WASHINGTON -- D.C. United set off on an epic transcontinental road trip on Friday, leaving home behind for nearly a week as Tom Soehn and his undermanned side hunt for two crucial results despite grim shortages in key areas of the squad.
Heading to Los Angeles for a Saturday night showdown with the Galaxy, United can be forgiven for looking back fondly at their last meeting with David Beckham and company. The 4-1 win under the midday sun at RFK Stadium on June 29 marked the last time United won consecutive league matches, as well as the last time the Black-and-Red attack notched more than two goals in MLS play.
But most notably of all, it was essentially the last time Soehn was able to call on his first-choice lineup. Designated player Marcelo Gallardo would soon be sidelined by sports hernia troubles and he has not played a full 90 minutes since. Last week, United's No. 10 flew home to Argentina for a new rehabilitation regimen due to lingering complications from the injury, and will miss at least two more weeks of action.
His countryman Gonzalo Peralta has been similarly debilitated by health problems of his own (hamstring) and remains well short of match fitness. Ivan Guerrero (deep muscle bruise), Fred (hamstring) and Luciano Emilio (groin) are traveling at less than full speed, and captain Jaime Moreno has been left at home with a swollen knee, hoping to rejoin the team in Honduras for Wednesday's CONCACAF Champions League match against CD Marathon.
"You have to try to play though it," said Emilio, who gutted out the first 45 minutes of Tuesday's 2-0 CCL loss to Deportivo Saprissa despite being less than 100 percent fit. "We have to try to play well, hope everyone gets healthy soon and keep moving forward."
So youngsters and new arrivals will have to carry a far greater share of the responsibilities. Rookies Ryan Cordeiro and Craig Thompson started against Saprissa and are likely to see more action in the coming week, while Quavas Kirk, who earned his first start of the year against FC Dallas, and recent signing Boyzzz Khumalo are also expected to contribute.
"The next was me -- so who else you got?" said Soehn with a chuckle, discussing his young lineup on Tuesday. "No, they did well. They came in and competed. The soccer part is going to take a little dive, but we have to make sure that the competitive side is there and I thought those guys did a great job."
Khumalo has played a significant role in both matches played since his official signing last week, a pleasant surprise for someone who only expected to help out the reserve squad when he originally arrived in D.C.
"I was just supposed to play one [reserve] game and go home," said the South African, on loan from USL-2 side Pittsburgh Riverhounds. "But when I got here, they said 'OK, we like you, if you want to stay it's up to you.' So I decided to stay. I thought I could help the team, to be honest, because I saw some of the guys and I figured I could fit into this system easily."
Soehn admits that his coaching duties are largely dominated by a sort of triage at the moment, patching together a lineup as best he can, and that situation also creates new challenges for his players. Khumalo had barely been introduced to Moreno -- who'd just returned from international duty -- before the two were partnered together in his first match, last Saturday's 2-2 draw with FC Dallas. Then the South African was handed a different role on Tuesday, roaming United's right flank.
"I'd been playing with the reserves. I know most of the reserve guys but I don't know the first team," Khumalo said. "That was the first time for me to play with Moreno up top, so it's kind of hard. We didn't have that chemistry because he'd been gone and he just came back a couple days ago, and I had to adjust on how to play with him."
Cordeiro finds himself in a similar situation, having played on the left wing most of the season but more recently used as a striker. His hard work up top was one of the bright spots against Saprissa and he hopes to notch his first professional goal in the games ahead.
Meanwhile, Kirk might be particularly motivated to play a role against his former club on Saturday night. The pacy winger started 15 matches for the Galaxy over the past two seasons, only to find his opportunities more limited in D.C. He recognizes that United presently needs all the help he can offer, though, and in the days ahead the team will have to rely on the eagerness and endeavor of young legs like his.
"I never expected in LA to actually contribute as much as I did, which was a blessing, definitely," said the Generation adidas product. "To come out here, whenever they need me, wherever they need me, I'm going to play. It doesn't matter, I just love the game and whenever they want me on the field I'm going to be ready to play."
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