(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images for New York Red Bull)
After an inspiring run to an embarrassing final, Team USA’s Gold Cup boys at least have one thing to look forward to: being the big fish in the small pond again.
Two of the biggest fish, Gold Cup Standouts Stuart Holden and Brian Ching, will suit up for the Houston Dynamo (32 pts/19 GP) as they host DC United (28 pts/19 GP) in the game of the week in Week 20.
Fantastic rookie and Crew columnist Chris LaMacchia will be my guest prognosticator. He’ll try to break the current tie in points from last week. He believes the top of the table will separate themselves from the pack this week. My heart agrees, but my head says otherwise.
Despite a valiant Gold Cup effort, Holden and Ching will be relieved to carve up questionable MLS defenses instead of the Mexican brick wall of a back four. In turn, the Dynamo will be relieved to have them back, with team form slumping despite some positive results on the road the past few weeks.
The pairing has been key to Houston’s offensive success and will certainly give the league’s best defense (of 14 GA, only 4 GA at home) some much needed respite. Dynamo midfield enforcer Ricardo Clark will also be looking to show the league why he will be the third American player playing in Series A (with Livorno) in a few weeks.
On the other hand, DC United gets a great winger back in Santino Quaranta, but his absence should have been more or less replaceable with the likes of Danny Szetela, Chris Pontius, and Fred on the United bench.
That said, however, decidedly poor showings in draws at San Jose and at home to the preseasoned Salvadorians L.A. Firpo in the CONCACAF Champions’ League state otherwise.
United will be hungry for three points after giving away crucial draws to weaker opponents, but a win at Dynamo fortress, Robertson Stadium, may prove elusive with a tired squad from a busy two weeks in MLS, CONCACAF, and US Open Cup.
But we should not count them out.
United, when on form, can be one of the most dangerous teams in the league, but they lack consistency on the road. Of their 28 points, only nine have come on the road. This may be the only reason this team stays out of first in the East.
Result: Dynamo 2-0 United (Chris says Dynamo, 3-1). With two potent offenses clashing, this game will be ultimately decided by defense and form. With its dominant defense and the return of its offensive attack, the Dynamo should come through with a victory.
As for the rest of Week 20’s fixtures:
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