and became predictable. The control game is best defeated by quick counterattacks, but becomes vulnerable to even more varied attacks if the side attempting to maintain control loses its own discipline and leaves spaces within its midfield.

The opponent gains the initiative since defenders need to cover slashing runs into vulnerable space which takes some of their focus off runs into space behind them. Coach Curt Onalfo’s choice to play double holding midfielders, Clyde Simms and Kurt Morsink, has helped to deny that option to opponents.

That adjustment has allowed United to play reasonably well defensively despite a lack of running speed in central defense. Simms’ and Morsink’s control create just enough certainty and deflect enough forays that DC can keep opponents at bay for much of the game.

The several recent quotes from Carey Talley in which he explains how Jordan Graye has learned to turn wing attacks wide to delay or deny runs in behind him illustrate how a mature defense can work with strong midfield support.

However, defensive support comes with a price, an anemic attack. The players who have expressed opinions agree that service from midfield is the primary weakness. With a rash of injuries, the team lacks just enough talent to deny DC that two-way midfield that any good team must have.

In the away game Saturday at Houston, Onalfo could continue the emphasis on defense, hoping that his minions can hold Houston scoreless well into the second half and then switch to an offensive style by replacing either central midfielder with an attacker.

Instead, I think he should go for attack from the start. The 2010 MLS postseason is sufficiently out of sight that the team should focus on the Open Cup in its stead, while building a system that will pay dividends later this year and next.

If Morsink or Simms is replaced by an attacking midfielder like Andy Najar, the wide midfielders will have to be very disciplined and work both ways consistently to support the center. Midfield work rate will become the key to the game.

Substitutions should focus there, with Jaime Moreno (for Najar), Simms or Morsink (for the other), and Boyzz Khumalo, Chris Pontius, or Brandon Barklage for a wide midfielder.

Houston is a flexible well-coached team even with several top players missing. Dom Kinnear has a strong system which allows his players to slot into it comfortably. Still, he will probably plan for United to try the semi-bunker and counter strategy which is classic for an away team.

A change in emphasis should put Kinnear’s team slightly off their own plan, but they will adjust fairly quickly. In essence, Onalfo would be gambling on two things, the possibility of an early goal before Houston adjusts and the ability of his own side to maintain enough discipline throughout the game within United’s changed midfield.

In the short term, the switch in emphasis is very much a gamble. For the longer term, it is almost essential if United is to improve its record and also be competitive in the Open Cup.

In the next month and one half, United plays very few MLS games and only the Open Cup on 2 June has specific significance. By that game, Tino Quaranta and Chris Pontius should be solidly back in form. By the time MLS returns to full swing, United should have Dejan Jakovic back on defense and may have acquired the creative midfielder who could drive a more potent attack.

The MLS season presents little hope of fulfillment, but the remainder of the season may well see a stronger side and even an Open Cup trophy by the end.

United’s traditional control game failed them in 2009 because the team focused too narrowly on central attack and became predictable. The control game is best defeated by quick counterattacks, but becomes vulnerable to even more varied attacks if the side attempting to maintain control loses its own discipline and leaves spaces within its midfield.

The opponent gains the initiative since defenders need to cover slashing runs into vulnerable space which takes some of their focus off runs into space behind them. Coach Curt Onalfo’s choice to play double holding midfielders, Clyde Simms and Kurt Morsink, has helped to deny that option to opponents.

That adjustment has allowed United to play reasonably well defensively despite a lack of running speed in central defense. Simms’ and Morsink’s control create just enough certainty and deflect enough forays that DC can keep opponents at bay for much of the game.

The several recent quotes from Carey Talley in which he explains how Jordan Graye has learned to turn wing attacks wide to delay or deny runs in behind him illustrate how a mature defense can work with strong midfield support.

However, defensive support comes with a price, an anemic attack. The players who have expressed opinions agree that service from midfield is the primary weakness. With a rash of injuries, the team lacks just enough talent to deny DC that two-way midfield that any good team must have.

In the away game Saturday at Houston, Onalfo could continue the emphasis on defense, hoping that his minions can hold Houston scoreless well into the second half and then switch to an offensive style by replacing either central midfielder with an attacker.

Instead, I think he should go for attack from the start. The 2010 MLS postseason is sufficiently out of sight that the team should focus on the Open Cup in its stead, while building a system that will pay dividends later this year and next.

If Morsink or Simms is replaced by an attacking midfielder like Andy Najar, the wide midfielders will have to be very disciplined and work both ways consistently to support the center. Midfield work rate will become the key to the game.

Substitutions should focus there, with Jaime Moreno (for Najar), Simms or Morsink (for the other), and Boyzz Khumalo, Chris Pontius, or Brandon Barklage for a wide midfielder.

Houston is a flexible well-coached team even with several top players missing. Dom Kinnear has a strong system which allows his players to slot into it comfortably. Still, he will probably plan for United to try the semi-bunker and counter strategy which is classic for an away team.

A change in emphasis should put Kinnear’s team slightly off their own plan, but they will adjust fairly quickly. In essence, Onalfo would be gambling on two things, the possibility of an early goal before Houston adjusts and the ability of his own side to maintain enough discipline throughout the game within United’s changed midfield.

In the short term, the switch in emphasis is very much a gamble. For the longer term, it is almost essential if United is to improve its record and also be competitive in the Open Cup.

In the next month and one half, United plays very few MLS games and only the Open Cup on 2 June has specific significance. By that game, Tino Quaranta and Chris Pontius should be solidly back in form. By the time MLS returns to full swing, United should have Dejan Jakovic back on defense and may have acquired the creative midfielder who could drive a more potent attack.

