Felipe continues to prove his worth in the District

Since arriving in the nation’s capital, Felipe Martins has become a focal point for the Black-and-Red in his defensive midfield role. The Brazilian has started every match since joining D.C. United, playing a key role in the revitalized Black-and-Red side that has recorded three consecutive shutout wins while clinching a spot in the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Following three consecutive defeats in MLS, D.C. United acquired Felipe from Vancouver before the deadline in exchange for Targeted Allocation Money and an international roster spot.  Due to injuries to Russell Canouse and Júnior Moreno along with the departure of Chris Durkin on loan, Felipe was immediately thrown into the starting lineup just days after arriving in the District.  The midfielder made his debut in the 2-1 victory over the LA Galaxy on August 11 at Audi Field.  Felipe was influential in keeping one of the league’s most prolific strikers, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, off the score sheet. In front of a home crowd, Felipe impressed with his competitive nature and his ability to help United maintain composure in a match where they surrendered nearly 70% possession.

In the match against Montreal Impact on August 31, Felipe recorded his first assist for United as he set up Ola Kamara from a corner kick in the 32nd minute to lead the Black-and-Red to a 3-0 victory.  While his distribution in the midfield was on full display, it was once again his defensive work rate that stood out.  Felipe finished the game with six tackles, four interceptions, and three blocks while helping the Black-and-Red record their first clean sheet in six matches. The victory over Montreal proved to be a turning point in the season for D.C. United as they went on to win their next two matches against Portland and Seattle, recording clean sheets in three consecutive games and clinching a spot in the playoffs.  
On a rainy day in Portland on September 15, the Brazilian helped the Black-and-Red record a 1-0 victory over the Timbers. Despite conceding a majority of possession once again, Felipe led the defensive effort in the midfield to limit Portland to only a handful of legitimate chances at goal. Against the Seattle Sounders on September 22, Felipe put on a passing exhibition as he helped United to one of their more dominant performances this season. With a passing accuracy of 97%, the 28-year-old displayed his ability to facilitate the transition from defense to attack. Felipe was constantly collecting the ball from a deep position in order to distribute to the likes of Paul Arriola and Wayne Rooney to unleash the attack. 

Felipe’s competitiveness and consistency have been key to D.C. United’s recent run of form.  With 247 regular season appearances under his belt, Felipe is the most experienced MLS player on D.C. United. The midfielder is also the most experienced outfield player when it comes to playoff competition. After 10 appearances, Felipe knows what it takes to make a long run in the postseason. In 2015, he started all four playoff games for the Red Bulls, including a 2-0 win against D.C. United, to lead the team to the Eastern Conference final where they were ultimately defeated by the Columbus Crew. The Brazilian’s leadership and experience will be vital for the Black-and-Red as they look to make a run towards their fifth MLS Cup in club history.