Luciano Emilio and DC United have a lot of question marks. (Getty Images)

The 2009 expansion draft is only a week and a half away here. Today we move forward in our look at each club's potential protection lists with DC United. The Black-and-Red are still without a head coach so don't be shocked if somethings here could change depending on who takes over this club.

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We've covered the forwards, and we've covered the front office. Heck, our front office results actually have been 100% correct so far, with Tom Soehn leaving the team and Kasper and Payne set to return. We'll have to wait a while to find out if our forward results are correct, but in the meantime, let's see what everyone has to say about our attacking midfielders. Click to continue reading...

The 6th Annual United Awards Reception isn't the only United Awards Reception going on tonight. Because it's also time to announce the winners of the 2009 Benny Awards!

1. The Richie Award for the most underrated player goes to Bryan Namoff
2. The Nelly Award for the best newcomer goes to Dejan Jakovic
3. The Convey Award for the best rookies goes to Chris Pontius
4. The Donnety Award for the biggest disappointment goes to Danny Szetela
5. The Grosy Award for the ballsiest player goes to Ben Olsen
6. The Freddy Award for the biggest story goes to Chris Pontius and Rodney Wallace
7. The Harkesy Award for the greatest leader goes to Ben Olsen
8. The Popie Award for the best defender goes to Dejan Jakovic
9. The Etchy Award for the team's MVP goes to Dejan Jakovic
10. The Benny Award for the highest ADR rating goes to Chris Pontius

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Finishing 1-1 against the leader of the Mexican Primera Division on the road is a better result than most of us expected, and probably a better result than we deserved. Still, thanks to some inspired play by a few individuals, and some poor shooting by Toluca, we emerged with a single point.
A win would have secured our spot in the Champions' League quarterfinals, but let's not count ourselves out yet. Click to continue reading...

U.S. Men's National Team forward Charlie Davies is in serious but stable condition at Washington Hospital Center MedStar Unit after a car accident early Tuesday morning.

A 22-year old woman, identified as Ashley J. Roberta of Phoenix, Md., was fatally injured in the crash and died on the scene.

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By definition, the Donnety Award goes to the player who has been the biggest disappointment for DC United in 2009. The award's namesake Matias Donnet came to United in 2006 and was seen as a potential all star due to his pedigree after playing for Boca Juniors, as well as spending some time in Serie A. Click to continue reading...

Last week I made a big mistake in reading too much into the results of a win against a weak opponent. Learning my lesson, let's just say that this match was a pleasure to watch. This is the second time this season United has scored five goals, and it looked like the boys were having fun out there.
Does that mean though that they will carry this momentum into the match Saturday against Chivas? Click to continue reading...

                                                           Photo by ISIphotos.com

With the Under-20 World Cup now underway, and the U.S. Under-20 team ready to make its World Cup debut on Saturday, there is plenty of talk about the team's lack of star power and name recognition, but this year's installment of the U.

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Luis Angel Landin is one of the new faces in MLS. (Getty Images)

I guess you could really say its just been a rather slow week in terms of news. Sure rosters were finalized on Tuesday night for the rest of the year and the league announced their big break next summer but other than that it's been rather calm in Major League Soccer this week.

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Americans Abroad / USMNT
SBI's 23 For 2010: September '09 Edition - Soccer By Ives
USA-Honduras: The Venue - US Soccer Daily
Despite Uphill Battle, US Leads Qualifying Fight - ESPNsoccernet
Which Team Is Better: 2002 Or 2009? - MLS Talk
Nguyen Training With Arsenal - Yanks Abroad
Spector: Eyes On Europe - Yanks Abroad
Chicago Fire
Fire Practice Report: 09/16 - Chicago Fire Confidential
Fire Sign Costa Rican Defender David Myrie - Chicago Fire Confidential
'Three Points A Must' For Fire vs. Click to continue reading...

• The Strange Case of Danny Szetela , not a lesson in professionalism ~ http://bit.ly/3UHW59 #
• US WCQ game against Honduras October 10th will not be shown live it appears ~ http://bit.ly/LUVPO #
• International sports calendar, via @resourceshelf ~ http://bit.ly/1HmPq #
• MSU 1, UMKC 0 RT @JDemarzi http://yfrog.

