2015 D.C. United season

D.C. United
2015 season
General Manager Dave Kasper
Head Coach Ben Olsen
Stadium RFK Stadium
MLS Conference: 2nd
Overall: 3rd
MLS Cup Playoffs TBD
U.S. Open Cup TBD
CONCACAF Champions League (14–15) Quarterfinals
CONCACAF Champions League (15–16) Group Stage
Atlantic Cup TBD
Highest home attendance 16,304
(Apr. 11 vs. RBNY)
Lowest home attendance 11,549
(Mar. 7 vs. Montreal)
Average home league attendance 14,105
Home colors
Away colors
← 2014
2016 →

The 2015 D.C. United season will be the club's twentieth season of existence, and their twentieth in Major League Soccer, the top tier of the American soccer pyramid. The club enters the season as the defending Eastern Conference regular season champions.

Outside of MLS regular season play, the club is going to be participating in the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, as well as the knockout stages of the 2014–15 CONCACAF Champions League and group stages of the 2015–16 CONCACAF Champions League.

Background

Pre-season

January

D.C. United entered 2015 with fresh memories of the team's remarkable 2014 campaign, during which the team registered the greatest turnaround in the history of Major League Soccer from one MLS season to the next. The 2014 campaign also saw D.C. United go undefeated in 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League group play. The team sought to continue its sudden success by maintaining much of the roster that had produced such surprising, consistent and strong results in 2014. In the final month of 2014, the team traded its late-season 2014 acquisition, reserve fullback/midfielder Samuel Inkoom, along with back-up goalkeeper Joe Willis, to the Houston Dynamo, in exchange for the MLS rights to Andrew Driver, whose contract had not been renewed by Houston. The main purpose of the trade was to remove an international player, Inkoom, from the roster, so the team could protect all of the major 2014 players in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft. In the expansion draft, the team did lose veteran reserve midfielder Lewis Neal along with Thomas McNamara, who had just been acquired by the team in the 2014 MLS Dispersal Draft that followed the dissolution of Chivas USA. The team added depth in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, selecting a projected winger, Miguel Aguilar, along with a central midfielder from the nearby University of Maryland, Dan Metzger.[1] Several days before the draft, the team also signed veteran Finnish international, Markus Halsti, from the Swedish side Malmo FF.[2] With Malmo, Halsti had played defensive midfield in recent years, after having spent the early years in his career playing as a defender. On the day before the SuperDraft, the team also traded one of its unused international player roster slots to the Columbus Crew in exchange for forward Jairo Arrieta.[3]

Ben Olsen, who was awarded league honors as the 2014 MLS Coach of the Year, continued to manage the side along with General Manager Dave Kasper. The team lost two 2014 assistant coaches, goalkeepers coach Preston Burpo and staff assistant Enzo Concina. Prior to the Superdraft, the team prepared to hire longtime MLS goalkeeper, former league All-Star and Maryland native Zach Thornton to replace Burpo.[4] Several D.C. United players were invited to participate in a January training camp for the United States men's national soccer team, including Perry Kitchen and Steve Birnbaum. 2014 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Bill Hamid had to decline because of a lingering shoulder injury.

The big offseason news for the team, however, did not involve players or the coaching staff. At the end of 2014, the team culminated years of searching for a site to construct a new stadium. The team's long efforts were rewarded in December 2014, with the passage of legislation by the D.C. City Council that committed the city to spend as much as $150 million to acquire and prepare the necessary land at Buzzard Point, which would be leased to the team for at least 30 years.[5] The team was prepared to build a stadium on the site for another $150 million. The bill was signed into law by the outgoing Mayor Vincent C. Gray, in his final days in office.[6] D.C. United hoped to move into its new 'soccer-specific' stadium for the 2017 season, and prepared to play the team's final 2 seasons in RFK Stadium.

February

D.C. United acquired Michael Farfan with its MLS Allocation signing spot and soon after released Driver and Metzger from the team. The team travelled to Austin, Texas where the Austin Aztex hosted a friendly 4-team tournament, the ATX Pro Challenge. D.C. managed to win this tournament by beating the host team with a pair of early goals in the semifinals, and then beating runner-up FC Dallas in the finals. The team won a bronze armadillo trophy for their efforts.

