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CCL/MLS Wednesday: Your Running Commentary

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Five Eastern Conference teams are in action Wednesday night, with a pair of MLS matches being complemented by the Houston Dynamo's opening match of their CONCACAF Champions League run.

In Washington, D.C., the Chicago Fire will look to snap D.C. United's 11-match home unbeaten run while distancing themselves from the hosts even further in the playoff race. D.C., just days removed from the emotional wreckage at the end of Sunday's 1-1 draw with Philadelphia, can make for a much more compact top five, however, if it can snap Chicago's three-game winning streak.

In Columbus, the Crew still have playoff aspirations, so getting three points from their match against Toronto FC is essential. New Designated Player Federico Higuain will be getting the start, and he'll go up against Toronto's new signing, Irish centerback Darren O'Dea.

In the nightcap, the Dynamo go to San Salvador to try and secure three points from CD FAS and keep pace with Group 3 leader and Honduran club Olimpia, the former club of Dynamo DP Oscar Boniek Garcia.

Here is the viewing schedule for the night's matches:

7:30 p.m. – MLS Live/Direct Kick – D.C. United vs. Chicago Fire

7:30 p.m. – MLS Live/Direct Kick – Columbus Crew vs. Toronto FC

10 p.m. – Fox Soccer Channel – CD FAS vs. Houston Dynamo

If you will be watching any of tonight's games, please feel free to share any thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below. Enjoy the action.

Comments

  1. the CCL is where MLS teams should scout for players. too many overpaid south americans (and to a lesser extent europeans) that dont even make it through an entire season. pappa, boniek, saborio, etc. rodolfo zelaya would be good in mls.

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  2. Pow! Weaver with the header. No marking at all. That said, nicely weighted cross (like on the first goal) and Weaver takes it cleanly.

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  3. All righty. DCU fan rootin’ for the Dynamo. Houston fans… What should we look for with this line up? (serious question)

    Kudos to DCU for taking care of business at home.

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  4. He hasn’t had a very effective season. Some pretty dribbling, but he isn’t scoring, and hasn’t produced that many assists, either. His crosses have been weak.

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  5. By “a number of games” you mean a few. could probably count them on the fingers on one hand. However, this isn’t his first start there.

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  6. Picked up DC-Fire in the 2nd half. Cracking game, fantastic back and forth. 3:2 DCU w/ 5 minutes to go, both teams with numerous chances to score.

    Andy Najar: what is he still doing in MLS (no disrespect to the league)? Pure quality there, wow!!!
    Too bad he chose Honduras…

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  7. There have been a number of games where Najar moved to outside back in the past 2 years. Sometimes DCU just wanted more attacking talent on the field (and rather than take off Najar and put on, say, Boskovic or DeLeon, instead you take off Korb). In some cases they needed more speed at outside back. But you’re right, it’s nice to have him as an option. I wish he’d gone for the US. He’s the kind of player where–if he makes the NT–gives you so much versatility with his ability to play outside back and outside mid.

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  8. Chicago not looking deeply engaged if we’re being honest. Sean Johnson wrong footed on third goal. Not an easy save, but he wasn’t anywhere near it.

    Believe Najar was playing outside back even when the back line was intact. It’s nice to have an extra attacker making overlapping runs but he occassionally goes missing when needed on defense. Chicago’s goal came right after a 70 yard Najar run for example. Selfishly want to see Najar playing combos with De Ro all the time.

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  9. The thinking is: DCU’s backline is in tatters. Woolard is out with a concussion, Russell with a hammy, Dudar with a red card–those should be 3 starters. Meanwhile, Najar got his start as an outside back. That’s how he debuted with the DCU reserves and then with DCU when he broke into MLS. He’s fast, he works hard, he gets stuck in and when you give him space to run at people (which he gets as an outside back) he can do some serious danger.

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  10. What is the thinking on United’s positioning of Najar? Guy makes some brilliant runs,

    Sean Johnson didn’t look great on Pajoy’s goal.

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