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• The Strange Case of Danny Szetela , not a lesson in professionalism ~ http://bit.ly/3UHW59 #
• US WCQ game against Honduras October 10th will not be shown live it appears ~ http://bit.ly/LUVPO #
• International sports calendar, via @resourceshelf ~ http://bit.ly/1HmPq #
• MSU 1, UMKC 0 RT @JDemarzi http://yfrog.

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The CONCACAF Champions League began its third round of group stage matches on Tuesday, September 15, 2009. The matches on Tuesday were Puerto Rico Islanders v Cruz Azul, San Juan Jabloteh v DC United, and Metapan v Arabe Unido. Here's a recap of all the matches along with video highlights.

DC United beats Jabloteh 1-0 Video Highlights

Major League Soccer side DC United got a nice road win with a 14th minute goal (penalty kick) from Christian Gomez.

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This 1-0 win reminded me a bit of another 1-0 win less than a week ago against the Wizards. United was clearly the better team, and our defense did well in shutting down some opportunities, but a big part of the victory can also be attributed to a weaker team failing to get any quality shots on target. Click to continue reading...

A few of you have been wondering where the MLS Allocation Order stands now that FC Dallas has (finally) used their top spot to sign Heath Pearce.

Now the Rapids have the top spot. With very little bit left in the season I doubt Rapids or anyone remotely below them will be able to use their spots in the order.

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D.C. United faces San Juan Jabloteh in Trinidad & Tobago tonight in the third matchday of the Champions League group stage. United and San Juan are both winless in Group B so the match will be an important one as at least one team will earn points.

After a month of playing two matches each week, United left behind some of the veteran players and took a younger squad to T & T:

• Goalkeepers: Milos Kocic, Bill Hamid
• Defenders: Avery John, Julius James, Devon McTavish, Lawson Vaughn
• Midfielders: John DiRaimondo, Danny Szetela, Ely Allen, Tiyi Shipalane, Christian Gomez, Andrew Jacobson, Clyde Simms, Rodney Wallace
• Forwards: Luciano Emilio, Chris Pontius

Tonight's game can be seen on Fox Soccer Channel or Telefutura at 8 p.

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For most Americans who identify as soccer aficionados (including many émigrés) this time of year is exciting because of the start of the European season. In this crowd the fact that it is also the start of the American college season is mostly of no note at all, or perhaps a cause for casual derision.

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As originally reported here (in The Offside's First official scoop), Bill Hamid, Annandale native and academy product, has signed with MLS and will be on DCU's roster as the third goalkeeper. As a result of this and other additions like Shipalane, Habarugira, and James, someone on the current roster will have to be cut.

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After downing El Salvador's Firpo in PKs in the preliminary round of the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League, United entered into Group B along Toluca of Mexico, San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad & Tobago and Marathon of Honduras.

Following a disappointing road loss at Toronto FC, United traveled to San Pedro Sula, Honduras to face CD Marathon.

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With the transfer market in full swing, I wanted to bring our readers up to speed on all the outgoing transfers involving American clubs thus far this window. (This does not include trades within MLS or USL since those are NOT transfers in the traditional sense. This list also does not include loan deals such as KC's loan signing of Zoltan Hercegfalv)

OUTGOING

Rico Clark Houston -> Livorno (ITA) January

Yura Movsisyan RSL -> Randers FC (NOR) January

Kenny Cooper FC Dallas > 1860 Munich(GER/2)

Anton Peterlin Ventura County -> Everton (ENG)

Cody Arnoux Carolina Dynamo -> Everton (ENG)

Richard Perdomo Miami FC > CD Platense (HON)

INCOMING

Chris Birchall Brighton H&A > LA Galaxy

Ernst Obster Red Bull Salzburg -> Red Bull BY

Danny Szetela Brescia > DC United

Ely Allen Seattle Wolves > DC United

Ali Gerba MK Dons -> Toronto FC

Jamie Smith Aberdeen > Colorado Rapids

Facundo Diz Platense > Colorado Rapids

Hicham Aaboubou Carabins > Montreal Impact

Ramon Sanchez Alainza -> SJ Quakes

Andre Luiz Chiapas > SJ Quakes

If I have left anyone out, which is likely, please leave it in the comments section and we'll update the post.

