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Yanks eke out 2-2 draw with Ticos to win Hex

By Steve Long • Oct 16th, 2009 • Category: National Teams News

RFK Stadium has seen many hard fought U.S. National Team games and this one was no exception. After going down 2-0 in the first half, the Yanks rallied before a Jonathan Bornstein header deep into stoppage time clinched a 2-2 draw and first place in the Hex. After the match the Chivas USA defender had some interesting observations about overlapping coaching styles at club and country.



DC United widens its chances with improved strategy

By Steve Long • Sep 25th, 2009 • Category: MLS News

Coach Tom Soehn used the 10 day break to drive home the importance of wide play through consistent training and was fortunate to have an opponent well suited to allow his players to grow comfortable with it. His youngsters executed the plan with discipline and effectiveness to pull out a 3-0 victory which gives United the tiebreaking edge over Marathon.



DC United struggles to find its rhythm

By Steve Long • Aug 28th, 2009 • Category: MLS News

DC United head coach Tom Soehn has this year faced the difficult task of integrating an unusually large number of talented young players into an aging, but still competent squad. Under a normal league play schedule, the team might have expected a smooth integration. But the addition of many mid-week games has had a triple whammy effect on United, from which the club may not recover this season.



Gomez, United vets lead D.C. past Rapids

By Steve Long • Jul 19th, 2009 • Category: MLS News

DC United shook off the rust of an 11 day rest period, brought on their veteran calming influence at halftime and ran away from a Colorado Rapids team that hasn’t won at RFK in over a decade. Christian Gomez played the role of energized returnee proving himself against the team that sought and then spurned him.



It’s all about speed for USMNT

By Steve Long • Jul 9th, 2009 • Category: Features, National Teams News

Witness the ascension of Charlie Davies who grew into an impact player during the Confederations Cup and then raised the level of the U.S. Men’s National Team last night at RFK Stadium when he entered the game. Or take Robbie Rogers. He is less well tested, but shares a drive and purpose with Davies that [...]



MLS parity on display in 3-3 thriller at RFK

By Steve Long • May 11th, 2009 • Category: Features

Parity has provided a plethora of ties in Major League Soccer this season, which among others has meant that each game remains in the balance until the last second. That state of affairs has made Coach Tom Soehn’s attempts to rebuild DC United especially risky.

His choice to build the future by playing rookies often, even [...]



DC United anticipate hot contest with Chicago Fire

By Steve Long • Mar 27th, 2009 • Category: Features

When DC United plays the Chicago Fire, the fans are guaranteed to witness a hard-fought struggle. The Fire were among the first MLS teams to realize that United is best defended by shutting down their attacking center and DC, in turn, will make life miserable for Chicago’s Cuauhtemoc Blanco. The game may well be settled [...]



DC United still searching for the keys

By Steve Long • Mar 20th, 2009 • Category: MLS News

The keys to DC United’s success in 2009 lie in two places: the central defense and the wide midfield. Veteran leadership is in short supply at both positions. How will Tom Soehn make up for the lack of personnel at these positions?



Freddy Adu

By Steve Long • Oct 12th, 2008 • Category: Interviews

Freddy Adu, who began at DC United as a 14 year old professional, spoke after the Oct. 11 U.S. Men’s National Team’s 6-1 rout of Cuba about returning to DC and his continued growth as a player.



US routs Cuba to clinch spot in Hex

By Steve Long • Oct 12th, 2008 • Category: National Teams News

The U.S. National Men’s Team established dominance early and maintained it throughout their CONCACAF group qualifying match against Cuba at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. DaMarcus Beasley got a brace for the Yanks, who clinch advancement to the final qualifying round with the victory–their fourth in as many games.



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