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United, San Jose enter clash on unbeaten streaks

Jun 11, 2011 - 12:25 AM Washington, D.C. (Sports Network) - D.C. United manager Ben Olsen has not been afraid to rely on rookies this season, and last week's draw at the Los Angeles Galaxy proved once again the first-year boss can get results that way.

Olsen used three rookies in his defense, with Chris Korb returning to the role at right back and Ethan White and Perry Kitchen again lined up as center backs against the Galaxy.

Even with the youthful back line, United (4-4-4) posted its third shutout this season in the 0-0 draw to extend its unbeaten streak to five matches. San Jose (4-4-4) visits RFK Stadium on Saturday night also on a five-game unbeaten run.

But after United returned from a two-game road trip with four points, it edged the Portland Timbers, 3-2, on May 29 to hand the expansion club its first home loss of the season, Olsen admitted the team is excited.

"I think overall we are pretty excited that in the last two games we get four points on the road," said Olsen, who took over last season in an interim role.

Olsen knows those rookies played a pivotal role in shutting out L.A., which is first in the Western Conference.

"It was a pretty impressive performance from those three young guys," Olsen said. "They continue to play beyond their rookie status week in, week out.

"It'd be hard to take those three out of the lineup."

Kitchen, the third overall pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, knows "it wasn't the prettiest at times, but we had the right mentality and got the result that we needed."

With seven points on the road, which is tied with the Philadelphia Union for the most in the Eastern Conference, United must now continue to get results at home. D.C. has two wins and three draws in seven games at RFK.

But San Jose visits with not only its five-match unbeaten run in Major League Soccer, but also with a five-match unbeaten run against United - including two wins at RFK in its last two visits.

With injuries mounting for Olsen - Branko Boskovic, Marc Burch, Dejan Jakovic, Devon McTavish and Santino Quaranta are all ruled out - the inexperienced guys will continue to get key minutes.

The Earthquakes are in better shape on the injury front, although defender Ike Opara is doubtful with a foot injury, and leading scorer Chris Wondolowski and Ryan Johnson are both away on international duty.

Steven Lenhart helped make up for their absences last week, scoring the first goal in a 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo, and Simon Dawkins marked his return from injury with the second goal.

San Jose coach Frank Yallop knows how important Wondolowski has been, but he's confident the players he has at his disposal can continue to get results.

"Whether Wondo's in or not we play the same," Yallop said. "We didn't worry about not having our top goal scorer with us."