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US: MLS Preview - DC United v Real Salt Lake [Wed Aug 31st, 2005]
DC United (11-8-5, 38 pts) v Real Salt Lake (5-14-4, 19 pts)
When: 7:30pm EST, Wednesday, August 31st, 2005
Where: RFK Stadium, Washington, DC
After a solid July and a great start to August, United look to end the month on the right foot after two consecutive league losses. Who better to start a new streak against than RSL?
DC will be without Dema Kovalenko after he was ejected for standard Dema behavior on Saturday, but they will welcome back Bryan Namoff from suspension. Santino Quaranta will also miss the match due to national team duty.
The Black and Reds' primary concern should be fatigue, as this will be their fifth game since the 20th with the US Open Cup last week, and the Hall of Fame game on top of MLS play.
Reports out of Salt Lake are that Clint Mathis looks great in camp for his return this week, but we’ve been hearing good things about Cleetus all season. We’ll believe them when we see them.
What everyone should be looking for is how well the team works together with Mathis, and recent additions Robert Scarlett, Adolfo Gregorio, Gustavo Cabrera, and the most recent addition of Melvin Tarley from the Minnesota Thunder.
Cabrera will miss the match, as he is away with the Guatemalan national team. RSL’s additions may not get them to the playoffs this season, but they’ll make it tougher on everyone else from here on out.
DC are used to shuffling midfielders at this point, so the loss of Kovalenko shouldn’t be a problem. Quaranta’s absence is more of a concern right now, and with Freddy Adu healthy again, DC should be fine in that area.
As always, the X-factor will be Clint Mathis. Will his return be a distraction, or will his new team-mates bring back the Mathis of old? We wouldn’t count on it, as Cleetus has been full of empty promises all season. Expect Salt Lake to make this harder then expected on United, but look for DC to come out on top in the end.
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