D.C. United

[EPJr]

Recap: D.C. United 0 - Columbus Crew 1

Olsen: energy and commitment level from the guys was exactly what we wanted

With just 35 days until the start of the 2013 season, D.C. United played against someone other than themselves for the first time this year after a long and grueling first week of preseason. United faced off at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida against a familiar Eastern Conference foe, the Columbus Crew.

http://www.dcunited.com/news/2013/01...olumbus-crew-1

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Report:
DC's DeLeon declines Trinidad call-up -- for now


Alright, US national team fans, you can calm down: Nick DeLeon is not suiting up for Trinidad and Tobago. At least not yet.

The D.C. United attacker told The Washington Post's Steven Goff on Monday that he has declined a call-up to represent his father's homeland for the Soca Warriors' friendly against Peru on Feb. 6. But he didn't completely close the door on doing so in the future, either.

“I grew up here and it’s always been my dream to play here,” the Phoenix native told Goff. “It felt pretty good to get invited, to be honest. It’s a big honor. But I don’t think it’s the right time.”

DeLeon's father, Leroy, is a native of Trinidad and a former T&T international. The younger DeLeon was also invited into camp last spring when T&T were preparing for CONCACAF Olympic qualifying, but he declined the invitation then as well.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...nidad-call-now

[EPJr]

Kick Off:
As stars move on, Olsen inks deal to stay at DC


“I appreciate the commitment and loyalty this club has given me over the years,” Olsen said. “Hopefully I can continue to repay this organization with results and a team that our community is proud of."

United GM Dave Kasper was thrilled to seal the deal, which will now run through the 2014 season: “We are very excited about our future with Ben as our head coach.”


http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...s-deal-stay-dc

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14 Academy players announce intentions to play at 10 Division I programs

Silooy: “We’re confident that each of them will make their mark at their respective university"


http://www.dcunited.com/news/2013/02...ion-i-programs

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D.C. United acquires James Riley from Chivas USA



D.C. United today announced that the club has acquired defender James Riley from Chivas USA in exchange for a 2015 second round Supplemental Draft pick. Riley, who tied goalkeeper Dan Kennedy for most minutes played (2,880) last year at Chivas USA (32 games played/games started), will join the Black-and-Red immediately in Lake Mary, Fla.

http://www.dcunited.com/news/2013/02...rom-chivas-usa

[EPJr]

Report:
DC zeroing in on Buzzard Point for new stadium


D.C. United are no longer considering Baltimore for a new stadium, and that's because talks are progressing well with the D.C. Council on a proposed stadium at Buzzard Point, in the city's Southwest section.

That's the take-away from an exclusive report by The Washington Post's Steven Goff on Friday.

“Interaction with the city has been very positive and very productive,” United managing partner Jason Levien told Goff. “We’re pushing the right buttons and making things happen in a good way. … There is more than hope. We are very hopeful.”

The push for a new stadium for the Black-and-Red has gained traction in the last seven months since Levien and Erick Thohir, an Indonesian businessman, joined Will Chang as the team's investors/operators. The added capital, plus Levein's political savvy – he's worked in Washington for the Democratic party, as well as practicing law with Williams & Connolly – seems to have cleared away many of the roadblocks that have stalled all proposed stadium projects in D.C. for more than a decade

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...nt-new-stadium

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D.C. United selects Carlos Ruiz via MLS allocation process

League’s joint-9th all-time leading scorer returns to MLS to join the Black-and-Red

D.C. United today announced that the club has selected MLS veteran and Guatemalan international Carlos Ruiz via the MLS allocation process. The forward will join the Black-and-Red tomorrow in Orlando, Fla. Per League and club policy, exact terms of the deal were not disclosed. Ruiz has a green card and will not occupy an international roster spot.

“We are pleased to have landed El Pescadito,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “Carlos is a proven goalscorer who will provide added firepower to our attack, and we look forward to having him on board.”

http://www.dcunited.com/news/2013/02...cation-process

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DC United 1, Real Salt Lake 0


WASHINGTON – It wasn’t a particularly pretty effort by either side, but Lionard Pajoy’s goal in the 60th minute helped D.C. United pick up its first win of the season and extend their league-best home unbeaten streak to 19 matches in a 1-0 victory against Real Salt Lake at RFK Stadium on Saturday night.

Salt Lake, meanwhile, suffered their first loss of the new campaign and have yet to win a match at RFK in eight tries.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter...DC-v-RSL/recap

[truebluefan]

- Real Salt Lake (1-1-0, 3 points, T-2 in West) dropped its match at D.C. United (1-1-0, 3 points, T-1 in East) on Saturday night, conceding a 60th minute goal to fall 0-1 at RFK Stadium.

RSL has never won at D.C., with Saturday's result moving the team to 0-6-3 across all competitions in the nation's capital. Now 1-1-0 on the year, the Claret-and-Cobalt will take on the Colorado Rapids next Saturday, March 16 in the team's home opener at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Saturday's match started rather slowly, with the game's first opportunity not coming until the 25th minute. D.C. FW Chris Pontius started the play, crossing from the left side to the back post where MF Nick DeLeon to hit his six-yard header just wide of the net.

RSL had its best chance of the first half in the 30th minute. FW Robbie Findley hit a cross from the left side that looked destined for the head of open FW Alvaro Saborio at the back post, but D.C. GK Bill Hamid had other ideas, getting a fingertip to the ball to put it out of danger.

RSL GK Nick Rimando made a big play of his own in the 32nd minute. Pontius ran onto FW Lionard Pajoy's through ball in the left side of the area, ripping a 12-yarder toward the near post that a diving Rimando parried away.

Real Salt Lake had a half chance in the 35th minute, when MF Luis Gil headed a DF Tony Beltran cross into the hands of Hamid.

The game slowed down after that, with neither side registering an opportunity until Pajoy put D.C. ahead in the 60th minute. D.C. MF John Thorrington started the play, collecting a loose corner kick outside the area and lifting a shot toward the top-left-corner that Rimando palmed away with a diving stop. Pajoy - kept onside by RSL MF Sebastian Velasquez - pounced on the rebound, heading the ball home from close-range.

The Claret-and-Cobalt nearly equalized in the 74th minute. Gil played MF Khari Stephenson in on the left side of the box, with the Jamaican attacker curling a shot toward the top-left-corner that Hamid held.

RSL's other Jamaican - substitute DF Lovel Palmer - had a good look at goal in the 83rd minute, hitting a shot just wide of the left post from 30 yards out.

That was about it for the Claret-and-Cobalt, which didn't register another good chance for the rest of the match.

D.C. did have another opportunity, nearly doubling its advantage through substitute FW Carlos Ruiz in the 94th minute. Rimando made a great stop to keep the Guatemalan international's shot out, blocking Ruiz's point blank effort with an acrobatic save.

RSL will next play on Saturday, March 16, when it will take on Rocky Mountain Cup Presented by Mark Miller Subaru rival Colorado Rapids in the 2013 home opener at Rio Tinto Stadium.