Considering that DC United came into last night's nationally televised match against FC Dallas having scored but one meager goal during their opening 270+ minutes of the season, one could have hardly forecast that DC would explode for four against the favored Texas side. Maicon Santos' long strike of a goal for DC will easily find a lot of play on the highlight reels over the course of this weekend, but, as grandiose as that opening goal was, that was hardly the only highlight for me in watching the game.
The most intriguing thing to take from this much needed win for DC had to be the play of Nick DeLeon, the rookie out of Louisville. His late consolation goal against LA a couple of weeks ago, his first in MLS, was enough to pique the interest of DC fans and probably left them and Ben Olsen alike thinking that he just might have more of a role to play going forth this season, and he has now handsomely repaid Olsen for his faith in him by looking like the most lively player on the pitch last night. That he was playing in college games a few months ago is hard to believe indeed.
It is his daring attitude and ambition in marauding down the left wing that lead him to looking as if he has already been in the league for a couple of years now, if not more. Against FC Dallas he was decisive, showed no hesitation in taking Zach Loyd on time and time again, and his scoring volley was taken as coolly and collectedly as you could like. Only minutes later, his inch perfect low cross was converted by Danny Cruz to all but put the three points away. Indeed, DeLeon, just about the youngest man on the pitch, proved to be a lynchpin of the attack all night.
Coming into the season he had to wonder just where his minutes would come from, given the presence of such talents and Andy Najar and Chris Pontius seemingly entrenched on the wings, not to mention the addition of the aforementioned Danny Cruz from Houston. However, with Najar away on Olympic qualifying duty with the Honduras U-23s and Pontius still returning to fitness following his broken leg suffered last year, opportunities have arisen for DeLeon, and taken full advantage of them he has. If anything, Pontius must wonder when he'd be able to regularly get into the starting lineup thanks to DeLeon's early run of form; DeLeon is looking that potent these days.
It's a long season, so it will remain to be seen if Nick DeLeon can keep this up during those dog days of summer that have taken their toll on many players over the years. Early indications are, however, that DeLeon might be in the running for some personal silverware come the end of the season.
No comments:
Post a Comment