Quick Hits:
- The Good: If I had told you before the first ball was kicked in 2024 that DC United would have a home win and two road points against the Revs, the Timbers, and FCC, you would have taken it. You also would have thought I was delusional. But, after a nervy 90 minutes plus stoppage, 5 points from 9 is exactly where United finds itself at the end of Matchweek 3. Another game missed for their talisman #9 (though he managed to make an impression on his teammates, anyway) and an injury picked up in training for Ted Ku-DiPietro meant United were behind the 8 ball offensively from the jump. What followed was ultimately an uneven, but gutsy, performance in Ohio, with the spotlight on Alex Bono (details below).
- It was good to see Jackson Hopkins start and get 77 minutes. It was also nice to see him get a shot on goal in the first half, but only our Discord members will know why that so nice for me! He needs to improve his match fitness, his decision-making speed, and his decisiveness on his runs. Season debut for Matai Akinmboni, coming on for a banged-up Lucas Bartlett (clattered by his centerback partner). Career debut for Jacob Murrell, who despite Futmob’s 5.7 rating, had the most shots for DC (3) in 13 minutes played and almost scored.
- The Not-So-Good: This was United’s most muted performance of the year, undeniably. Player absences aside, DC could not manage to control possession for any stretch of time for the entire game. Aside from their 42% possession (which if you saw the game would have to sound generous), United only managed 0.55 xG after coming in with the second-highest xG in MLS. No big chances created, 143 of 229 of their passes inside their own half, 13% accuracy on crosses. You can look up and down the stat sheet and you aren’t gonna find much you like. Except…for 0 goals allowed.
- Gabriel Pirani continues to be a Problem, and not in the good way people like to say. Passive, indecisive, easily dispossessed. Pirani looks like a player rightfully lacking confidence and for DC to continue to be an offensively threatening side, they’ll need Pirani to look like the player so many fans thought they saw last season.
- The Turning Point: After the 20th minute, the xG chart looks pretty gnarly. After an early success for DCU pinning FCC in deep and having their backline turn the ball over a number of times, the only thing keeping United in the game was last ditch defending and several great saves by this guy below.
- Player Spotlight: 7 saves! 2.68 xGOT faced. RFK Refugees Man of the Match Alex Bono was everything United needed him to be today. After an average performance in Portland, Bono made 7 of his saves on shots inside the box and saved the game a number of times. In the 84th minute, Bono stonewalled Aaron Boupendza from 4 feet away (see save pictured above) and saved United’s bacon. To be a team that can get points on the road with the thin depth that this United team was constructed with, you need strong performances from your goalkeeper. Bono should get the big piece of chicken at the team dinner tonight.
- Looking Ahead: Well, the circus comes to town this weekend but it might be there without it’s star attraction. Inter Miami lost at home on Sunday against Montreal as Lionel Messi who watched from the boxes due to an injury suffered in the midweek CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Nashville. I suspect that Messi will be available off the bench against Nashville on Wednesday and from the start on Saturday in Washington DC. Will Benteke and TKD be available? I hope so!
Final Thoughts: While this game does not lend itself to repeat viewing, DCU fans should feel good about coming away from this game with a share of the points considering the two goal scoring threats being unavailable. They caught FCC at the right time, half-rotating the squad due to a midweek game and before the offseason changes have had time to gel. Troy Lesesne will need to figure out what he’s going to do in the #10 position as Pirani’s struggles continue. Further, if Martin Rodriguez is healthy and available and still can’t get on the field, he should be sold or moved on for whatever roster relief can be gained (including buying out Jeahze’s contract). Those are problems for tomorrow because tonight we are all here.
