DC United returns to league play at Columbus Crew tonight

July 4, 11:11 AMWashington Soccer ExaminerEd Morgans

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After a 2-0 win over the Ocean City Barons of the PDL on Tuesday night in US Open Cup play, DC United returns to league action tonight when it visits the Columbus Crew for a 7 p.m. kickoff (ESPN2, don't worry, college baseball season is over). 

United haven't played a league match since a 3-0 loss at Colorado on June 20, but in that time, have managed to stay in first place in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference with a 5-3-8 record and 23 points. The Crew find themselves tied for second with Toronto FC, just a point back of the lead. The Chicago Fire are fourth on 21 points, so every point United can grab against its Eastern rivals is critical. 

What United won't be tonight is full strength. Forwards Luciano Emilio and Jaime Moreno are both expected to miss the game due to injury, while midfielder/forward Santino Quaranta (USA) and defender Dejan Jakovic (Canada) are both away from the club on international duty, playing in the Gold Cup. The Gold Cup kicked off last night with Canada defeated Jamaica, 1-0. Jakovic started and played the entire match for the Canadians. In the night's other match, El Salvador surprised Costa Rica, 2-1. 

With so many absences, United must continue to rely on some of its first-year players to come through if the club is to get a result against an improving Columbus side. The Crew are 4-1-1 in their last six league matches, but were eliminated from the Open Cup on Tuesday night, falling to the Rochester Rhinos on penalty kicks. United is likely to call on Chris Pontius and Ange N'Silu at forward, and may need Andrew Jacobson in the midfield if head coach Tom Soehn decides on a 3-5-2 formation. He also has the option of playing four in the back with Devon McTavish (a veteran by comparison) and Greg Janicki in the middle. 

Solid play in the defense and the midfield will be key against a Columbus team that features Guillermo Barros Schelotto - who leads the league in goals with 10 and is clinical in finding teammates for scoring opportunities off set pieces. He alone can turn the game in Columbus' favor. 

United have no time to rest after tonight's match, as it will host the Harrisburg City Islanders on Tuesday night at the SoccerPlex in the next round of the Open Cup. United hasn't played a road game in the Open Cup since 2007, when it was eliminated in its first match of the tournament at Harrisburg. 

DC UNITED at COLUMBUS CREW

VITALS: 7 p.m. tonight on ESPN2 from Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. 

SERIES: This is the 46th regular-season meeting between the clubs, with United holding a slim 21-17-7 advantage. The series has produced 136 goals, 70 scored by United. In Columbus, the Crew hold a 12-7-4 advantage, outscoring United, 34-22.

LAST MEETING: Columbus ended any hopes United had of making the 2008 MLS Cup playoffs with a 1-0 win at Crew Stadium on October 26, the final day of the regular season. Having been given an opportunity to win and possibly get in thanks to a lopsided New York loss to Chicago, United never could find the target and the winning margin came on Brad Evans' goal in the 77th minute.

LEADING SCORERS: All of United's leading scorers are out tonight. In the goals category, Emilio and Moreno lead with five each. Quaranta leads the club with six assists. Schelotto leads Columbus and the league in goals with 10, while he and two other players are tied for top honors with three assists.

ON THE SIDELINE: For United, Emilio and Moreno are out (though Emilio is technically listed as Questionable), while midfielder Fred is likely to return, listed as Probable for tonight's match. Jakovic and Quaranta are away on national team duty. For Columbus, midfielder Adam Moffat is out. Defender Chad Marshall and midfielder Robbie Rogers are away with the USA for the Gold Cup. 

IN THE MIDDLE: Baldomero Toledo is tonight's referee. United are 2-0-1 with Toledo in the middle, but the games have not been without controversy. In a 1-0 win over Houston at RFK early in the season, Toledo sent off Moreno for a tackle just minutes after the forward had entered the match as a substitute. In a 2-1 win over Chicago at RFK, Toledo gave each side a somewhat dubious penalty. All three of the United matches that Toledo previously officiated were in Washington. Chris Strickland and Bill Dittmar run the lines tonight. Mikael Lundqvist is the fourth official. 

UNITED FACT: United hasn't won a league away match since their comeback win at the New York Red Bulls on April 26. 

CREW FACT: Columbus hasn't lost a league home match since dropping a 2-0 decision to San Jose on June 7, 2008. 

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