WASHINGTON – Straight after scoring D.C. United’s opening goal last Saturday night, Josh Wolff ripped off his jersey and made a beeline for the Barra Brava.
With a look of sheer joy flashed on his face, the half-naked World Cup veteran leapt into the stands, happy to please his new fans with a goal in his RFK debut.
What made this moment such a cathartic one for Wolff? Consider that when he arrived in DC in December, he was a castaway from Sporting Kansas City, no longer seen as an option in their 4-3-3 offensive system after seven seasons with the club.
Getting that goal not only fired up the crowd and gave DC the lead, but it gave Wolff’s new teammates some assurance that the new guy in town has plenty left in the tank.
“Doesn’t matter how many years you’ve been in the league or how old you are, what you’ve done each year is your opportunity to prove what you’re worth and who you are,” Wolff said. “Doesn’t matter for any of us what the past is like. We’ve said that coming in – there are no guarantees here; get out and fight for your job every night.”
It wasn’t just the goal that made his United debut a success. He was active and composed up front all night, creating space for his teammates and running at defenders to try and jumpstart the offense.
While his veteran leadership was a strong influence in Ben Olsen’s decision to bring him to the nation’s capital this offseason, his new head coach anointed Wolff as the man of the match after Saturday’s win.
“Wolff, I thought, was the player of the game,” Olsen said. “He was fantastic. The way he held the ball up for us, composed, just a handful. I haven’t seen [him] play that well in a while.”
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Having previously played with Olsen on various US international sides, there is a level of familiarity between Wolff and his new coach. While Olsen was rebuilding the roster with the rest of the coaching staff, Wolff became an option after KC left him available in the Re-Entry Draft in December.
“I know last year at Kansas City, he was in and out and played a little bit out of position,” Olsen said. “At the end of the day, I think he wants to show that he’s still got it.”
Wolff’s foray into the crowd, meanwhile, demonstrated how much the veteran understands the connection between a team and its fans. He paid tribute to them after the game, and even anticipates bigger things from them his first year with the club.
“I first started in Chicago, and I thought our crowds there were some of the best at Soldier Field,” Wolff said. “But you know what you’re getting here as well. The Barra Brava’s going crazy the whole time, and once we scored and we got over there, it was pandemonium again.
“I expect the crowd’s going to get bigger,” he added. “This team’s ready to challenge and certainly make some interesting moves through the year.”
