No Weirdness

When many looked at the schedule when it came out, a good percentage would have looked at the game in Kansas (it’s a reference back to when Ray Hudson was coach) as a difficult spot to get any points.  With it being the middle game of a three game in eight day stretch and on the road.  Many wrote it off.  But once again, this United team rises up to challenges. 

Tommy Soehn didn’t even bring Fred, Ben Olsen, or Marc Burch to Kansas.  The starting five man midfield had four players in their first year of MLS, three of them true rookies and one making his first MLS start.  Something the team has mentioned on and off over the past couple of seasons was making sure that the players’ minutes are managed so nobody gets run into the ground.  The starting linup showed that.

The lineup also proved it could play.

Playing in Kansas isn’t easy.  They play in a converted baseball stadium (imagine that!).  But their field is quite small.  The small dimensions of the field are actually reminicient of San Jose’s Spartan Stadium.  Well, except that Kansas doesn’t have large concrete walls on either side of their field.  But the small field gives the game a ping-pong effect as there’s a lot possesion changes after only one touch.  But United matched a very good Kansas side.

United took the lead in the first half behind Rodney Wallace’s second goal of the season after beating Kevin Hartman (MLS Cup 1999 dribbling champion) to a lose ball…..and likely the lowest velocity goal in United history.

The second half provied United the opportunity to keep managing players, Pontius came off in favor of Emilio.  But the small field meant that a very small mistake could wind up in the back of the net as Wallace was dispossessed near the area and Josh Wolff quickly headed a cross to the near post. 

The standings will show a 1-1 tie for United, a fair result, and a fair result considering it’s a conference foe on the road.  But more importantly, United got to rest Ben Olsen.  More accurately they got to rest his ankles, which took a beating in 50-some minutes in the Meadowlands, and the Dallas game last weekend.  Also Janovic and Pontius got some time off.   But there’s little time to recover because Toronto FC is coming on Saturday.  Look for some other players to get some rest, though as players like Wallace haven’t really gotten a break this year.

That ‘Hissing’ Sound you hear.

Quick.  What’ll be our shortest roadtrip in 2010?  Thankfully, it’s no longer New York/New Jersey.  It’ll be Chester, PA.  Just a fairly quick (depending on the whims of PennDOT) jaunt up I-95.  They’re supposed to have a big unveiling of their logos and colors.  Then someone forgot to tell some dude in an I. T. department, so …..there you go.

Philadelphia Union.  At least it doesn’t have the seemingly obligatory FC/SC preceeding or following their name.  (Next season we’ll rip them for alternative names….but let them bask in their glory this week) And at least the Sons of Ben have something to actually cheer for.  Welcome to the league folks, but we’ll be glad to be Union-busters, and go into their stadium to tred on them.  We’ve got a year to go watch Snakes on a Plane a couple of dozen times to cultivate the Samuel L. Jackson lines into chants and songs.  Get to work….

Sadly though, it’s another example of a team that didn’t exist a couple of years ago coming into existence with along with a stadium, while United still uses RFK.  Get behind the team and attend the rally on Saturday to let lawmakers and business-folks know that you support DC United and their need to get a new facility.  C’mon……freakin’ Chester can get this done. Why can’t we?