United Duo Uncertain To Play After Collision

Upon D.C. United's return from Los Angeles, Devon McTavish and Greg Janicki watched the video replay of their head-to-head collision that bloodied them and altered the course of the team's MLS opener against the Galaxy on Sunday afternoon.

One viewing was enough.

"It was pretty bad," McTavish said.

Both players were well enough yesterday to attend the club's annual kickoff luncheon at National Harbor, but their availability for Saturday's home debut against the Chicago Fire is unclear. McTavish needed seven medical staples in the top of his scalp and Janicki eight stitches in his forehead to stop profuse bleeding caused by the incident with about 15 minutes remaining in the 2-2 tie at Home Depot Center.

Both said they have been tested for possible concussions.

While McTavish was cautiously optimistic about playing this weekend -- "It's throbbing, but nothing else," he said -- Janicki might not be ready.

"I've been a little tired, a little groggy, spacing out," he said. "I'm going to sit out a few days this week, but I'm hoping to be ready. I think I will have more tests to make sure I'm okay."

After the collision and subsequent treatment on the sideline, Janicki, a central defender, returned to the match with a bandage wrapped around his head, but McTavish, a midfielder with significant defensive responsibilities, was replaced by Marc Burch.

Their ailments have added to United's injury concerns. Midfielders Santino Quaranta and Fred were not available for the opener because of hamstring ailments and both seem unlikely to play Saturday. Quaranta said he is targeting his return for the April 4 home game against Houston.

Louis Crayton, who is atop the goalkeeping depth chart, said last week that he had recovered from a hip flexor injury and would be ready for the Los Angeles game, but as a precaution, he did not travel with the team and was replaced in the lineup by recently acquired Josh Wicks. Wicks performed adequately against the Galaxy, his former club.

Crayton said he will await the coaching staff's decision about the starting assignment for the home opener against the Fire (1-0).

Meantime, team captain Jaime Moreno, MLS's career scoring leader, said that he regained fitness at training camp after two offseason surgeries but a coaching decision kept him out of the starting lineup Sunday. He was preparing to enter in the 75th minute when the McTavish-Janicki incident abruptly altered United's substitution plan and forced Moreno back to the bench.

In Moreno's place, first-round draft pick Chris Pontius made a sterling introduction with a perfectly placed 17-yard shot that gave United a two-goal lead in the 62nd minute.

The Galaxy responded with a penalty kick in the 80th minute and tied it five minutes later, leaving United winless in its past 10 away games in all competitions (0-7-3) since last August and 2-14-5 on the road since the start of last season.

"It took a little bit for [Pontius] to get going, but once he found his rhythm, he showed a lot of the qualities that he has done all of spring training," United Coach Tom Soehn said. "He is a smart player, he is athletic, he has a knack to score goals. He had a really good night, especially for a debut."

United Note: Veteran midfielder Domenic Mediate, who was attempting to earn a senior roster spot after missing much of last season with a head injury, will not be offered a contract and is expected to pursue second-division opportunities, General Manager Dave Kasper said. "We like him," Kasper said, "but there are no spots open."