D.C. United veteran Jaime Moreno, who has missed the team’s last three games, said he likely will see action in the home opener against Toronto FC tomorrow night at RFK Stadium.
I’ll probably play one half, Moreno said after putting in a full training session yesterday.
The Bolivian forward suffered a thigh injury 19 minutes into United’s CONCACAF Champions’ Cup game at Jamaica’s Harbour View on March 12. Moreno missed the return game against the Jamaicans at RFK. He also missed United’s 2-0 loss in the season opener at the Kansas City Wizards last week, and he sat on the bench in United’s 2-0 defeat in the 7,000-foot altitude at Mexico’s Pachuca on Tuesday night.
He hasn’t really opened up his stride yet, and today is probably the first day we pushed him a little bit, United coach Tom Soehn said. He’s been out a while, so his fitness is lacking for what it takes to play a game.
Soehn is hesitant about pushing Moreno too soon because United needs the forward’s ability to hold the ball in the crucial return game against Pachuca in the Champions’ Cup semifinals at RFK on Wednesday. United must convert at least two goals to even the series.
Moreno scored seven goals last season and became MLS’ all-time goal-scoring leader with 112.
He could be an option this weekend, Soehn said.
Meantime, veteran midfielder Ben Olsen still feels discomfort after surgery on both his ankles, and it remains unclear when he will return to full training.
Also, United has acquired the playing rights to left-sided defender Mike Zaher from Toronto FC in exchange for a draft pick.
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