D.C. United has never been a club to crack under the weight of expectation. After finishing second place in the MLS Eastern Conference and third in the overall league standings at the end 2012, fan and club belief for the 2013 season was high. Unfortunately, the results haven’t gone the Black and Red’s way.
United kicked off their MLS campaign with an away loss to the Houston Dynamo. Newly signed James Riley scored an own goal in the 80th minute, exemplifying the team’s tendency to beat themselves.
United’s fortunes improved on March 9th during their first home match against Real Salt Lake of Utah. Neither side put in a particularly coordinated effort. The only difference between the two was a goal in the 60th minute off a header of Lionard Pajoy, which gave United the 1-0 win.
The Black and Red found further reason to remain optimistic as they managed to hold off the dynamic New York Red Bulls on the road at Red Bull Arena on March 16th. New York dominated possession, struck the woodwork, and had an appeal for a goal waved away by the referee. Despite the Red Bulls outshooting United 24-5, D.C. walked away with a point thanks in part to the remarkable performance of their goalkeeper Bill Hamid.
Hamid has come up huge for United so far this season, keeping them in games they would otherwise lose by a wide margin. His stellar play has not gone unnoticed, as he was recently named MLS player of the week, as well as nominated for MLS Save of the Week. Thanks to Hamid’s heroics, initial fears of the United faithful have revolved around a weak offense that has struggled to convert.
Defensive frailties contributed greatly in losses to the Columbus Crew, Sporting Kansas City, the Red Bulls, and most recently with their I-95 rivals the Philadelphia Union. Frustration concerning these errors and poor results has permeated the stands, the press box, and the locker room.
Captain Dwayne De Rosario expressed his disappointment with the result against the Union. “We started lumping the ball and we have guys that can play. I mean, there’s no need for that,” he said. “We started playing into our weaknesses instead of into our strengths and that’s a huge problem for us right now.”
Thankfully, the general atmosphere of RFK stadium isn’t totally determined by wins and losses. Fan sections, such as the Barra Brava and the Screaming Eagles, cheer for the Black and Red right up until the final whistle of any game. With affordable ticket prices and a metro stop two minutes away from the stadium, United boasts one of the most festive and affordable sporting experiences in the city.
It’s not all doom and gloom in the United locker room either. Dwayne De Rosario and his fellow players refuse to let this loss, or any loss for that matter, dictate how they play the rest of the season.
“We still have a lot to play for. We still have a long season. I’m not going to give up. I’m still going to play and fight,” De Rosario said. “We have the fans support, we have the support of the group, and we’re going to fight right to the last game.”
United are back in action, away from home, on May 27 when they take on the Columbus Crew. Their next home game is against the Houston Dynamo on May 8 at RFK Stadium.
