United Notebook
While Santino Quaranta hung up his D.C. United boots in 2011, he is back in the local soccer scene. As vice president of Pipeline Soccer Club, Quaranta saw his club overcome a three-goal deficit in the Rowland Cup – Maryland’s U.S. Open Cup qualifying tournament – yesterday to defeat Spartan FC 5-4.
“It was one of the greatest comebacks I’ve ever been a part of as a player or coach,” Pipeline manager Bill George told thecup.us. “It shows a lot of the character of our team.”
While Quaranta did not suit up for this game, he may make an appearance in a Pipeline jersey before the end of the qualifying campaign. The club is one of three teams left that hope to compete in the USASA Region I Finals as the Maryland state representative. All MLS and NASL teams will earn berths into the third and second rounds, respectively, of the tournament, and smaller sides like Pipeline must play a series of games to qualify.
Quaranta, who featured for the Black-and-Red from 2001-06 and 2008-11, played in 159 games for United, notching 24 goals and 29 assists. At the time of his signing with DC, Quaranta was the youngest player in MLS history, at 16 years and four months. The Baltimore, Md., native made 15 senior U.S. Men’s National Team appearances and netted one goal, tallying against Honduras in a 2-0 CONCACAF Gold Cup win at RFK Stadium.
United captain Dwayne De Rosario takes on French icon Thierry Henry (NY) in FIFA 13.
Playing against Thierry in @fifa13 @xbox game on ... I'm terrible lol twitter.com/dwaynederosari…
— Dwayne De Rosario (@dwaynederosario) February 11, 2013
KICKTV documents legend vs. legend in FIFA 13.
Former teammates, current rivals.It's Thierry Henry vs Dwayne DeRosario in a #FIFA13 "friendly". instagr.am/p/VmeaNSRJ_I/
— KICKTV (@KICKTV) February 11, 2013
Red Bulls beat writer Dan Dickinson is curious who was victorious in the FIFA showdown.
Very curious who won this. RT @kicktv: It's Thierry Henry vs Dwayne DeRosario in a #FIFA13 "friendly". instagr.am/p/VmeaNSRJ_I/
— Dan Dickinson (@GothamistDan) February 11, 2013
Meanwhile, Chris Pontius took on Tim Cahill (NY).
Cahill as NYRB 3, Pontius as DCU 0: twitter.com/BrianStraus/st…
— Brian Straus (@BrianStraus) February 11, 2013
And Cahill is happy to own the bragging rights.
Massive day today for the @mls photoshoot and media @espnpresspass @cnnfc etc and just finished beating @chrispontius13 on #fifa13 #RBvsDC
— Tim Cahill (@Tim_Cahill) February 11, 2013
City of Angels rivals Robbie Keane (LA) and Dan Kennedy (CHV) throwdown on FIFA, too.
. @lagalaxy's Robbie Keane laying the smackdown on @cdchivasusa's Dan Kennedy in #FIFA13 SuperClasico twitter.com/KICKTV/status/…
— KICKTV (@KICKTV) February 11, 2013
MLS Insider gives the lowdown of the first day of the media tour's events.
All day at RBA today. There will be a few players coming through, too. Guys you might know. #MarchToSoccer twitter.com/MLS_Insider/st…
— MLS Insider (@MLS_Insider) February 11, 2013
MLS EVP of Communications Dan Courtemanche gives his endorsement on who to follow.
23 @mls players in NY/NJ & 5 more in Miami for marketing & media initiatives today. Follow @kicktv & @mlsgabor for a behind-the-scenes look.
— Dan Courtemanche (@courtemancheMLS) February 11, 2013
Ozzy Alonso (SEA), Oscar Boniek García (HOU), Edgar Mejía (CHV) and Álvaro Saborio (HOU) were some players down in Miami.
PIC- MLS stars at @espndeportes @espn_jorgeramos- @al_saborio @chore_mejia Boniek Garcia & Ozzy Alonso @mls_insider twitter.com/MLSGabor/statu…
— Gabriel Gabor (@MLSGabor) February 11, 2013
Another behind-the-scenes look at the Miami media tour.
PIC- "MLS This is Soccer" - #MLS on set at @espn_jorgeramos @espn in Miami twitter.com/MLSGabor/statu…
— Gabriel Gabor (@MLSGabor) February 11, 2013
DeRo caps off a fun media day at Jay-Z's spot with Robbie Keane (LA) and Tim Cahill (NY).
40/40 club @malsherlock in jayz lounge with @tim_cahill & #Robbykeane instagr.am/p/VnWp-jADgu/
— Dwayne De Rosario (@dwaynederosario) February 12, 2013
United captain Dwayne De Rosario takes the positives from the 4-0 rout.
