Action from the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal match between visiting D.C. United (white jersey) and Alajuelense on February 26, 2015, in Alajuela, Costa Rica. (Photo: Imagenes en Costa Rica)
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen isn’t conceding his team’s Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League chances just yet following a 5-2 loss to Alajuelense in Thursday’s quarterfinal first leg.
But he admits it’s going to take a little bit of luck for the tournament’s top seed to become the first team in SCCL history to make up the three-goal difference in Wednesday’s second leg.
It may hinge upon “whether or not we get the bounce or the call that helps us,” Olsen said Monday. “Because let’s face it, 3-0, a three-goal deficit is a big hurdle.”
United’s two away goals offer a glimmer of hope, since an unlikely -- but not unthinkable -- 3-0 or 4-1 victory Wednesday at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium would be enough to advance.
The Black and Red posted three-goal victories on three occasions during their 2014 MLS campaign, the most impressive of those a 3-0 road win at Eastern Conference contender Sporting Kansas City in late August.
And a look at the game film also suggests D.C. didn’t struggle last week as the final score indicated. Miscues from goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra led to two goals as regular starter Bill Hamid was kept out with a back injury. More came from atypically untidy defending.
While it’s not certain if Hamid will be back Wednesday, Olsen is expecting improvement in both areas.
“We gave up soft goals,” Olsen said of the first leg. “I expect we’ll have a better defensive performance Wednesday. And we always have the ability to score goals. That’s also where I draw some optimism.”
No team in the SCCL’s seven-year history has overcome a three-goal deficit after one leg, but an MLS side has accomplished the feat in the tournament’s predecessor, the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The 2004 Chicago Fire trailed Trinidad’s San Juan Jabloteh 5-2, before winning the return leg 4-0 at Soldier Field on Chris Armas’ 90th-minute goal, advancing 6-5 on aggregate.
Alajuelense may be a more talented and deeper side than that Jabloteh squad, and United’s margin for error may be razor thin. Team captain and defender Bobby Boswell, however, agrees there is hope if his unit picks up the slack.
“We definitely have to correct some of the mistakes we made and, to be honest, I think we have to play shutout soccer if we’re going to have any chance in this,” Boswell stressed. “If we can go out and get some momentum, get some goals, who knows what could happen.”
