Four Ghanaians in one MLS game?

Dominic Oduro

Four Ghanaians are expected to take the centre stage when DC United welcome Eastern conference opponents Montreal Impact to the RFK Stadium on Sunday in the 21^st week fixture of the Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season.

Patrick Nyarko’s return to full fitness means three Ghanaians are available for DC United’s coach Ben Olsen.

Nyarko has been working on his fitness after suffering a concussion that ruled him out for some time. He benefitted from another recovery exercise after replacing fellow Ghanaian and newly acquired player Lloyd Sam on the 71^st minute against Toronto FC last weekend.

Patrick Nyarko

Sam himself is settling in well with his new teammates following his surprise move from New York Red Bulls, and could be handed another starting role on Sunday, just like defender Kofi Opare who has remained consistent at the heart of DC’s defense.

Visitors Montreal Impact are also likely to start Ghanaian striker Dominic Oduro in attack due to Didier Drogba and Ignacio Piatti’s involvement in the MLS-All Star game against Premiership side Arsenal on Thursday.

DC United are undefeated in five home matches all-time against the Impact with a record of three victories and two draws.

Both sides have met 11 times since the Canadian side joined the MLS in 2012, with DC leading the all-time season series with five victories, three draws and three defeats.

The above records may tilt the scales in favor of the three Ghanaians and their home side but Oduro and his Montreal teammates may have other ideas.

Lloyd Sam

Another Ghanaian returning from a long injury lay off is midfielder Gershon Koffie who plays for New England Revolution.

Koffie made a brief cameo when Revolution defeated Chicago Fire last weekend. The Ghanaian will be hoping for more playing time when New England travel to Orlando City FC.

Coach Jay Heaps can’t wait to see Koffie back to full fitness.

“We’re excited about his progression, he was awesome for us the beginning half of the year and getting him back in gives us a lot more depth. We need to get him fully fit and ready to go. It was good to get his feet back in the water”, the coach said about Koffie’s return.

Kofi Opare

Winger Emmanuel Boateng will be hoping for another playing role when LA Galaxy travel to Seattle Sounders while Joshua Yaro’s Philadelphia Union play host to Real Salt Lake.

Striker David Accam’s Chicago Fire are at home to New York Red Bulls with Toronto FC welcoming Harrison Afful’s Columbus Crew SC.

For more on Ghanaian soccer players in North America, log on to www.ghsoccerus.net

(Ghana Soccer US)