When D.C. United's horrid spring was counteracted by an impressive June winning streak, optimism blossomed around the apparently ascendant club. But two home losses in SuperLiga have slowed that momentum to a grinding halt, with a cascade of injuries and simple exhaustion leaving United looking somewhat spent at the moment.
Argentinean mainstays Marcelo Gallardo and Gonzalo Peralta are sidelined by groin injuries that could require imminent surgery, while fellow offseason signings Franco Niell and Jose Carvallo failed to make the expected impact in D.C. and have been waived.
Versatile veteran Santino Quaranta came back too soon from a hamstring strain against Atlante on Tuesday night, re-aggravating the injury that has sidelined him all month. Inspirational figure Ben Olsen is recovering from yet another ankle surgery and remains stuck on the early stages of the comeback trail.
Yet one pivotal figure remains standing, consistently contributing quality on the field and leadership off it, coaxing a tired team to soldier on. Regardless of the 34 years on his odometer, Jaime Moreno is as irreplaceable as he's ever been, through more than a decade of service to United.
"There's no denying that at all," said D.C. midfielder Clyde Simms. "He definitely helps with the possession, and that's a big part of our game. I think we have the players to be a good team without Jaime, but fortunately right now he's on our team and when he's on the field I feel like we are a better team."
He's been wearing the captain's armband for more than three years now and in the locker room, his communication skills have been critical in helping United welcome wave after wave of Latin American signings over the years.
Yet his uniqueness has become particularly noticeable during Gallardo's lingering injury troubles, which have left the Black-and-Red short of creative inspiration. Last week Moreno came off the bench against Chicago to rescue United when their U.S. Open Cup campaign was in jeopardy, engineering a stirring comeback. In SuperLiga play, he's made a seamless adjustment from withdrawn striker to central playmaker, keeping possession and coordinating the D.C. attack.
"He has so much experience up top. The ability to hold the ball for us in critical areas of the field, especially in [the opposition's] defensive end, speaks volumes for him and I think that really helps us lead the attack," said defender Bryan Namoff. "It enables us to make runs out of the back and get our wingers involved."
Moreno brushes aside such questions about his own influence, however. In Tuesday's 3-2 loss to Atlante, the Bolivian international ignored his own fatigue and put forth a professional display over 90 minutes despite underwhelming performances all around him -- and afterwards remained focused on the team's outlook.
"Everyone has a job to do on the team and everyone has to be responsible for their own job," said Moreno. "Myself and the whole team, I don't think we did our job tonight -- very simple. I'm disappointed, because we throw away a great opportunity to be in a championship that we wanted to win so bad."
For all the joy he's brought them over the years, United fans might find it a bit disconcerting that so much is riding on Moreno at this point in his career. But his mere presence gives the team an undeniable psychological boost and the teammates and coaches who see his quality every day in training are quick to pay him tribute, even while downplaying the squad's dependence on his abilities.
"Is he too important? No one's too important," said head coach Tom Soehn. "I think everybody's got a value to what the team is. Each one carries a value in different ways, and you can see what Jaime's value is. He makes us a better soccer team."
Like several first-team regulars, Moreno could use a break in Saturday's SuperLiga decider against Houston, especially given the complex scenario that would have to unfold for D.C. to advance in the tournament. But his absence from the first XI would surely dent United's chances dramatically -- just another sign of his value.
As with many league observers, Moreno and the club have long been inseparably linked in Simms' mind, and he believes his teammate has plenty more to contribute in the coming seasons.
"As long as I can remember watching MLS, he's been with D.C. United. So it's tough to think about that," said Simms on the notion of a future without Moreno. "I think he could stick around for a couple more years, maybe not in a starting role but in a role like [his supersub appearance against Chicago]. I think it's just as effective. I don't know -- he's a great player. He means a lot to the team, on and off the field."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
