Last week, D.C. United played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the heart of Atlanta in front of more than 71,000 fans. This week, United hosts the Houston Dynamo in front of a reported possible 3,000 to 3,500 fans in the middle of a suburban Maryland neighborhood.
United opens its new home, Audi Field, on July 14 for a match against Vancouver Whitecaps. In the meantime, the Black-and-Red play two offsite matches. The first is Saturday, March 17 at 1:30pm in the Maryland SoccerPlex, which is also home to the Washington Spirit and 36 miles from the Audi Field site.
“It is our home,” coach Ben Olsen said. “It is our home for now and we will treat it as such.”
Midfielder Chris Durkin played at Maryland SoccerPlex last year in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup game against Christos FC. The 18-year-old started United’s Open Cup match against amature club Christos FC at the SoccerPlex.
“When we were playing Christos, there was a lot of people there, and it was definitely pretty loud,” Durkin said. “The atmosphere although it’s not 70,000 is a little tight stadium, I know our fans will always come support us. And I know that they’re loud, so I know the atmosphere will still be great.”
United search for their first win of the the season after a tie with Orlando City SC and a 3-1 loss to Atlanta United. Just two games into the 2018 season, Olsen’s coaching is a balance between being angry by the lack of points and building from what the team has accomplished.
“There are guys that don’t like … losing on this team. I see that, and I like that,” Olsen said. “We should not be at this point, but it is also important to step back and say, ‘Guys, we are just starting this thing. We are just starting this journey.’”
The evolution of a roster
D.C. United midfielder Russell Canouse and defender Taylor Kemp are at least a month away from minutes on the field. In Canouse’s absence, Ulises Segura and Zoltán Stieber control the center of the field. Luciano Acosta, who returned from a preseason concussion and first-game suspension, entered the game against Atlanta United as a substitute in the 62nd minute. Acosta could potentially start against Houston.
“I am not freezing Lucho out here. He is a great player and he is going to be a big part of this team,” Olsen said. “Getting him back into the mix isn’t going to be an issue. There is no challenge to playing with Lucho.”
Olsen has also asked holding midfielder and 2017 U17 World Cup us national team member Chris Durkin to step up.
“He is young. At times, he looks like an 18-year-old, and there are times when you say, ‘This kid belongs out here,’” Olsen said. “With [Canouse] being out, [Durkin] is in play. He has to take advantage of the moments he can get onto the field and continue to grow.”
United already had depth in the midfield heading into the season, which helped compensate for the loss of Canouse and slow return of Acosta. United’s biggest issue in the offseason was in the backline. The club acquired Oniel Fisher from Seattle Sounders to help at left back. Fisher started United’s first two games as a left back, but switched sides with defender Nick DeLeon mid-game against Atlanta.
United also acquired left back Joseph Mora from Deportivo Saprissa in Costa Rica. Mora received his P1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate this week and is cleared to play this weekend. With midfielder Bruno Miranda on loan to the Richmond Kickers, United is within its international slot limit.
“We brought [Mora] here to compete for a starting spot. No question,” Olsen said. “He is a left back, and we signed him to compete for a starting spot.”
Probably starting XI: David Ousted; Joseph Mora, Steven Birnbaum, Frédéric Brillant, Nick DeLeon; Yamil Asad, Ulises Segura, Zoltán Steiber, Paul Arriola; Darren Mattocks
Five players called up for national team duty
Next week, D.C. United will have to juggle its roster once again. The FIFA friendly and international window begins March 19 and runs through March 27. Five players have been called up to represent their respective national teams.
- Jamaican national team – forward Dane Kelly and defender Oniel Fisher for the international friendly against Antigua and Barbuda on Sunday, March 25 in Kingston, Jamaica.
- Costa Rican national team – midfielder Ulises Segura for the international friendly against Scotland on March 23 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.
- Bolivian national team – midfielder/forward Bruno Miranda for the international friendly against Curaçao on March 23 at Stadion Ergilio Hato in Willemstad, Curaçao.
- Hungarian national team – midfielder Zoltán Stieber for international friendlies against Kazakhstan on March 23 and Scotland on March 27.
United play against the Columbus Crew in Columbus, Ohio on March 24 during the international window.
Past at the Plex
D.C. United is no stranger to Maryland SoccerPlex. The club frequently used the location for Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League games, but Saturday will be the first MLS regular season game played in Boyds, Maryland.
Most recently, United hosted amatuer soccer club, Christos FC, in the US Open Cup. In front of a packed SoccerPlex, Christos midfielder Mamadou Kansaye stunned United in the 23rd minute with a rocket free kick to up the visitors up 1-0.
Uhhhh the beer league guys just scored. Mayhem pic.twitter.com/lweUW2egqP
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) June 14, 2017
After the excitement died down, United staged a 4-1 comeback defeating the underdogs.
They hopes to do the same Saturday against the Houston Dynamo.
“We want to start with getting our first win of the season,” Durkin said. “That’s the only objective that we have right now, to give the fans three points.”