After the tourney, David Estrada was released from the team and undrafted goalkeeper Travis Worra was signed to provide depth at the position after Willis' departure. The team travelled to Costa Rica to fight Alajuelense in the quarterfinals of the CCL. Bill Hamid struggled with a back issue and stayed home while backup Andrew Dykstra was given the starting job. Unfortunately, several errors by Dykstra and the defense led D.C. United to a horrendous 2-5 defeat.

March

Despite a great effort to dig themselves out of a three-goal deficit, a lack of successful finishes and an accidental Own Goal by Chris Korb meant D.C. United would be knocked out of the CCL on a 4-6 aggregate score. The match was also notable for the referee handing out a combined nine yellow cards to both sides.

Regular Season

After the MLS and the MLS Players Union managed to sign a new CBA, the team successfully opened the 2015 MLS season with a 1-0 win at home against the Montreal Impact. Fabian Espindola, Eddie Johnson and Luis Silva were all unable to play in the match, heavily draining DC's offense. The newly-added Arrieta started at forward alongside a healthy Chris Pontius and scored the first goal of the season for the team. Following a bye week, DC United traveled to New Jersey to fight the rival New York Red Bulls. Unfortunately, an anemic offense and poor marking by the DC backline led to a poor 2-0 defeat.

DC returned home to fight the defending MLS Champions, the LA Galaxy, in RFK. Sophomore center back Steve Birnbaum landed awkwardly on his ankle and had to be taken off the field in the fifth minute of play as Kofi Opare got his first cap in a DC United uniform. Just as it appeared the game would end in a scoreless draw, at the very last minute of the match, Nick DeLeon broke free down the right wing and sent in a cross to Pontius, who fought off his own defender to head the ball past the keeper for a 1-0 victory.

April

A similar scenario would unfold in the very next match against Orlando City SC. Orlando had an advantage in ball possession and shots on goal, but Hamid's excellent saves would earn him another clean sheet. Silva, who finally returned from his preseason injury as a substitute, bent a direct free kick into the opposing net in stoppage time and secured a 1-0 victory for DC. When DC United returned home following the Orlando match, press reports emerged that Eddie Johnson's career was in jeopardy because of a heart defect. Although the team continued official radio silence on the issue, the Washington Post eventually reported that Johnson would no longer continue to be paid by the team. Outstanding issues remained to be negotiated before this would be officially confirmed. These issues included whether DC would be allowed to sign a replacement using the salary cap space budgeted to Johnson's contract.[7]

On the pitch, things continued fairly brightly for the team, which finished the month atop both the Eastern Conference and overall MLS standings based on most points per game. Despite squandering second-half leads at home against both the New York Red Bulls and the Houston Dynamo, United did not lose in April. Against New York, DC, took a 2-0 lead on a pair of goals by Perry Kitchen. The Red Bulls came back to get a point, culminating the comeback as Lloyd Sam knocked in a rebound when Hamid could not control a Sacha Kljestan free kick. In the next match, against the Dynamo, United's Chris Rolfe scored on a free kick from almost the same spot that the Red Bulls took their game-tying free-kick in the previous match. Once again, though, the defense failed to prevent a late goal on a tap-in following a rebound allowed by the DC goalie, This time it was Andrew Dykstra who was in the net, unable to prevent the tying goal. After the successive disappointing home draws, DC United finished the month with a surprising win in Vancouver, a first ever for the franchise. The Whitecaps opened the scoring in that match with a goal on their first foray forward, but DC responded with a goal by Bobby Boswell to knot the score. Just before halftime, Fabian Espindola, drew a foul along with a second yellow card for Whitecaps player, Matias Laba. Espindola was making his MLS season debut after serving a 6-game suspension. Playing with a man-advantage, United took the lead in the second half on a goal by Chris Rolfe. Defending the lead was made more challenging when goalie Andrew Dykstra injured his ankle and had to be subbed off. Dykstra was playing because Bill Hamid was back in Washington, missing his second straight match, nursing a thigh injury. Rookie Travis Worra came on to make his MLS debut, manning the goal as United held on for a 2-1 win.

