Photo by USA Today Sports
By RYAN TOLMICH
Despite entering the weekend as the Eastern Conference’s second-place team, few saw D.C. United as much of a threat to the conference’s top team, Sporting KC.
D.C. United issued a statement of intent to the rest of the conference by toppling the reigning MLS Cup champions, 3-0, in front of a shocked Sporting Park crowd.
Ben Olsen’s side leapfrogged their way to the top of the conference in style, as Fabián Espíndola, Chris Rolfe and Perry Kitchen fired within a seven minute span to lead D.C. United past a shellshocked SKC for the team’s first victory at Sporting Park. The victory earned D.C. United much more than the top spot on the table, as this weekend’s victory finally adds legitimacy to the team’s Supporters Shield challenge.
D.C. United’s statement win has earned the team recognition as SBI MLS Team of the Week. D.C. United beat out several impressive teams this week, including the Seattle Sounders, Columbus Crew and FC Dallas.
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What did you think of the D.C. United’s performance? Which team impressed you the most in MLS Week 24?
Share your thoughts below.
This team doesn’t need an integrated EJ or Chris Pontius to go deep in the playoffs. The key for Benny is to make sure that EJ doesn’t realize he isn’t a starter until it’s too large to make much of a scene. Perry Kitchen, Steve Birnbaum, and Taylor Kemp are all more critical than EJ. As for Pontius, anything he offers is gravy.
DCU is on track for the biggest season-to-season turn around in league history. Coach Olsen has a team of cast-off veterans and returning youngsters playing for each other, which is making DCU much greater than the sum of its parts. If EJ can find his way and Pontius can return to form, this team can go deep into the playoffs.
Dallas beating Salt Lake City was huge just like this.
This is one heck of a season….I am starting to think that we will say that every season.
Man, we are lucky.
Stay tuned for comments from the whiners…..
DC United is a contender. Once Eddie Johnson gets fully settled and the hopeful return of Chris Pontius this season, things are looking up in DC.
Once EJ gets “fully settled”? It’s nearly September!
I can’t wait for Chris Pontius to come back. RFK is going to explode.
That was a brutal stretch for SKC there in the first half