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It was a great night for Americans in the CONCACAF Champions League. Two teams from American leagues, that play in the United States or associated territories triumphed in Continental play.

DC United's penalty shootout victory over Firpo demonstrated the resilience of the American player- new Red and Black signing; Danny Szetela played a key role in the extra time and shootout.

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Boy did I miss the feelings of 2008. Poor motivation in international tournaments, decent possession but few shots on target, costly individual mistakes... This is deja vu all over again.
1. In his first bit of extended time, Danny Szetela stood out in an otherwise mediocre midfield. Click to continue reading...

Win or lose, some of our guys looked like superheroes out there. I was so impressed with the way that Fred, Rodney Wallace, and Bryan Namoff were able to run so hard for 120 minutes straight. True warriors. Way to wear the shirt, boys.
This was a fun match to watch, as I felt like both teams really wanted the win. Click to continue reading...

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Major League Soccer will feature ten teams in league action and one team in a pretty high-profile friendly tonight.

The Los Angeles Galaxy is taking on FC Barcelona in the Rose Bowl tonight in a game expected to draw more than 85,000 fans. While the five MLS matches tonight aren't a lock to combine for that much in attendance, there are still some great match-ups.

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Major League Soccer will feature ten teams in league action and one team in a pretty high-profile friendly tonight.

The Los Angeles Galaxy is taking on FC Barcelona in the Rose Bowl tonight in a game expected to draw more than 85,000 fans. While the five MLS matches tonight aren't a lock to combine for that much in attendance, there are still some great match-ups.

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DCUnited.com

By TRAVIS CLARK

It was supposed to be a chance at redemption for D.C. United. A new crack at the CONCACAF Champions League, a competition that saw them post a dismal 0-5-1. But whatever optimism that D.C. coming into the preliminary was quickly diffused by a stubborn LA Firpo opponent that held a reserve-heavy United in check Tuesday night.

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DCUnited.com

By TRAVIS CLARK

It was supposed to be a chance at redemption for D.C. United. A new crack at the CONCACAF Champions League, a competition that saw them post a dismal 0-5-1. But whatever optimism that D.C. coming into the preliminary was quickly diffused by a stubborn LA Firpo opponent that held a reserve-heavy United in check Tuesday night.

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Danny Szetela after the game:

More from:

• Tom Soehn
• Rodney Wallace
• Andrew Jacobson

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We have a common theme for our transfer rumor post today. All of our rumors and transfers and non-transfers deal with the same question: How the heck does MLS get (and keep) young, talented players? First, the done deal: Danny Szetela is back in the States and on the roster for [...] Click to continue reading...

With a road record of 1-3-5, United hasn't exactly been struggling on the road but three points have been hard to come by. The sole road win came back on April 26 at New York. Tied with Columbus for second place in the Eastern Conference, only a point behind Chicago, the Black-and-Red will be looking for valuable three points that could put them atop the East again.

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General Manager Dave Kasper informed us this morning that Danny Szetela's International Transfer Certificate has arrived at the League offices from Italy. The club's newest signing will be available for selection this Saturday when United travels to San Jose to face the Earthquakes. Tune-in to Fox Soccer Channel 10:30 p.

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With two senior roster spots open and a developmental spot presenting itself in the wake of Barklage's season-ending knee injury, United seems to have wasted no time in assessing the summer transfer market wares and making their selections. So... Click to continue reading...

After doing admirably in the hated beep test and being put through a workout by the training staff, Danny Szetela sat down with our intern Anthony to chat. Among the topics discussed: why he wanted to be in D.C., his U.S. National Team aspirations, his time abroad in Italy and Spain, his preferred position and last night's win over Rochester.

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By Andrew Dixon - MIAMI, FL (Jul 22, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Lost amid the discussion surrounding David Beckham's return to MLS from Europe last week was that United States Under-20 World Cup standout Danny Szetela has made his way back to Major League Soccer. Though I'm sure it's not the ending he wanted when he left Columbus a few years ago, it's certainly not the end of the World. Click to continue reading...

So after talking again with my source, as well as team officials, I'm pretty sure we can say that Ben WILL finish out the season, but should be seeing reduced minutes once Clyde gets back from his surgery, and Danny Szetela works his way into the team. Hopefully, Jacobson can break thru his quasi-funk, and be a contributor.

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