Adu continues to prove he deserves more minutes

It might be time for D.C. United coach Peter Nowak to insert 15-year-old Freddy Adu into his starting lineup a bit more often.

This has nothing to do with ticket sales — which would no doubt benefit — and everything to do with performance. In the past two weeks, Adu has played 135 of a possible 180 minutes, and D.C. United appears to be a much better attacking team with him on the field.

Against Columbus two weeks ago, with most of D.C.'s starters taking the night off two days after playing a CONCACAF Champions Cup game in Mexico, Adu played the full 90 in the center of the midfield and created several opportunities for his teammates.

Last weekend in a 4-3 loss to New England, Adu came on as a second-half substitute for Alecko Eskandarian and was an extremely dangerous out on the left side. In fact, in the 57th minute, Adu helped set up Santino Quaranta's brilliant strike that whittled D.C.'s deficit to 3-2.

Unfortunately for Adu, D.C. is loaded at forward and midfield, so playing time will likely remain sporadic throughout the season. No matter how well Adu plays, Nowak can't realistically justify starting him over Eskandarian, last year's MLS Cup MVP.

Speaking of New England, what's got into the Revolution?

In the 10-year history of the league, no team is more notorious for its slow starts than the Revolution. However, through three games this year, they own a 2-0-1 record, and are coming off a four-goal outburst against D.C. United, including three during a six-minute stretch in the first half.

Even though a phantom foul led to a penalty kick on one of the three goals, credit Revs' forward Taylor Twellman for putting himself in the dangerous position to begin with.

The win moved New England into a first-place tie with Chicago (2-1-1) atop the Eastern Conference standings, setting up an early showdown when the teams meet in Chicago Wednesday.

Not to be outdone, the Western Conference has a showdown of its own this weekend.

When FC Dallas (3-0-1) visits the L.A. Galaxy (2-1-0) Saturday night for the first of four meetings this year, not only will it be a showdown between U.S. National Teamers Eddie Johnson and Landon Donovan, but it will arguably be a matchup of the two best teams in the league.