Very rarely do MLS and NASL teams clash in a given year but in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup fourth round next Wednesday, D.C. United face their lower-tier opponents the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Maryland SoccerPlex at 7:30 PM. The Florida-based side have had a decent campaign in the NASL this season and currently sit in sixth, just three points behind the first-place New York Cosmos and Indy Eleven. Fort Lauderdale boast several former MLS players within their ranks, and United fans will recognize a few of them.
Perhaps the most familiar face for D.C. United fans will be that of Maicon Santos. On January 18, 2012, the Black-and-Red signed a then-27-year-old Santos from free agency. Santos scored seven goals in 26 appearances, including two in a 4-1 rout over his former club, F.C. Dallas. Santos also tallied three assists in D.C. and was a threat across multiple areas of the field. After one season in Washington, the Chicago Fire selected Santos in the first round of the 2012 MLS Re-Entry Draft, where he played alongside Patrick Nyarko and Chris Rolfe. He would then go on to play for Mexican side Puebla in 2014, before moving on to the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the NASL in early 2015. In December of 2015, the 32-year-old Brazilian signed with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the NASL and has been a strong addition to the club. Santos is currently tied for the second-most goals in the league with four and is a quick playmaker.
Another former member of the Black-and-Red on the Strikers' roster is Canadian defender Nana Attakora. Attakora began his MLS stint with Toronto FC, where he signed in 2007. In January of 2014, Attakora signed with D.C. United, and while Attakora did not see action in any regular season games, he made a handful of appearances in CONCACAF Champions League games and Open Cup play as well. In December of 2015, Attakora signed with Fort Lauderdale, where he has enjoyed success in his first season in Florida: he has two assists this season and is tied for fourth place among the league leaders.
Another former United defender playing for the Strikers is Julius James. James, a Trinidad and Tobago international, played for Toronto FC and Houston before being traded to United in exchange for a third-round SuperDraft pick. The six foot defender played in 31 games for United between 2009 and 2010, starting 24 times. In his short stint with the Black-and-Red, James scored two of his four career goals. The Caribbean native played for Columbus Crew SC from 2011 to 2012 before moving to the North American Soccer League in 2013 with the Carolina Railhawks followed by the San Antonio Scorpions. In his first season with the Strikers, James has played in five matches, starting four.
While he never played in Washington, many local United fans may be familiar with the name Diego Restrepo. The 28-year-old goalkeeper has made multiple appearances with both the United States U-20 and U-17 teams and made a name for himself at the nearby University of Virginia, where he would go on to win the 2009 NCAA National Championship and ACC Championship. After his college career as a Cavalier, he played for Colombian side América de Cali in 2011 before moving to Deportivo Táchira of Venezuela the following year. In 2013, Restrepo made 23 league starts for the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the NASL and saved an Obafemi Martins penalty kick to upset the Seattle Sounders in 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play. In December of 2015, Restrepo signed with Fort Lauderdale and has one clean sheet this season. Restrepo will be a big obstacle in net and give the Black-and-Red a challenge, as he did to Seattle in 2013.
