D.C. United has a good mix of youngsters and veterans heading into its season opener at the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday night (8:30 p.m).
Thirty-six-year old striker Jaime Moreno, who is still fit and playing well, leads United into its 15th Major League Soccer season. Moreno remains the only "original MLS player" who has played in every MLS season since the league's inception in 1996. The Bolivian, who is MLS's all-time record goal scorer with 131 goals, has had an impressive pre-season, scoring a bunch of goals in exhibition games. Moreno is likely to play as a withdrawn forward behind new signing Danny Allsopp and Chris Pontius.
In the off-season United added some key players, including the Australian Allsopp, and El Salvadoran midfielder Christian Castillo. Both players are expected to have an impact on the team which failed to make the playoffs the last two seasons. Allsopp scored plenty of goals at his previous clubs in England's lower divisions but how will the 31-year-old adapt to the speedy pace of MLS play and the stylish possession-game of United? The Aussie replaces Luciano Emilio, who notched ten goals in 27 games last season. Castillo arrives at the club to replace talented playmaker Christian Gomez who is now playing second division soccer in Miami. United youth academy player Andy Najar, 17, is also a new addition to the team, and there is already plenty of buzz about this young midfielder.
Much is expected this year of United's veteran midfielder Santino Quaranta, 25, who led the team in assists last year.
“Santino is a man on a mission,” said United's coach Curt Onalfo. “I've known him for a long time and coached him nine years ago and this is the fittest I've seen him. He is looking very sharp.”
Finally, United may have found stability in the goal keeping department with Troy Perkins back on the team. Since Perkins left D.C. a couple of seasons ago to try his luck in Norway the goalie position has been one of United's weakest links.
Saturday's game is the debut match for Onalfo, a former United player and an assistant coach. Onalfo was fired from the coaching job at Kansas City last season, so he has something to prove in taking United back to his old club in his first game.
Onalfo also added to his back line this week when the club signed 37 year-old center back Juan Manuel Peña, a Bolivian who spent 14 seasons in Spain’s La Liga. There are also reports that former United midfielder/defender Carey Talley has joined the team.
Sadly tonight's game is not on TV unless you pay for the MLS Direct Kick cable package, so the Pitch won't be watching the game. Send me your thoughts on the match.
D.C. United
NO. GOALKEEPERS COUNTRY GP/G
23 Troy Perkins USA 77/-
28 Billy Hamid USA 0/ -
31 Josh Wicks USA 25/-
NO. DEFENDERS COUNTRY GP/G
2 Julius James Trin. & Tobago 30/2
4 Marc Burch USA 82/2
5 Dejan Jakovic Canada 23/0
18 Devon McTavish USA 64/1
20 Lyle Adams USA 0/0
22 Rodney Wallace Costa Rica 28/3
26 Bryan Namoff USA 195/4
- Juan Manuel Pena Bolivia 0/0
- Carey Talley USA 299/19
NO. MIDFIELDERS COUNTRY GP/G
6 Kurt Morsick USA 47/0
12 Christian Castillo El Salvador 0/0
14 r-Andy Najar Honduras 0/0
19 Clyde Simms US /133/3
21 Tiyiselani Shipalane South Africa 0/0
24 Brandon Barklage USA 4/0
25 Santino Quaranta USA 132/24
NO. FORWARDS COUNTRY GP/G
7 Adam Cristman USA 51/10
9 Danny Allsopp Australia 0/0
13 Chris Pontius USA 28/4
17 Boyzzz Khumalo South Africa 19/1
99 Jaime Moreno Bolivia 319/131
(GP=regular-season games; G=regular-season goals.)
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