Forward Dane Kelly scored his first-ever D.C. United goal on Wednesday night in a friendly against Honduran top-tier club CD Olimpia, helping United earn the 1-1 draw. Kelly, who joined the team in March, is the leading goalscorer in modern United Soccer League history, with 56 goals and 14 assists across his six-year USL career. Like his teammates on the pitch that night, Kelly was looking to make an impression on the D.C. coaching staff, and with the lone goal of the night for the home side, he certainly caught their attention.
Kelly’s goal came in the 17th minute, when Kevin Ellis sent a long ball over the top and into the path of Kelly. Kelly was able to stay on-side and strike the ball under goalkeeper Edrick Monjivar for the one-time finish.
“It feels good,” Dane Kelly said of his first goal. “I saw Kevin [Ellis] pick up the ball and I knew he was going to look for me. I made the run in behind and I got the one-time finish. It was a great goal for me.”
Kelly made his MLS debut earlier this year, coming on as a substitute in the 87th minute against Sporting Kansas City on March 31. Kelly was unable to find the equalizer in those dying minutes at SKC, but showed his hunger to be on the pitch for the Black-and-Red. While Kelly has yet to make an MLS appearance since his debut, he continues to work toward earning more playing time by showing his skill and determination in training and in match scenarios like the friendly against Olimpia and U.S. Open Cup competitions.
“I need to make more runs in behind and that’s what I will be working on,” Kelly said after the match. “I think by doing that I can go forward and do well for the team.”
Kelly’s career with D.C. United is still young, but with his first goal under his belt, it's off to a promising start.