Non-competitive

Preseason

ATX Pro Challenge

Competitions

Major League Soccer

Overall MLS Table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification[lower-alpha 1]
1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 9 5 1 3 11 9 +2 16
2 New England Revolution 8 4 2 2 10 7 +3 14
3 D.C. United 7 4 2 1 8 6 +2 14
4 FC Dallas 8 4 2 2 11 11 0 14
5 Seattle Sounders FC 7 4 1 2 10 5 +5 13
Updated to match(es) played on April 29, 2015. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goals scored; 7) away goal differential; 8) home goals scored; 9) home goal differential; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots
Notes:
  1. ↑ Four US-based teams qualify for the 2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League. They are:
    1. The winner of the Supporters Shield is placed in Pot A;
    2. The winner of the 2015 MLS Cup is placed in Pot A;
    3. The regular season conference champion that did not win the Supporters Shield is placed in Pot B;
    4. The winner of the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is placed in Pot B.
    Should a team qualify through more than one method, or should a team from Canada occupy one of the first three spots, then the next best US team would take its place; teams from Canada qualify through the 2015 Canadian Championship.

Eastern Conference Table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 New England Revolution 8 4 2 2 10 7 +3 14 Conference Semi-finals & 2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League[lower-alpha 1]
2 D.C. United 7 4 2 1 8 6 +2 14
3 New York Red Bulls 7 3 4 0 11 6 +5 13 Knockout round
4 Columbus Crew 7 3 2 2 12 6 +6 11
5 Chicago Fire 6 3 0 3 6 7 −1 9
Updated to match(es) played on April 29, 2015. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goals scored; 7) away goal differential; 8) home goals scored; 9) home goal differential; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots
Notes:
  1. ↑ Since Vancouver Whitecaps FC are a Canadian team, the CONCACAF Champions League berth (in Pot A) awarded to them for winning the Supporters' Shield would pass to the best American team from either conference - in this case, the New England Revolution. New England's berth (in Pot B) awarded to them for having the best record in the Eastern Conference would then pass to the next best American team - in this case, D.C. United.

Results Summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
7 4 2 1 8 6 +2 14 2 2 0 5 3 +2 2 0 1 3 3 0

Last updated: April 27, 2015.
Source: Match Results

Results by Round

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
GroundHAHAHHAHHHAAAHHHAHAAAAHHAAHAAHAHHA
Result W L W W D D W                                                      

Last updated: April 27, 2015.
Source: Match Results
Ground: A = Away; H = Home. Result: D = Draw; L = Loss; W = Win; P = Postponed.

Match Results

CONCACAF Champions League

2014–15 season

For group stage, see 2014 D.C. United season.
Quarterfinals

2015–16 season

Schedule to be announced in May 2015.

U.S. Open Cup

Statistics

Last updated: April 6, 2015

Appearances and goals

No. Pos Nat Player TotalMLS MLS Cup Playoffs U.S. Open Cup CONCACAF Champions League
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
2 DF United States Taylor Kemp 6 0 4+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
4 MF Finland Markus Halsti 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
5 DF United States Sean Franklin 9 0 7+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
6 DF Ghana Kofi Opare 5 0 4+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
7 FW United States Eddie Johnson 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
8 MF United States Davy Arnaud 8 0 6+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
10 FW Argentina Fabián Espíndola 3 2 1+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 2
11 MF United States Luis Silva 4 1 0+4 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
12 MF United States Michael Farfan 8 0 3+3 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+2 0
13 FW United States Chris Pontius 9 1 7+0 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
14 MF United States Nick DeLeon 8 0 5+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
15 DF United States Steve Birnbaum 5 1 3+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 1
17 FW Mexico Miguel Aguilar 3 0 0+2 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+1 0
18 FW United States Chris Rolfe 9 2 7+0 2 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+1 0
19 FW Costa Rica Jairo Arrieta 8 2 6+0 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+1 1
20 DF United States Jalen Robinson 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
22 DF United States Chris Korb 4 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
23 MF United States Perry Kitchen 9 2 7+0 2 0+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
25 MF United States Jared Jeffrey 1 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
27 MF United States Collin Martin 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
28 GK United States Bill Hamid 6 0 5+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
29 FW Jamaica Michael Seaton 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
30 FW United States Conor Doyle 7 0 0+6 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+1 0
32 DF United States Bobby Boswell 9 1 7+0 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
34 DF United States Luke Mishu 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
48 GK United States Travis Worra 1 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
50 GK United States Andrew Dykstra 3 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0

