DC United Preview 6/9/2006

LA Galaxy vs. DC United
Home Depot Center, Carson, California
8pm EST Sunday, 6/11/2006

DC United take their act back on the road after a busy week that saw them take 9 points off of Kansas City, Columbus and New England, scoring 9 goals and allowing only 2. They moved 10 points ahead of Kansas City in the Eastern Conference and 3 points ahead of FC Dallas in the Supporters Shield standings. This will be their only trip to LA to face the Galaxy this season, having to face Chivas at HDC in September.

The Galaxy, the defending MLS Cup chumps, are currently attempting to break the MLS record for consecutive loses in a season, currently holding at 7 after a 2-1 "home" loss to Chivas USA last night. New coach Frank Yallop changed up the Galaxy system, but they still had trouble with finishing last night. LA are currently last in MLS with 7 points.

This is one of those matches that United have classically screwed up. The United players have got to shake their habit of not getting ready for every match. Once MLS clubs begin to truly take every game as if they were playing Brazil or Chelsea, they will be better prepared and perform better on the field. Clubs in South America and Europe have this mentality that if they lose more than 3 matches a season, then they will not have any type of a successful season. MLS clubs need that mind set. They must go out for blood every week. United must do that, especially against the poorer clubs in the league, LA being the worst right now.

Even with that said, I feel that United will leave LA with the 3 points. They are coming off of a full weeks rest, and they are beaming with confidence. They are playing a squad that is having problems finishing or even creating chances on goal. They are playing a club that just played a match last night and will be on 2 days rest. They are playing a club that is trying to learn a new system from their new coach, a system that they will still be sorting out at kick-off.

As long as United maintains its defensive composure and continues to play its ball control attacking format, nothing I have seen from the Galaxy this season, including the match last night that I stayed up to watch, makes me think that Yallops boys will be able to get any points Sunday. Nowak has got to get his guys on track.

Prediction: LA Galaxy 0 - 3 DC United