Great play from the boys tnite. Still got work to do as we prepare for season but nice to be back with the guys playing! @dcunited
— Dwayne De Rosario (@dwaynederosario) February 10, 2013
Defender Ethan White marvels at former Maryland teammate Taylor Kemp's finishing skills.
Well done from the boys tonight. Didn't know @tkemp02 knew what to do in front of goal. One to the next one. #dcu #tchub
— Ethan White (@EthanWhite15) February 10, 2013
Kemp sets him straight.
@ethanwhite15 Probably haven't been that close to an opposing team's goal since '92, but it's like riding a bike
— Taylor Kemp (@Tkemp02) February 10, 2013
Kemp and MLSsoccer.com's Jason Saghini go back and forth on Kemp's two goals.
@jasonsaghini lets just say my thought running up to the first one was "if I miss this I might as well hang up the boots for good"
— Taylor Kemp (@Tkemp02) February 10, 2013
16-year-old Homegrown product Michael Seaton thinks he should have scored, but likes the result.
Great win #DCU4-0 ,should of scored but oh well we still won and that's all that matters
— Jamaican (@MichaelSeatonn) February 10, 2013
Goalkeeper Bill Hamid keeps it short and sweet.
— Bill Hamid (@BillHamid28) February 10, 2013
White still loves Hamid's catchphrase.
Typing "TCHUB" in my phone still cracks me up. Haha @billhamid28
— Ethan White (@EthanWhite15) February 10, 2013
Homegrown player Conor Shanosky, who went on loan to the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers last year, likes defeating a familiar foe.
Good to beat tampa bay rowdies again @flight_19 @ftlstrikers
— Conor Shanosky (@ConorShanosky17) February 10, 2013
Last month D.C. United received a very special email from a family in Florida. The family, and particularly their youngest daughter Brooke, are diehard D.C. United fans, despite living almost 1000 miles from Washington DC. When they heard the news that the Black-and-Red would be playing in the Disney Pro Soccer Classic, they made plans to travel to Orlando for the first match versus the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Following the match, D.C. United midfielder Perry Kitchen surprised Brooke with a quick visit at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The young fan told Kitchen that he shared the same number as her, and was therefore her favorite player on the team.
Thank you to Brooke and all of the D.C. United supporters who made it out to Orlando for the match!
Canada Soccer has selected D.C. United defender Dejan Jakovic as Canada’s Men’s Soccer Player of the Month for January after a pair of solid 90-minute performances in friendlies against Denmark and the U.S. The 27-year-old was named Man of the Match in Canada’s 0-0 tie with the U.S. on January 29. Black-and-Red teammate Dwayne De Rosario also featured in both matches, logging 70 minutes against Denmark and 81 minutes against the U.S.
In total, Jakovic has appeared in 14 games for Canada since 2008.
Captain Dwayne De Rosario is ready for the eight-team pre-season tournament.
Just arrived into Orlando for #disney showcase tournament starting Sat. @dcunited
— Dwayne De Rosario (@dwaynederosario) February 7, 2013
Midfielder Marcelo Saragosa takes a selfie from the plane, with a photobomb by fellow Brazilian Raphael Augusto.
Eu e o Mlkii rphaugusto...#Florida# #Orlando# Here we go Again# #PreSeason# @ Ronald Reagan Washington… instagr.am/p/Vbm_1xvsVk/
—M.Saragosa (@MarceloSaragosa) February 7, 2013
First round SuperDraft pick and Colorado native Taylor Kemp is excited to escape to warmer climates.
Back to florida tomorrow, can't say I'm upset to hit the warm weather again #lifeisgood
— Taylor Kemp (@Tkemp02) February 7, 2013
Goalkeeper Bill Hamid made it safe and sound.
Landed in Orlando
— Bill Hamid (@BillHamid28) February 7, 2013
Defender Daniel Woolard is ready to train down south.
Back in FL for the last trip of preseason.
— Daniel Woolard (@Woolard21) February 7, 2013
Defender Ethan White spent time with family before departing again.
Dinner date my momma before I depart for preseason trip number 2 to Orlando.
— Ethan White (@EthanWhite15) February 7, 2013
Trialist Henry Kalungi is excited for his opportunity in Orlando.
Just landed in Orlando for preseason with Dc United:)
— Henry Kalungi (@HenryKalungi) February 7, 2013
United captain Dwayne De Rosario is catching both fútbol and football today.
Got my tele on @futbol @mancity vs @liverpool & got to squeeze in @fcbarcelonafl then @superbowlsunday couch potato today and not moving!
— Dwayne De Rosario (@dwaynederosario) February 3, 2013
DeRo also wonders where all the Baltimore fans are in his feed.
Damn a lot of #49ers fans! We're all my #Ravens peeps at...