Top scorers

Last updated: April 6, 2015.
Source: D.C. United

Rnk Pos No. Player MLS Season MLS Cup USOC CCL Total
1 FW10Argentina Fabian Espindola 0 0 0 2 2
MF18United States Chris Rolfe 2 0 0 0 2
FW19Costa Rica Jairo Arrieta 1 0 0 1 2
MF23United States Perry Kitchen 2 0 0 0 2
2 MF11United States Luis Silva 1 0 0 0 1
FW13United States Chris Pontius 1 0 0 0 1
DF15United States Steve Birnbaum 0 0 0 1 1
DF32United States Bobby Boswell 1 0 0 0 1

Top assists

Last updated: April 6, 2015.
Source: D.C. United

Rnk Pos No. Player MLS Season MLS Cup USOC CCL Total
1 MF18United States Chris Rolfe 2 0 0 0 2
2 DF2United States Taylor Kemp 1 0 0 0 1
FW10Argentina Fabian Espindola 0 0 0 1 1
MF12United States Michael Farfan 1 0 0 0 1
FW13United States Chris Pontius 0 0 0 1 1
MF14United States Nick DeLeon 1 0 0 0 1

Disciplinary Record

# Position Nationality Name MLS Season MLS Cup U.S. Open Cup CCL Total
Red card Red card Red card Red card Red card
2 DF United States Taylor Kemp 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
4 D/M Finland Markus Halsti 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 DF United States Sean Franklin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 DF Ghana Kofi Opare 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 FW United States Eddie Johnson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 MF United States Davy Arnaud 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
10 FW Argentina Fabián Espíndola 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 MF United States Luis Silva 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 MF United States Michael Farfan 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
13 M/F United States Chris Pontius 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 MF United States Nick DeLeon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 DF United States Steve Birnbaum 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
17 FW Mexico Miguel Aguilar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
18 M/F United States Chris Rolfe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
19 FW Costa Rica Jairo Arrieta 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
20 DF United States Jalen Robinson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22 DF United States Chris Korb 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
23 MF United States Perry Kitchen 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
25 MF United States Jared Jeffrey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
27 MF United States Collin Martin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
28 GK United States Bill Hamid 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
29 FW Jamaica Michael Seaton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
30 FW United States Conor Doyle 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
32 DF United States Bobby Boswell 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
34 DF United States Luke Mishu 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
48 GK United States Travis Worra 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
50 GK United States Andrew Dykstra 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0

Transfers

In

No. Pos. Player Transferred From Fee/Notes Date Source
MF United States Thomas McNamara United States Chivas USA Acquired from Chivas USA's Dispersal Draft November 19, 2014 [8]
MF England Andrew Driver United States Houston Dynamo Acquired in trade for Joe Willis and Samuel Inkoom December 8, 2014 [9]
4 D/M Finland Markus Halsti Sweden Malmö FF Free Transfer January 12, 2015 [10]
19 FW Costa Rica Jairo Arrieta United States Orlando City SC Acquired in trade for International Roster Spot January 14, 2015 [11]
17 FW Mexico Miguel Aguilar United States San Francisco Dons Selected in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft January 15, 2015
MF United States Dan Metzger United States Maryland Terrapins Selected in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft January 15, 2015
12 MF United States Michael Farfan Mexico Cruz Azul MLS Allocation signing February 10, 2015 [12]
48 GK United States Travis Worra United States New Hampshire Wildcats February 25, 2015 [13]
34 DF United States Luke Mishu United States Notre Dame Fighting Irish March 6, 2015 [14]

