“He’s been getting through them,” Olsen said. “So we’ll see. We’ll keep evaluating him every day and make sure we’re moving forward. This isn’t two steps forward, one step back with him. So far, so good.”

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For now, Olsen will not commit one way or the other about Acosta’s availability for Saturday’s match against the Columbus Crew at RFK Stadium.

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“If he continues to be 100 percent for several days, then we’ll have a decision to make,” he added. “If he’s ready, he’s going to play. But ‘ready’ is a relative term. We want to make sure he is 100 percent when he gets back on the field.”

United officials declined to specify what exactly has been ailing Acosta. Olsen said last week that the injury was to the inside of the ankle.

In Acosta’s absence, Olsen started second-year pro Julian Buescher in the first game and rookie Ian Harkes in the second. Both performed adequately but, given their inexperience and technical limitations, fell short of Acosta’s high impact.

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Even without him, United generated scoring opportunities in both the 0-0 home draw against Sporting Kansas City and the 4-0 smackdown against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium. In the opener, Marcelo Sarvas failed to convert a penalty kick and, in a wild second-half sequence, K.C. players cleared two shots off the goal line and goalkeeper Tim Melia made a sterling save. On Sunday, Lloyd Sam’s early goal was nullified by a questionable offside call and Patrick Nyarko missed several quality opportunities in the second half.

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Olsen doesn’t pin the dearth of scoring on Acosta’s absence. The possessions are “out there,” he said.

“We’re into the area, we’re in the final third, we’re making bad decisions and the final ball is not there. The second half [against NYCFC], we had plenty of good looks. Yes, I’d like to be scoring goals, but no matter how familiar you are with each other, it still takes some time to get those relationships back and get the quality in the final third. I’m not worried about that part – yet.”

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United strengthened the chemistry with Acosta throughout the six-week preseason, then lost him as the serious campaign was about to begin.

Without him, United has labored to set the tempo and sustain meaningful possession. In each match, D.C. failed to eclipse 40 percent of possession. The absence of the ball not only limits scoring chances, but doesn’t allow defenders to rest and reorganize.

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After a strong performance against Kansas City, the defense cracked in New York.