D.C. United is One Week Away from Audi Field Season Opener
Don’t look now, D.C. Sports fans! MLS season is here and D.C. United looks to build on their historic season from last year. Wayne Rooney and company begin their quest towards an MLS Cup against, fittingly, the defending champions Atlanta United FC. Kickoff from Audi Field is this Sunday, March 3 at 6 p.m.
Rooney, along with Luciano Acosta, Paul Arriola, Steven Birnbaum, Frederic Brillant, Russell Canouse and Bill Hamid highlight some key returners for the black and red.
There are also some new players. Behind Hamid at goalkeeper are Earl Edwards Jr. and Chris Seitz. Edwards Jr. is from Orlando City while Seitz is from the Houston Dynamo.
Other new faces include defenders Leonardo Jara on loan from the Bocca Juniors of the Aregentine Primera Division. They also acquired Chris McCann from Atlanta United and drafted Akeem Ward and Donovan Pines from the 2019 MLS SuperDraft. Ward was the first round draft pick, selected 14th overall.
New players at midfield include Antonio Bustamante who was also drafted this year, and Lucas Rodriguez on loan from Estudiantes.
They also acquired forward Quincy Amarikwa from the Montreal Impact. Later this week we will have an article featuring an in-depth look on each of these players.
D.C. United is coming off a historic season where they started off 2-7-4. They opened Audi Field with a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps and the rest was history.
After a tough late-August losses to the New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union, D.C. United went on a nine-game unbeaten streak to get into the playoffs before falling in the knockout round to the Columbus Crew.
The magical run to the playoffs sets up a big 2019 season for D.C. United. Their leader, Ben Olsen was signed to a multi-year contract extension. Expectations are sky high and the city is buzzing with excitement for the product they could see this summer at Buzzard Point.
This article begins a weeklong series of D.C. United articles from MSB to get you ready for Sunday night’s season opener. On Monday we will take a look back at last season’s historical run from opening Audi Field to the late regular-season drive to the playoffs and give you our top moments.
Photo: Musco Lighting