Out

No. Pos. Player Transferred To Fee/Notes Date Source
31 GK United States Joe Willis United States Houston Dynamo Trade December 8, 2014
21 DF Ghana Samuel Inkoom United States Houston Dynamo Trade December 8, 2014
4 DF Canada Nana Attakora United States San Antonio Scorpions Option declined December 8, 2014
12 MF United States Alex Caskey Option declined December 8, 2014
2 DF United States Jeff Parke Option declined December 8, 2014
19 MF Canada Kyle Porter United States Atlanta Silverbacks Option declined December 8, 2014
17 MF United States Conor Shanosky United States Louisville City FC Option declined December 8, 2014
24 MF England Lewis Neal United States Orlando City SC Selected in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft December 10, 2014 [15]
MF United States Thomas McNamara United States New York City FC Selected in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft December 10, 2014 [15]
MF England Andrew Driver Scotland Aberdeen FC Released February 11, 2015 [16]
MF United States Dan Metzger United States New York Red Bulls II Released February 13, 2015
3 M/F United States David Estrada United States Sacramento Republic Released February 20, 2015 [17]

Loan out

No. Pos. Player Loaned To Start End Source
48 GK United States Travis Worra United States Richmond Kickers March 20, 2015 [18]
34 DF United States Luke Mishu United States Richmond Kickers March 20, 2015 [18]
27 MF United States Collin Martin United States Richmond Kickers March 20, 2015 [18]
20 DF United States Jalen Robinson United States Richmond Kickers March 20, 2015 [18]
29 FW Jamaica Michael Seaton Sweden Örebro SK April 2, 2015 [19]
17 MF Mexico Miguel Aguilar United States Richmond Kickers April 21, 2015 [20]

References

  1. ↑ Goff, Steven (15 January 2015). "In MLS draft, D.C. United turns to Bay area and College Park". The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Goff, Steven (14 January 2015). "D.C. United signs Finland's Halsti". The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Goff, Steven (14 January 2015). "D.C. United acquires Costa Rican forward". The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Goff, Steven. "Thursday Kickaround" (15 january 2015). The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Goff, Steven (17 December 2014). "D.C. United stadium approval improves its playing filed in many ways". The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  6. ↑ DeBonis, Mike (30 December 2014). "Soccer stadium bills are signed as MayorMayor Vincent Gray closes out term". The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  7. ↑ Goff, Steven (April 10, 2015), "http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2015/04/10/eddie-johnson-unlikely-to-play-again/" washingtonpost.com, The Washington Post, retrieved April 27, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Goalkeeper Dan Kennedy selected first as MLS holds Chivas USA Dispersal Draft". mlssoccer.com. November 19, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  9. ↑ http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/12/08/mls-open-half-day-trade-window-start-offseason
  10. ↑ http://www.dcunited.com/news/2015/01/dc-united-acquires-markus-halsti
  11. ↑ http://www.dcunited.com/news/2015/01/dc-united-acquires-jairo-arrieta
  12. ↑ http://www.dcunited.com/news/2015/02/dc-united-acquires-michael-farfan
  13. ↑ http://www.dcunited.com/news/2015/02/dc-united-signs-travis-worra
  14. ↑ http://www.dcunited.com/news/2015/03/dc-united-signs-luke-mishu
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Goff, Stephen. "D.C. United loses Neal, McNamara in MLS expansion draft". The Washington Post. WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  16. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2015/02/12/d-c-united-arrives-in-austin-for-second-phase-of-training-camp/?postshare=9551423717292888
  17. ↑ http://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-2015-season/2015/2/20/8077203/dc-united-cuts-david-estrada-from-preseason-camp
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 "D.C. UNITED SENDS FOUR TO RICHMOND". Richmond Kickers. Richmond Kickers. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  19. ↑ http://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-transfers/2015/3/31/8323089/michael-seaton-loaned-to-orebro-sk-in-sweden
  20. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2015/04/21/d-c-united-news-and-notes-58/?postshare=2101429714549556