D.C. United travel to New England Saturday for a matchup against long-time Eastern Conference rivals New England Revolution looking to pick up their first three points of the 2016 regular season. And, though last week’s result against the Los Angeles Galaxy was a disappointment, there are plenty of positives to take away from Sunday night’s performance at the StubHub Center that should have fans excited about what’s to come.
United looked sharp for large stretches against the Galaxy, especially in the first half, getting on the board within the first five minutes off a stunning finish from newly acquired winger Lamar Neagle, and neutralizing LA’s attacking threats for the majority of the time before the break. Particularly encouraging were the strong performances of several key newcomers. In addition to Neagle—whose involvement on Sunday made it clear that United have gained a talented attacking weapon—Marcelo, Patrick Nyarko, and Luciano Acosta all put in solid displays and gave a new and promising look to head coach Ben Olsen’s midfield. The incorporation of such talent into a group of proven veterans is an exciting prospect as the season gets underway.
With all these new faces, it’s natural for a team to take some time to gel, and at this early stage, garnering chemistry is going to be crucial to achieving positive results as the season progresses. Fans should be encouraged by the fact that, historically, early results are not always indicative of eventual outcomes. In 2014, for example, United fell 0-3 in their home opener to the Columbus Crew and went on to win the Eastern Conference regular season. As Olsen put it, “We’re a work in progress, but there’s a lot of good in this group. The spirit’s right, and we’ll respond in the right way. We’ll take the good…and move forward. It’s a long year.”
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The experience of a two-leg, quality international competition in the CONCACAF Champions League followed by the Week 1 matchup with longtime MLS rivals LA Galaxy is unquestionably ideal preparation for United as they look to gain momentum early in the season. A positive result against the Revolution would put the team in a great position to hit stride just as MLS kicks into full gear.
D.C. United vs New England Revolution kicks off at 3 PM ET on Saturday, March 12, at Gillette Stadium. The match will be broadcast live on NewsChannel8.
