D.C. United: The dichotomy of defensive success

D.C. United are on their way to the playoffs. And they are doing so on the back of an excellent defence. But if they were to falter in crunch time, there would be little patience for Ben Olsen and his players. This is the dichotomy of defensive success.

At the start of the MLS regular season, it looked as though D.C. United were going to run away with the Eastern Conference. After a tremendous end to last season, there was a tentative anticipation that this might be possible. Another year of Wayne Rooney. Luciano Acosta staying with the club and not moving to Europe. A stifling defensive unit with two rugged defensive midfielders. There was a lot to like about this D.C. side.

And the early signs were extremely positive. They won three of their first four matches, lost only one of their first seven, that coming against Los Angeles FC with Rooney sent off in the 52nd minute, and were seemingly set to race away with the Eastern title.

At the heart of this early-season surge, however, was not a rip-roaring attack that many had expected. Rather, D.C. United were superb defensively. They kept clean sheets in their first three games. They conceded just once in their first four. After 13 matches, they had seven shutouts and 24 points.

However, through the middle part of the season, across 13 dire contests, D.C. seemingly forgot how to defend. They went 4-7-6. They kept just clean sheets and conceded 26 goals. In the other 20 games, they conceded just 12 goals and kept 11 clean sheets. That is a remarkable contrast.

Even more tellingly, D.C. United have recovered remarkably over the past month to win three of their last four games, keeping a clean sheet in all four of those matches. And the worst of their opponents were the Montreal Impact. The other three are all above the playoff line. Only one of these four matches was at home.

All in all this season, D.C. United have conceded 38 goals. No other team in the East has allowed fewer than 40. Only LAFC have a better defensive record with 36 conceded this season. And yet, while LAFC have utterly dominated MLS this year, performing like the best team in the history of the league and have a goal difference of +46, D.C. United have won seven fewer games than the Supporters’ Shield winners and have a goal difference of just +4.

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As the playoffs loom, this defensive record makes D.C. extremely dangerous. They will be a tough out for any of the top three in the East. It would not be surprising to see them sneak into MLS Cup at all. But if Ben Olsen’s side disappoint in the postseason and lose early on, which is equally likely, he and his players will come under pressure for their style of play throughout the season.

While D.C. are formidable with a lead, boast arguably the best goalkeeper and centre-back trio in MLS, and have a central midfield that is a nuisance to play against, the football is difficult to watch, especially when you consider the hopes supporters had for their vibrant attacking quartet: Rooney, Acosta, Paul Arriola and Lucas Rodriguez.

The football has been uninspiring at best. There has been a desperate lack of attacking energy and creativity. D.C. have won matches through dogged, determined, well-drilled defending. That is all well and good, but what happens when it is not enough, as it might not be against the best in MLS in the playoffs?

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This is the dichotomy of defensive success. It can lead to surges of excellent results, as D.C. have experienced this season. It can even lead to an MLS Cup, as Atlanta United proved last season. But it is also limited, and if it fails, there is little patience for those that enact it.

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