Since the time Tom Soehn became the head coach of DC United, there have been some solid successes. The club won the MLS Supporters Shield in 2007, and won the US Open Cup last season. This season, United are just one point out of first place in the Eastern Conference, and have advanced to the US Open Cup semifinal against the Seattle Sounders in September.
But for all of that, there is one part about Soehn’s tenure that is particularly troubling. It’s the fact that his teams have been absolutely abysmal away from home against Western Conference opponents. Starting with that 2007 season, United has won just one such match in now more than 2.5 seasons. That win came at FC Dallas, 4-0, on September 2007.
United finished that season 1-3-2 in such games, which isn’t all that bad, I guess. But last season, it got much worse. United were 0-6-1 in this situation and were outscored by an embarrassing 19-4. One of those losses came at San Jose, 2-1, which was an expansion club last season.
The teams haven’t met since and United get a chance for revenge, and to pick up three badly needed points, on Saturday night when the teams meet at Buck Shaw Stadium at 10:30 p.m. Eastern (Fox Soccer Channel). This season, United have played better at times on the road, but they still aren’t really getting the job done. If it weren’t for a great comeback in the final minute at New York which led to a 3-2 victory, United would be winless on the road this season anywhere, let alone against Western Conference opponents. In those matches, United are 0-2-3 and are unfortunate not to be better, given some dubious calls against them in games at Los Angeles and Chivas USA. But they are also fortunate, given that they had to fight from 3-1 down in the second half just to get a draw at Seattle in June.
So for the record, Soehn’s teams are 1-11-6 away to Western opponents. That’s just inexcusable and there’s no logical defense that can be made for it. And consider this … in that same span, United are 12-2-3 vs. Western Conference opponents at home. In the road games, United have been outscored 38-20. In the home games, United have outscored its opponents, 36-19.
Whatever the reason, United must fix the issue and fast. After the trip to San Jose on Saturday, United’s next league match is a road game at Houston. A match at FC Dallas also looms later in the season to complete the 8-game stretch away to Western opponents. United are in a dogfight for the top of the Eastern Conference and they can’t afford to continue to let points slip away on the road. Add in the fact that East leaders Chicago already slipped up at San Jose earlier this season (3-3 tie) and United have a chance to better their rival’s result by two points, which could be key come the end of the season.
Make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed to get the latest breaking news and analysis!
