It was a difficult night for the club and the supporters on Thursday. After D.C. United completed a midseason turnaround that resulted in a playoff berth, they lost their first postseason match at home to the Columbus Crew in a penalty shootout. It was a tough loss for the Black-and-Red to take, but Head Coach Ben Olsen remained proud of his team and their performance, and kept an eye on the bigger picture.
“I’m proud of them,” Olsen said of his team after the match. “The way this game played out, I’m just extremely proud of the guys and looking forward to next year.”
Despite the disappointment in the defeat, Olsen noted that this season was about more than a playoff run or a historic unbeaten streak. The 2018 campaign was about sending a message about the future of club and laying a foundation for this new D.C. United era at Audi Field—something the squad successfully did with their run of form at home and the way they captured the city's attention.
“The guys gave everything," Olsen said. "It was a hell of a run. Don’t let this spoil what these guys did to set the right tone and foundation for Audi Field and the next generation of D.C. United and who we are and what we’re about. I’m extremely proud of them for doing that. I think they got this city interested again in soccer and our team, and I very much look forward to getting back here next year and working with this group and building and continuing playing this type of style with this type of team at Audi Field next year.”
The players were gutted after the loss, but also shared Olsen's pride in regard to their resurgence on the field and in the District. With their first season at Audi Field now under their belts, the team remains eager and excited to grow the club and the game in the heart of D.C. with their new home as their backdrop and their steadfast supporters behind them.
“[Audi Field] is amazing. It’s electric,” goalkeeper Bill Hamid said after the match. “Audi Field is the future. We have a solid base to build off, I believe that this team is very sound from the front to the back. We have a good product, we put a good product on the field. I hope that we can continue to build and I hope that the fans can stick behind us.”
Deservedly, players will take some time to decompress and process their playoff exit and wild 2018 season. But soon, they will get back to work and shift their focus to the next step. After a fantastic inaugural season at Audi Field, United are hungry to create more magic at their new home, and continue their rise in the league.
“For us as a team, we can be extremely proud of what we’ve achieved in the last few months,” Wayne Rooney said. “I think today’s game, the crowd, the atmosphere, it was fantastic. It shows the team has come a long way and we can be proud of our performances. Obviously, it’s time to build on this for next season.”
And if the Black-and-Red can successfully build on what they started in 2018, 2019 will be another unforgettable year for soccer in the District.
