Check out DC United take on the Charleston Battery right now on Fox Soccer Channel! Also check out my in game notes and thoughts and play by play at http://www.twitter.com/unitedram!

Currently the game is tied 1-1! Let’s see how this one turns out!

The third meeting this season for two big rivals. Each team is sitting with a win. DC has been slightly streaky as of late. This has been a bad season for injuries for United. New York has not been fairing any better than United. Both teams are currently sitting with 31 points in the Eastern Conference.

In their last outing, New York got in a lucky 4-1 victory against United in New York. Ironically, DC beat the Red Bulls 4-1 at R.F.K. Stadium.

The injury report is very one sided in this match up. Domenic Mediate (concussion), Gonzalo Peralta (hamstring), Fred (hamstring strain), and Zach Wells (sesmoiditis) are all out with injuries. Some good news are the players moved up to being questionable. Ben Olsen (ankle surgery), Francis Doe (foot infection), and Marcelo Gallardo (hernia surgery) are all listed as questionable for tomorrow night’s match up. Also something to note is that Tom Soehn had Ben Olsen listed on his 18 man roster against Colorado.

Even with this match being as big as it is due to the rivalry, don’t be surprised if players are pulled out for the second half of this match. The reason being is the fact that DC United is slated to try and win another championship. On Wednesday, September 3, DC United takes on the Charleston Battery for the final of the U.S. Open Cup at R.F.K. Stadium.

Remember, this game will be broadcasted on Fox Soccer Channel at 7:30pm on Saturday, August 30.

Mike Petke and Christian Gomez returned to RFK Stadium to see their former team march all over them. DC left that night with a 3-0 victory. Quavas Kirk and Joe Vide both saw the back of the net for the first time for both of their first MLS goals. Santino Quaranta also saw the back of the net for the first time. In post game comments, Santino said that night was special due to the fact that he has been clean for 10 months. Let’s hope Santino will continue to rise.

It was also good to see Ben Olsen in the 18 man roster for this match. This is the second time this season that he has been included in the roster. The last time he was on the roster was his first appearance against the dying LA Galaxy. We expect to see Gallardo to still be out for another couple of weeks. DC GM Dave Kasper has come out to say that Gallardo WILL be back before the end of the season.

The next DC United match is August 30 against the New York Red Bulls at RFK Stadium.

News coming from RFK is saying that Ben Olsen will be on Tom Soehn’s 18-man roster. This is the first time all season that he has been made available. He will be on the bench for this match even though his ankle is still sore.

DC United announced Thursday that they have released Argentian striker Franco Niell. Niell only made 7 league appearances for United, failing to find the back of the net. The 25 year old striker was signed from Argentinos Juniors earlier this season. This would seem to suggest that DC may have another player in mind, and released Niell in order to free up an international spot and cap space, what do you think?

The rescheduled match up between DC United and the Houston Dynamo, which was previously rained out, will be held Tuesday, July 22. The two teams actually meet up three days prior in the Superliga. This match is also 2 days before the MLS All Star game against West Ham United.

Here are just a couple news and notes coming from RFK…

DC United Striker Luciano Emilio, coming off of his first hat trick of his career, was being looked at by the head coach of the Mexican side Morelia. United has said that the club will not sell the striker. As a matter of fact, United has planned to rework Emilio’s contract this summer.

United has brought in Manuel Vallaurio, a goalkeeper on trial for this week from Monaco. If the club is satisfied with this 21 year old goalkeeper, United has the option to bring him in on loan as a low salary senior roster player.

In a brilant display of soccer, DC United walks away with three points after a huge 4-1 victory over New York. This was a very well played match for DC as they saw a couple of firsts in this match.

Luciano Emilio saw his first hat trick in his MLS career. Since his beginning of season scoring drought Emilio has been able to find the back of the net in the last 3 matches, two of which in stoppage time as game winning shots.

Clyde Simms was also able to find back of the net for his first goal of the season with a scorching shot off of a Jaime Moreno free kick. That goal is up for Goal of the Week honors which you can find here.

DC is still without a shut out this season. As Tom Soehn has said, “We’re working hard on getting a clean sheet, but we haven’t gotten a clean sheet yet and that’s troublesome.” Hopefully next Sunday Zack Wells and DC United will finally get a clean sheet as United hosts San Jose, who has only scored 9 goals all season. Kickoff for that match is at 3:00pm on Comcast Sportsnet.

Has DC started to find it’s spot in the MLS? They have finally started to move up in the East in the MLS. They are starting to also find the back of the net.

For most of the beginning of the season Luciano Emilio was having trouble finding goal, but in the last few matches this has not been the problem. Hopefully last year’s Golden Boot winner will be able to retain his title.

Jamie Moreno has also been playing much better as of late. He has been criticized for his goal scoring record since a lot of goals are only coming from penalty kicks. He showed those who criticized his record by scoring off of a deflection during the Chicago match.

Looking towards next Saturday against rival New York Red Bulls, DC is going to have to go out without Marcello Gallardo and Bryan Namoff due to both players receiving red cards during the Chicago match.

The 2008 Superliga schedule was officially announced Thursday afternoon and is as follows:
SuperLiga™ 2008 Schedule*?(All Times Eastern) / * Subject to change

Saturday, July 12

D.C. United vs. CD Guadalajara (RFK Stadium – Washington D.C.) 20:00

Houston Dynamo vs. Atlante (Robertson Stadium – Houston, TX) 22:00

Sunday, July 13

NE Revolution vs. Santos (Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, MA) 20:00

Chivas USA vs. Pachuca CF (Home Depot Center – Carson, CA) 22:00

Tuesday, July 15

D.C. United vs. Atlante (RFK Stadium – Washington D.C.) 20:00

Houston Dynamo vs. CD Guadalajara (Robertson Stadium – Houston, TX) 22:00

Wednesday, July 16

NE Revolution vs. Pachuca CF (Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, MA) 20:00

Chivas USA vs. Santos (Home Depot Center – Carson, CA) 22:00

Saturday, July 19

D.C. United vs. Houston Dynamo (RFK Stadium – Washington D.C.) 20:00

Atlante vs. CD Guadalajara (Buck Shaw – Santa Clara, CA) 22:00

Sunday, July 20

Chivas USA vs. NE Revolution (Venue TBD – Los Angeles, CA) 20:00

Santos vs. Pachuca CF (Pizza Hut Park – Frisco, TX) 22:00

Tuesday, July 29 - Semifinal 1 (Location TBD)

Wednesday, July 30 - Semifinal 2 (Location TBD)

Tuesday, August 5 - Final (Location TBD)