DC United fans on the east coast might need to take a nap on Saturday afternoon to make sure
they stay up for the 11pm EST kickoff of the match between the East's and West's best, DC United
and Chivas USA.
In case you didn't know, Chivas are pretty good. Their 7-1-1 record is good for 22 points and an
eight point cushion on Seattle, who are 2nd in the West.
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We're back with MLS Statistical Analysis, this time looking at defense and goalkeeping.
First we'll look at defense. Think of it this way, Chivas' opponents have scored 3 goals.
Here's our data, organized alphabetically by team (games, goals, shots, shots on goal, record,
points I eliminated fouls because the data would be the same) all stats as of Thursday morning:
From that, this, sorted by PPG (goals per game, shots per game, percentage of shots on goal,
percentage of shots that result in goals, percentage of shots on goal resulting in goals, points
per game):
Chivas are far and away the premier team in the league in the overall standings, 8 points clear
of 2nd place DC United.
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I did not get to see a minute of the DC United match on Saturday. Instead of our usual recapping
here, it's time for the first installment this year of MLS Statistical Analysis.
Here's the data we're working with, organized alphabetically by team (click to enlarge):
From left to right: games, shots, shots on goal, fouls committed, fouls suffered, and then
there's the record/points.
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Tonight sees DC United travel to Kansas City, Kansas to face the Wizards. Having just
played on Saturday, it's a match on short rest, and we know that we can't expect to see all of the
familiar faces in the starting lineup. Fred, Ben Olsen, and Marc Burch all stayed home from the
trip, With that in mind, I'd expect to see the following lineup:
GK: Kocic
D: Namoff, Janicki, Jakovic
M: Wallace, Simms, Gomez, Jacobsen, Pontius
F: Emilio, Quaranta
Avery John is a possibility in the back, pushing Jakovic to the middle for Janicki, and Jaime
Moreno would be the first attacking option off the bench.
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With DC United's comeback 2-1 win over FC Dallas in the books, the Four Fs looks closer...
Forward
While it's hard to quibble too much with two second half goals, that this team ever trailed in this
match is troubling. Similar to the New England match, DC United had outplayed its opponent, and
still found themselves needing to score to level the match.
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Saturday night, DC United faces a tied-for-last-overall FC Dallas team for the second time this
year. The difference, of course, is that this match matters in the scheme of the MLS season. That
isn't to say that the US Open Cup qualifier didn't matter, but progress toward the playoffs is more
important than progress in the USOC.
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I was there, in the stands in Giants Stadium, and now I'm back. There is a lot to do to catch up
around here, and here's what's on the coming agenda:
- Preview of DC United v. FC Dallas
- Four Fs of DC United v. FC Dallas
- Analysis of Washington Freedom to this point
- MLS Statistical Analysis 2.
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DC United fought back from a 1-0 deficit to earn a 1-1 draw in the dying moments of the game
against the visiting New England Revolution. The Four Fs look deeper.
Forward
It stings a little to come away from this match with just a point. I felt that DC United were the
better side in the first half and overall, and that feeling is stronger when seeing that United
outshot the Revs 20-4, and Louis Crayton only faced two shots on goal.
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At kickoff of DC United's rare Friday night match against New England, we'll get our first look
this season at what the team does when it comes off of a loss. The loss at Salt Lake on the weekend
was hard to swallow, yet not all that surprising considering the way United played. We've got to
hope that the team, at the very least, plays better than they did on Saturday.
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RioTinto Stadium was the scene of DC United's first loss of the year, a 2-1 defeat to Real
Salt Lake. The Four Fs takes a closer look...
Forward
I would feel better about this loss if the offense hadn't looked so anemic. Generating six shots,
putting only two of them on frame, is not the stuff that wins are made of.
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DC United earned their first win of the 2009 MLS season at home against Houston on Saturday
night, 1-0, on a Luciano Emilio second half goal. The Four Fs take a closer look.
Forward
Despite adversity, that this team was able to cobble together a three point-winning effort was a
pleasant surprise.
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It's been a long time coming. Today Womens' Professional Soccer debuts on the national stage with
the Washington Freedom traveling to visit the Los Angeles Sol. Joined by Mark Rogondino and Jenn
Hildreth in the Fox Soccer Channel booth, and General Tso's Chicken, it's time to live blog this
baby. 00:00 And we're off!
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We're continuing with the Four Fs post-match theme this week. As a refresher, Forward is for the
first issue on deck, that which stands out most from the last match. First Off The Bench is the
second big issue, and Flank Play is not necessarily the third issue, but an issue that should not
be [...]
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By the end of last season, it was safe to say that I had had enough of DC United's injury woes.
Piecing together a fully healthy team of first-teamers was virtually impossible, and Marcelo
Gallardo's season-long battle against fitness had me weary. I hoped that this season was going to
be a respite from the [.
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