Posted on August 25, 2012
MONTREAL — D.C. United coach Ben Olsen defended his decision to not start Canadian international midfielder Dwayne De Rosario against the Montreal Impact on Saturday afternoon.
The ploy backfired as United went down to a 3-0 defeat to the expansion team. Olsen decided to use De Rosario and Chris Pontius as second-half substitutes in the Major League Soccer encounter at Stade Saputo.
Fifth-place United (12-9-4 40 points), was coming off a 4-2 home win over the Chicago Fire on Wednesday.
The Impact (12-13-3, 39), which is a point behind in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, won its fifth consecutive game, although D.C. has three games in hand over its rivals.
“You can’t play these guys every game, with two days rest in between three games,” Olsen said. “I went out with a group that had some energy and overall they were pretty good. I didn’t think we got two big calls that might get us out of here with the result.”
De Rosario, who scored a goal and set up another vs. Chicago, replaced Long Tan in the 61st minute.
“I think we started off the game well. We had majority of possession. We had one play where we lost that focus and they punished us,” he said. “Second half started with the idea to maintain the game and when the game went on we did have our chances. Then, they get a penalty shot out of nothing. Referees made a crucial decision like that and affected the game. It’s disappointing when you do everything right and then you take your mind out of the game for one second and get punished.
De Ro felt the team loses confidence when it gives up a goal.
“I think we just need to fight a little harder and work more for each other,” he said. “Every time a team score against us, we put our heads down and think it’s the end. Then, we stop really pushing forward and we want to keep the ball. We are playing more reserved defensively; staying back, and then it creates a lot of space. Then, teams are running at us and exposing us. We are going to keep moving forward. We are playing New York on Wednesday; it’s going to be a massive game. Hopefully, we’ll be coming with the right mentality.”
Photo: Dwayne De Rosario: “Every time a team score against us, we put our heads down and think it’s the end.” Andy Mead/YCJ
Categories: Canada, North America
Tags: Ben Olsen, Chicago Fire, Chris Pointius, D.C. United, Dwayne De Rosario, Major League Soccer, Montreal Impact
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