Defense is Key for United Against Chivas

It’s hard to say who has the tougher task tonight: the Dynamo against Pachuca or D.C. United against Chivas? You could argue in fact that it’s a tossup, since the Mexican teams are the defending champions of both Mexican First Division championships held in 2006. However, the focus may be a little different for the MLS clubs: while Houston struggled to score in its quarterfinal against Puntarenas, D.C. looked shaky in defense.

Given that D.C. managed seven goals over two games against Olimpia, there ought to be goals tonight at RFK Stadium, but as Ian Plenderleith of US Soccer Players points out that despite scoring great goals, “[United’s] defense still looked vulnerable, Bobby Boswell excepted.”

Indeed, Christian Gomez may not be allowed to venture as far forward tonight against Chivas, which will certainly get its fair share of chances. In any event, the stage is already set for what could be a memorable atmosphere: advance ticket sales are already more than 17,000 for the match at RFK Stadium, although the specter of another pro-Mexican audience on U.S. soil still looms over the match.