Monday, October 22, 2018

DC United in the Playoffs

DC United looks very strong now.  They're roaring into the playoffs, ripping off win after win.  The most crucial was the 5-0 score over Montreal, but every point was important and now they've clinched a spot with a game to go, having beaten Dallas 1-0 and NYCFC 3-1 at Audi Field.  In fact, they're sitting in 5th at present and could move up a spot or two if everything goes their way. 

It's not all Wayne Rooney, either.  He won the Dallas game with a spectacular free kick from way out, but even though he got two goals against New York, Luciano Acosta was the man of that match.  He slalomed around four or five defenders before feeding Rooney for a tap-in for the first goal, then curled a beauty past their keeper from outside the box for the second (set up by some excellent holdup play by Rooney, of course).  But Senor Wayne (as Acosta calls him) is the driving force, and has imparted belief to the team as well as injecting talent.

I'm actually very impressed by their defense these days, as well, especially the DMs Canouse and Moreno.  Birnbaum is a rock at CB.  And for my money, Hamid is the class of the league in goal. 

Asad, Rooney, Acosta, Arriola, and Segura all look dangerous on offense in any combination, and they still have 10-goal Darren Mattocks sitting on the bench just in case.  I don't think anyone would be shocked to see them hoist the MLS Cup after this run, though they're not the favorites.

Good times for DC United fans.  I have got to get to some games next season.

No comments:

Post a Comment