As recently acquired forward Deshorn Brown becomes more comfortable with his teammates, United’s offense has come alive, scoring multiple goals in consecutive games for the third time this season and scoring in three straight for the first time in 2017.
And while the positive results haven't come, the offense sparking means the the Black-and-Red are one step closer to righting the ship and returning to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for a fourth straight season. They have scored 6 goals in the last three games, including two each by Brown and rookie sensation Ian Harkes, with Lloyd Sam and Bobby Boswell chipping in as well. Harkes earned his first MLS Goal of the Week award for his score against FC Dallas on July 4, his first career MLS goal. The rookie then added to his scoring tally showing his evasiveness on Wednesday night in Seattle.
The first such goal streak in 2017 came when United had back-to-back 2-1 wins against the Philadelphia Union and New York City FC at the beginning of April. Later that month, United scored two in a draw with the New England Revolution and beat Atlanta on the road 3-1 eight days later.
Despite the losses, the recent surge in goals could be a sign of better days ahead. At this same time in 2016, Ben Olsen’s squad went on a goal scoring streak that landed the Black-and-Red in the playoffs. From August to the end of the regular season, United went 6-2-5 and scored 33 goals, including an impressive 6-2 win over the Chicago Fire on August 27
.@NickDeLeon7 nets his 1st of the season to cap off 6-2 W!#DCvCHI#DCUpic.twitter.com/lvDnuLM7rc
— D.C. United (@dcunited) August 28, 2016
During the streak, United scored at least two goals in all but one game, a 1-1 draw with Montreal. They scored at least two in their last nine games and even won four in a row from September 24 through October 1. United look to get back to winning ways against Minnesota United on July 29 at TCF Bank Stadium.
