D.C. United looks to stay on front foot in SCCL

Published on

Miguel Aguilar (pictured) and D.C. United will look to take sole possession of first place in Group H of the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, when it hosts Montego Bay United on August 25, 2015. (Photo: Omar Argumedo Sanchez)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Before traveling to Panama City to face Arabe Unido in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL) last week, D.C. United midfielder Chris Pontius called it the most important Group H match.

But now that United has earned the desired result -- a 1-0 victory at the Estadio Maracana -- it can’t afford to tone down the intensity with Jamaica’s Montego Bay United visiting on Tuesday.

“Getting this result puts us in a good position, but we still have three games to play,” said United assistant coach Chad Ashton, who filled in for suspended manager Ben Olsen. “We know the job is not done, that we have a lot further to go with this competition. You can’t take anything for granted.”

Indeed, United sits in ideal position, level atop the table with Arabe Unido, but having a game in hand.

D.C.’s next two SCCL games come at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, where it has only lost twice this calendar year. Despite that positive statistic, though, a worrying habit has developed recently.

United conceded the first goal in its fourth straight home match Saturday and -- after rallying to win the other three -- fell 2-0 to the San Jose Earthquakes in domestic play.

“It is definitely not healthy,” said D.C. defender Kofi Opare. “It is definitely something that we need to stop or eradicate going forward, especially during this stage of the season.”

And D.C. will be facing a dangerous combination in Montego Bay United, a side that has no reason to be conservative following 3-0 loss at Arabe Unido to open group play, and one that has far more quality than that result suggests.

The Jamaicans equaled the Panamanians in shots in that first encounter, and commanded possession and passing statistics. If they can combine that kind of quality with better finishing against D.C., all teams in the group would be even on three points, with Montego Bay having two home matches remaining. Additionally, newly appointed head coach Tim Hankinson -- an American -- has great familiarity with MLS teams.

That’s why D.C. captain Markus Halsti is more concerned about accumulating points than turning on the style, especially after his team escaped some narrow Arabe Unido misses, before hitting the back of the net through Miguel Aguilar in the 85th minute.

“Of course really happy about the win,” he said. “It wasn’t that good as we would [have] hoped, but a win is a win and that’s most important, and the second half we were a little bit better in the game.”

NOTES: