DC Depleted: United Deals With Injury And Suspensions

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

By Sebastian Salazar
CSNwashington.com

When DC United faced off against San Juan Jabloteh in Trinidad last month, the Black and Red earned their first ever win in the group stage of CONCACAF Champions League play.  Wednesday night at RFK, United will hope to repeat that result and put themselves a step closer to advancing beyond the CONCACAF group phase for the fist time in club history.

"We learned their team" DC United coach Tommy Soehn said Tuesday when asked about United's 1-0 victory in Trinidad, "now we have to apply those tactics and maybe build on the offense a little bit more."  

In that win, DC's offense came via a 14th-minute penalty kick from midfielder Christian Gomez.  Gomez is one of the few regulars United will be able to count on Wednesday night as they try to stave off a particularly harsh run-in with the injury bug.  Starting goalkeeper Josh Wicks joins reliable defender Bryan Namoff on the injury list, forcing back-up Milos Kocic into the starting lineup for just the third time this season.

"It's not like he hasn't played at all and is just coming on,” said midfielder Clyde Simms of Kocic, "we are comfortable with him back there, he has our confidence, and I think he'll be fine."

Wicks' injury came in the 52nd minute of Sunday's loss against the San Jose Earthquakes and could be season-ending.  In his first year with United, Wicks had established himself as DC's unquestioned starter between the pipes, but will now miss at least 4-6 weeks with both a dislocated shoulder and a sprained MCL.  

 "You have to be focused, you never know what's going to happen" said Kocic of his role as a back-up goalie, "you have to always think positively about all the things you have to do in practice and when game time comes you are just ready to step up."

Despite logging just 218 minutes this season, Kocic has plenty of experience as a consistent starting goalie.  As Loyola College of Maryland's number one keeper in 2008, Kocic posted 12 shutouts while starting 20 games, giving his current coach plenty of reason for optimism.

"He needs to step in now", said Soehn after practice Tuesday, "that's why we have backups and guys ready to go in case someone goes down, now it is his turn to shine."

United and SJ Jabloteh kick-off Wednesday night at 8:00 pm.  United will be without Jaime Moreno, Avery John, and Dejan Jakovic who are all suspended.

Watch below to see what DC United head coach Tommy Soehn had to say about the match-up with San Juan Jabloteh.

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