The MLS season presents little hope of fulfillment, but the remainder of the season may well see a stronger side and even an Open Cup trophy by the end.

United’s traditional control game failed them in 2009 because the team focused too narrowly on central attack and became predictable. The control game is best defeated by quick counterattacks, but becomes vulnerable to even more varied attacks if the side attempting to maintain control loses its own discipline and leaves spaces within its midfield.

The opponent gains the initiative since defenders need to cover slashing runs into vulnerable space which takes some of their focus off runs into space behind them. Coach Curt Onalfo’s choice to play double holding midfielders, Clyde Simms and Kurt Morsink, has helped to deny that option to opponents.

That adjustment has allowed United to play reasonably well defensively despite a lack of running speed in central defense. Simms’ and Morsink’s control create just enough certainty and deflect enough forays that DC can keep opponents at bay for much of the game.

The several recent quotes from Carey Talley in which he explains how Jordan Graye has learned to turn wing attacks wide to delay or deny runs in behind him illustrate how a mature defense can work with strong midfield support.

However, defensive support comes with a price, an anemic attack. The players who have expressed opinions agree that service from midfield is the primary weakness. With a rash of injuries, the team lacks just enough talent to deny DC that two-way midfield that any good team must have.

In the away game Saturday at Houston, Onalfo could continue the emphasis on defense, hoping that his minions can hold Houston scoreless well into the second half and then switch to an offensive style by replacing either central midfielder with an attacker.

Instead, I think he should go for attack from the start. The 2010 MLS postseason is sufficiently out of sight that the team should focus on the Open Cup in its stead, while building a system that will pay dividends later this year and next.

If Morsink or Simms is replaced by an attacking midfielder like Andy Najar, the wide midfielders will have to be very disciplined and work both ways consistently to support the center. Midfield work rate will become the key to the game.

Substitutions should focus there, with Jaime Moreno (for Najar), Simms or Morsink (for the other), and Boyzz Khumalo, Chris Pontius, or Brandon Barklage for a wide midfielder.

Houston is a flexible well-coached team even with several top players missing. Dom Kinnear has a strong system which allows his players to slot into it comfortably. Still, he will probably plan for United to try the semi-bunker and counter strategy which is classic for an away team.

A change in emphasis should put Kinnear’s team slightly off their own plan, but they will adjust fairly quickly. In essence, Onalfo would be gambling on two things, the possibility of an early goal before Houston adjusts and the ability of his own side to maintain enough discipline throughout the game within United’s changed midfield.

In the short term, the switch in emphasis is very much a gamble. For the longer term, it is almost essential if United is to improve its record and also be competitive in the Open Cup.

In the next month and one half, United plays very few MLS games and only the Open Cup on 2 June has specific significance. By that game, Tino Quaranta and Chris Pontius should be solidly back in form. By the time MLS returns to full swing, United should have Dejan Jakovic back on defense and may have acquired the creative midfielder who could drive a more potent attack.

The MLS season presents little hope of fulfillment, but the remainder of the season may well see a stronger side and even an Open Cup trophy by the end.

She seemed to have made the right choice.

Coming back in both sets against fifth seeded Elena Dementieva, 6-4, 6-4, the Serbian was able to advance to her first finals in her short career.

“The match is not over until it’s over, said Jankovic, who will face Serena Williams tomorrow night, weather permitting. “Until the end you are out there competing. You’re playing every point. So until it’s finished, you never know what’s going to happen.”

Well it did happen for her and Jankovic will now try to finish off a great US Open. Part of the reason she was so successful this year is health. A rash of injuries slowed her for most of the season, but not she feels like she is at the top of her game.

“It really takes off ‑‑ it really took me ‑‑ you know, I wasn’t thinking about, you know, tennis,” she said. “I was thinking, ‘Oh, my God, this is hurting. This is bothering me.’ So I was really struggling and really not playing my tennis and not thinking about my game. And now, first time, you know, this year, Grand Slam, I’m healthy and, you know, I really want to do well. I’m really focused, I really believe in myself, and I’m really going one match at a time.

“I’m really trying my best out there, and so I’m motivated. So I’m happy to be in the final for the first time.”

Her on the court play is showing it too. Although Dementieva went up 4-2 in the first set, Jankovic was able to come back and win and she was down in the second as well, but was able to ice it by serving at a 75 percent rate on the first try, having only one double fault and only 22 unforced errors.

Dementieva, on the other hand shot a 63 percent first serve with six double faults and 42 unforced errors.

Part of the reason she says she was so successful was because the injuries made her mentally tough, which forced her to step it up a notch.

“Mentally, I feel I’m a lot stronger, because I really believe in myself,” she said. “I really want to do this, and, you know, I think it’s about time for me to make that step forward to break that barrier and go a long way.

“I want to win a Grand Slam, and this is why I came here. Not having injuries, not having some problems, is giving me a good opportunity to be here, so I’m really thankful for that.”

And she may be thankful her opponent is Williams, who beat Dinara Safina in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. The fourth seeded Williams will have a fight on her hands with Jankovic as the two will face off tomorrow night. The winner of the finals will be then ranked No. 1 in the world.

One other battle will be the weather. Hurricane Hanna is coming up the coast, which may wash out tomorrow’s events. If that happens, then Sunday the Men’s Semifinals will start at 1 p.m. with third seeded Novak Djokovic taking on second seeded Roger Federer. That will be followed by top seed Rafael Nadal trying to continue his fine play against sixth ranked Andy Murray.

The women will follow at 9 p.m. on Sunday and the Men’s Finals will be Monday at 5 p.m.