After defeating the Philadelphia Union 2-1 on Saturday night, United will play their second and final match of the Rowdies Suncoast Invitational tomorrow at 5 p.m. ET against the NASL's Jacksonville Armada FC. No live stream will be available—fans should follow D.C. United's Twitter for real-time match updates.
The Black-and-Red are wrapping up their final week of preseason camp in Clearwater, Fla., and will look to end their time in the Sunshine State on a high note with a strong showing against the Armada. Saturday's victory over the Union was a promising sign of the progress made so far this preseason, and Wednesday serves as another opportunity for players to continue developing their on-field chemistry and building toward regular season match fitness.
Competition for starting spots will likely continue in tomorrow's game as players strive to show their quality, consistency, and composure to the coaching staff. While the entire squad has been focused on strengthening connections with their counterparts on the pitch, United's most recent acquisitions, defender Oniel Fisher and midfielder Yamil Asad, will be pushing to get up to speed with the Black-and-Red's playing style and fitness levels.
The D.C. coaching staff may also continue to experiment with new lineups, testing which pairings of players perform most efficiently in competition. United have fielded a 4-1-4-1 lineup to start each of their first two friendlies, a change from 2017's typical 4-2-3-1 formation. With such midfield depth in particular, the coaching staff is working to determine the smartest use of and most effective combination for their midfield rotation. Asad and Zoltán Stieber both have experience lining up on the wing or centrally, while Ian Harkes has played both as a defensive mid and a central mid so far this preseason.
Up top, Darren Mattocks and Patrick Mullins continue battling for a starting spot. Mattocks, another offseason acquisition, has scored in each of United's first two friendlies, but still faces stiff competition from Mullins, who tied as United's leading scorer in 2017 and has netted 13 goals in his one-and-a-half seasons in D.C. The goalkeeper competition is also ongoing, as Steve Clark and David Ousted—two proven, reliable league veterans—are pushing each other to peak performance in training as they work to earn the right to start for the regular season opener on March 3.
The Jacksonville Armada are also preparing for their regular season's start, with Wednesday's match being their second preseason friendly. On Feb. 15, Jacksonville faced Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla., falling 1-0 to the home side on a penalty kick. The Armada earned a 6-4-6 record in the NASL's 2017 spring season and a 4-5-7 record in the fall season. United fans may recognize a familiar name in Wednesday's matchup—former Black-and-Red forward Conor Doyle, who was in D.C. from 2013-2015, recently signed with the Armada and earned a spot in the starting XI in their first friendly.
Wednesday's game will bring United one step closer to the 2018 MLS regular season. On Thursday, the team departs for Las Vegas, where they will play their final preseason match against USL side Las Vegas Lights FC. The Black-and-Red will then return to the District and look to put the final touches on their March 3 preparation before traveling to Orlando to kick off the 2018 season.
