Final
Davies set to return as United, Crew open seasons
Mar 18, 2011 - 7:27 PM Washington, D.C. (Sports Network) - Charlie Davies is likely to make his Major League Soccer debut Saturday at RFK Stadium, not far from the site of a fatal car accident that nearly claimed his life.Since that tragic night almost a year and a half ago just outside Washington, D.C., Davies has not played a top-flight game. Davies suffered multiple broken bones, a lacerated bladder and a torn knee ligament.
Although he survived, one passenger was killed in the one-car accident, Davies put his career in jeopardy. He hopes to start reviving it this weekend.
United hosts the Columbus Crew as both sides kick off their 2011 seasons, with Davies expected to play an integral role for D.C.
Although the scars are evident, Davies has recovered from his fractured femur, tibia and fibula, left elbow, left eye socket and nose, as well as the other injuries.
On loan from French club Sochaux, where he was a regular before being injured, Davies played 90 minutes in a preseason exhibition earlier this month and then scored in last weekend's preseason finale.
United coach Ben Olsen, in his first full season after taking over as interim manager last season, believes Davies has regained much of the form that led to him earning a starting role with the U.S. before the accident.
"Charlie's looked good," Olsen told The Sports Network. "When he first came he had a lot of rust from being out and being in France where I don't think they worked with him enough.
"He's going to be a big part of this group and we are going to work very hard to make sure he gets back to where he needs to be as a player."
Davies will try to help D.C. recover from the worst year in franchise history. United had the worst record in MLS at 6-20-4 and had just 21 goals last year.
"I'm excited to hopefully turn things around," Olsen said.
Columbus finished second in the Eastern Conference last year, but coach Robert Warzycha dispatched 10 players who combined for 185 appearances, including two key veterans - Frankie Hejduk and Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
Warzycha got a jump on the season by playing Real Salt Lake in a pair CONCACAF Champions League matches, but the club was eliminated by its MLS rival, and is under pressure to perform after all the offseason changes.
- COLUMBUS: 1
D.C. UNITED: 3
Final
Mar 19 9:30 PM - COLUMBUS: 0
D.C. UNITED: 0
1st Half - 1'
Mar 19 7:38 PM
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