DC United vs. Arabe Unido
2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League
September 15 | 8 pm ET | RFK Stadium
TV: FS2
WASHINGTON—D.C. United will welcome Panamanian side Arabe Unido to RFK Stadium on Tuesday night as they continue play in Group H of the CONCACAF Champions League. After beating Arabe in their group opener and handling Jamaican side Montego Bay United in their second match, Ben Olsen's side enters Tuesday’s encounter needing only a win or tie to secure the top spot in group H, along with a berth in the tournament’s knockout round.
A Change of Pace
United recently relinquished their perch atop the Eastern Conference following a poor run of form — three losses and a draw. Few of the players who took the field for those performances will factor into Tuesday’s match; Olsen will trot out a similar lineup to the one he’s used in previous Champions League matches. Expect backup ‘keeper Andrew Dykstra will feature in goal, while depth pieces like Luke Mishu, Jalen Robinson, Jared Jeffrey and Jairo Arrieta will also play their part.
Desperation Time
Arabe enters the match knowing that they need a victory to salvage any hopes of advancement. A tie would put them within three points of United, with a game left to play in Group H. But D.C. have already clinched the tiebreaker (head-to-head) with a win in Panama City. Expect Arabe to play an uptempo, aggressive style, not unlike the one they employed in the teams' first encounter. During stretches of that game, Arabe seemed the more likely side to extract a result.
Players to Watch
Chris Pontius and Steve Birnbaum, D.C. United
Though Olsen will field a lineup that leans heavily on bench and reserve players, the exceptions are likely to be first-choice center back Steve Birnbaum and winger Chris Pontius. Pontius has continued to progress since returning from a hip injury earlier in the year, while Birnbaum has been a steady contributor on the back line and notched United’s lone goal in Saturday's draw with Colorado.
Armando Polo and Renan Adless, Arabe Unido
Most observers of Arabe will point to youthful prospect Abdiel Arroyo as their main scoring threat, but Armado Polo and Renan Adless have pulled the load this season. The crafty scorers have combined for 10 goals across all competitions, while leading Unido to a comfortable 9-point lead atop in the Panamanian Apertura.
