The second step in Off Wing's season-long journey into the life and times of Washington's soccer team, D.C. United, takes place tonight as the Red and Black host one of the giants of Mexican soccer, Chivas Guadalajara, in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup draw.
Tonight I'll be in the box, Ellen Blanchard will be on the sidelines with the camera and Kris Herrell will be in the stands with the Screaming Eagles. With some luck, we ought to be able to get some video footage tonight as well.
For all of your match preview reading, see The DCenters, DCUnited.COM, Ian Penderleith, Washington Post, Washington Times, The Offside: DC United, UnitedMania, DCist
With the weather as nice as it is right now, I'm expecting a huge walk-up crowd for tonight's match. D at The DCenters is predicting a big turnout from fans of Chivas, as this may very well be their only East Coast appearance in a long time. Expect a noisy and raucous crowd, one far larger than the one that showed up at RFK earlier this month for the second leg of the draw with CD Olimpia.
I'll have more from the press box when I arrive at the stadium.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY... To D.C. United defender Bobby Boswell. He's 24, and looks to have a sense of humor:
Be sure to check out the Web site too.
GREETINGS FROM RFK: As I trudge through the stadium parking lot on my way to the press box, I couldn't stifle a chuckle. How could it have possibly happened that D.C. United would once again have the good fortune to be playing a side from Guadalajara (currently 84 degrees and sunny) in the midst of a full-blown late Winter storm?
Right now the rain is coming down pretty hard and the temperature is 48 degrees and dropping. If this keeps up, we ought to have a nice, sloppy field in time for the second half.
Some other notes: Brian Carroll has been called up to the U.S. Men's National Team Training Camp:
U.S. Men's National Team Head Coach Bob Bradley has named his training camp roster in preparation for the team's March 25 and March 28 friendlies versus Ecuador and Guatemala, respectively. D.C. United midfielder Brian Carroll has been called in alongside 10 other domestic players and 13 who ply their trade abroad. He will be available for selection in United's return leg against CD Guadalajara on April 3 in the semifinal round of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.
The team also announced a pair of signings:
D.C. United announced that the team has signed goalkeeper Shawn Crowe and forward Brad North to developmental contracts. Crowe, a three-year starter at Florida International University, was D.C. United's first pick in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft and the 11th overall. North was taken in the second round (24th overall) of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft after four successful years at Northwestern University.
For those of you wondering, indeed, Crowe did play with Boswell at Florida International.
Back to the pitch tonight: Ben Olsen, Jamie Moreno and Bryan Namoff were all yellow-carded in the previous series against C.D. Olimpia. One more card for any of them and they'll sit out a one match suspension.
There are plenty of Chivas supporters in the house tonight, and they're making their presence felt already. We're still better than 30 minutes away from kickoff and they're already in full throat.
Then again, while United is already on the pitch and warming up in a driving rain, Chivas is nowhere to be seen. Not a good sign.
Are Chivas the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of Mexican Football? I guess we'll find out.
FINAL UPDATE: With things looking as grim as the weather, Olsen draws a foul at the edge of the penalty area giving Gomez a free kick. One Emilio Luciano header later, and the game is tied 1-1 in the 91st minute. More thoughts by mid-day tomorrow.