— Dwayne De Rosario (@dwaynederosario) February 3, 2013
Midfielder Perry Kitchen is taking predictions.
SuperSunday! Who ya got?? #SuperBowlSunday
— Perry Kitchen (@PerryKitchen23) February 3, 2013
Defender Brandon McDonald's loyalties are split.
Win win for me today! 9rs all day long, but to see Ray Lewis go out on top, wouldn't mind that either!! #PureBeast #LivingLegend #BayArea
— Brandon McDonald (@BMcDonald4) February 3, 2013
Defender Ethan White hopes to make it back to D.C. in time.
A lot to do today before the Super Bowl and heading back to DC tonight. Starting off with brunch.
— Ethan White (@EthanWhite15) February 3, 2013
With the news that Homegrown Player Andy Najar has been transferred to R.S.C. Anderlecht, D.C. United players tweeted their well-wishes.
United captain Dwayne De Rosario:
Wishing my boy @andynajar all the best in his move to Belgian side @r.S.C.Anderlecht. I know he will do well...
— Dwayne De Rosario (@dwaynederosario) January 30, 2013
2012 MLS Best XI selection Chris Pontius:
As much as is sucks to lose Andy, I'm genuinely happy for the kid. Great player, unreal potential, awesome person. Good luck Andy
— Chris Pontius (@ChrisPontius13) January 30, 2013
Fellow United Homegrown products Bill Hamid...:
Big ups to Najar.. Couldn't be more happier for him. Well deserved. Go show the world what u can do playa!!! Congrats kid
— Bill Hamid (@BillHamid28) January 30, 2013
...and Ethan White:
Good luck to Andy Najar at Anderlecht. Bittersweet feeling but I couldn't be more proud. Big things to come for him. #dcu #academyboys
— Ethan White (@EthanWhite15) January 30, 2013
Midfielder Perry Kitchen:
Good luck to Andy! What a great opportunity. He is going to kill it!
— Perry Kitchen (@PerryKitchen23) January 30, 2013
Defender Brandon McDonald:
Our team is really goin 2 miss @andy_najar !!! Truly happy for him & his family w this opportunity 2 fulfill his dreams! Hes goin 2 kill it!
— Brandon McDonald (@BMcDonald4) January 30, 2013
Defender Dejan Jakovic:
Big move for @andy_najar wish you all the best in Belgium with Anderlecht
— Dejan Jakovic (@DejanJakovic) January 30, 2013
And fellow former MLSer and Anderlecht teammate Sacha Kljestan:
Happy that we signed Andy Najar from DC United. Nice to have another former MLS player here at RSCA.
— Sacha Kljestan (@SachaKljestan) January 30, 2013
In a recent series, MLSsoccer.com has been taking us back in time to highlight some of the biggest stars in the early days of Major League Soccer, and then explores where they are now. One of those stars is none other than D.C. United's first true number 10, Marco "El Diablo" Etcheverry.
Etcheverry spent 8 season with the Black-and-Red and led the team to four MLS Cup appearances, three MLS Cups (1996, ’97 and ’99), one US Open Cup (’96), one CONCACAF Champions’ Cup and a Copa Interamericana (’98). He was named MLS MVP in 1998, and became part of the MLS All-Time XI. He tallied 32 goals and racked up 101 assists during his time with the squad.
But where is he now? Find out on MLSsoccer.com.
Today, Jeff Carlisle of ESPN.com rated the top 10 U.S. Soccer players under 21 and placed D.C. United midfielder Perry Kitchen at #3 on the list.
Said Carlisle:
Every year in MLS, first-year players hit the dreaded rookie wall, when legs and the mind get heavy thanks to the increased workload of games and travel. According to D.C. United coach Ben Olsen, there has been one exception. “The guy who really didn't go through it was Perry Kitchen,” Olsen said during last year's playoffs. "He went through it for like an hour one day." When Olsen made that statement, Kitchen was well into his second season with the Black-and-Red, but the comment is telling. While the midfielder's skill on the ball, heading ability, and tackling are all excellent, Kitchen's consistency, presence, and leadership are what coaches around MLS talk about most often. It's what allowed him to make the holding midfield spot his own last season, one that looks to remain in his hands for the foreseeable future. Not bad for a guy who is still only 20. “For me, he's been fantastic," Philadelphia Union coach John Hackworth. "As a young player, establishing himself, he's so mature for his age. He's always been that way.”
Kitchen, a 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year runner-up, eluded the rookie wall and experienced no sophomore slump during his first two seasons in the League. In his inaugural MLS campaign, Kitchen became the only first-year player in United history to lead the team in minutes played (2, 726). And in 2012, the University of Akron product came up one minute shy of tying the club’s previous single-season record for minutes (2,805), held by Jeff Agoos in 1996.