As D.C. United prepares for its first match in Indonesia (Friday, December 6, 6:30 a.m. ET), we look back at another offseason trip to an Asian nation. In 1997, as winners of the 1996 MLS Cup, the Black-and-Red was invited to the Sanwa Bank Cup. The Cup, which ran from 1994-1997 was a single-match in which the champions of the J League would go head-to-head with the champions of a foreign league.
United lost to Nagoya Grampus Eight with a final score of 1-3 on March 2, 1997, but the trip marked a historic visit to the J League by the first-ever MLS Cup Champion.
