2016 D.C. United season

Last updated

D.C. United
2016 season
D.C. United 2016 wordmark.svg
General manager Dave Kasper
Head coach Ben Olsen
Stadium RFK Stadium
MLS Conference: 4th
Overall: 9th
MLS Cup Playoffs Knockout round
U.S. Open Cup Fourth round
CONCACAF Champions League (15–16) Quarterfinals
Atlantic Cup Winners
Top goalscorerLeague: Lamar Neagle (9)
All: Lamar Neagle (9)
Highest home attendance30,943
(Oct 16 vs. NYCFC)
Lowest home attendanceLeague: 14,088
(Apr 9 vs. Toronto)
All: 10,790
(Mar 1 vs. Querétaro)
Average home league attendanceLeague: 15,061
All: 14,451
  2015
2017  

The 2016 D.C. United season was the club's twenty-first season of existence, and their twenty-first in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer.

Contents

The 2016 season began in February 2016, with United playing Liga MX club, Querétaro, in the quarterfinal series of the 2015–16 CONCACAF Champions League. United ultimately lost 1–3 on aggregate to Querétaro and were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the second consecutive season. United began the Major League regular season winless in their first five matches, before winning at home 4–0 to Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Through the spring and summer, United maintained a playoff bubble position in the Eastern Conference table. Additionally, during this time, United was bumped from the fourth round of the 2016 U.S. Open Cup by NASL club, Fort Lauderdale Strikers. In the fall, United went on a regular season surge, which saw the Black-and-Red win four of their final five games, allowing them to finish fourth in the Eastern Conference and tied for ninth overall. This resulted in United qualifying for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the third consecutive season. In the preliminary round of the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs, United lost at home to Montreal Impact, 2–4. The late October loss in the MLS Cup Playoffs was United's last competitive game of the year.

United's top scorers during the campaign came from newcomers, both of whom had previous played for MLS franchises: Lamar Neagle from Seattle Sounders FC lead the team with 10 goals across all competitions. Mid-season signee, Patrick Mullins, from New York City FC had eight goals during the campaign. Additionally, newcomer Luciano Acosta, a loanee from Boca Juniors lead United during the 2016 season with 11 assists across all competitions.

Background

Preseason

January

D.C. United entered 2016 in desperate need of a makeover in midfield. The team traded winger Chris Pontius to the Philadelphia Union, they were unable to reach a new agreement with long-time central midfielder Perry Kitchen. Kitchen's central midfield partner, Davy Arnaud seemed unlikely to make a recovery from a concussion suffered in September 2015. Also Michael Farfan was released. Although the team traded for two wingers, Lamar Neagle and Patrick Nyarko, they were still in need of help in the center of the pitch. At the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, the team traded up two positions to select a Generation Adidas player from Syracuse University, midfielder Julian Buescher. The team then traded its own first round selection for a pick in the second round along with TAM money. The team used the pick to Select another midfielder, from 2015 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship Game runner-up Clemson University, Paul Clowes. However, the team was still in search of more experienced players, and stories began surfacing that the team was trying to sign various foreign midfielders, including Leonardo Gil and Antonio Nocerino. The biggest news of the preseason, though, was probably the announcement that the team's star player, goalkeeper Bill Hamid had reinjured his knee during the off-season and was forced to have knee surgery that was expected to sideline him for several months.

February

Having set their sights on A.C. Milan player Antonio Nocerino, D.C. United found their negotiation was undermined when Orlando City S.C.'s Kaka apparently convinced his former teammate to reject United's offer and pursue a contract with Orlando. Fortunately, a plan B quickly emerged. The team filled the holding mid slot by trading for MLS veteran Marcelo Sarvas, and got a bit of an unexpected boost when the name of a former acquisition target, Boca Junior's midfielder/forward Luciano Acosta suddenly showed up on the transfer rumor wires. Within a week, United had the diminutive midfielder signed and training in their Florida pre-season camp. The next day, Acosta even assisted on the lone goal in a match against Tampa Bay Rowdies. Reportedly, United agreed to a trade of a conditional draft pick to New York Red Bulls, who had gained discovery claim priority on Acosta, after United had relinquished its own. As preseason continued, the team released Conor Doyle to make way for a trialist from USL side Pittsburgh Riverhounds, winger Rob Vincent. United took to the pitch for the first time in 2016, with a 2015–16 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series against Querétaro F.C. In a match in the Mexican mountain city, D.C. United mostly held its own. But, missed chances by the visitors opened the door for the home team, which scored twice in the final 20 minutes, to take a daunting 2-0 lead in the series.

March

For the second straight year, the D.C. team bowed out in the quarterfinals of CONCACAF play. An away goal in the 4th minute locked up the series for Querétaro, but United did manage to reclaim some dignity with an impressive late strike for a goal by rookie Julian Büscher. Unable to practice with the team because of lingering post-concussion symptoms, Davy Arnaud retired from playing and joined the coaching staff. Because he had a guaranteed contract, Arnaud's retirement was not expected to free up any salary cap space, but it did open a roster spot. United made a trade to acquire the rights to U.S. youth international goalkeeper, Charlie Horton, who had left his English team, Leeds United, to play closer to home.

MLS regular season

In its 2016 Major League Soccer season opener, D.C. United started off well with a goal by newcomer Lamar Neagle to take a 1-0 lead over the LA Galaxy in the fifth minute. However, the Galaxy stormed back in the second half, led by former MLS MVP Mike Magee, and crushed D.C. 4-1. As D.C. traveled to Foxboro to face the New England Revolution, Andrew Dykstra was forced to sit out with back spasms, and Fabian Espindola was nursing a tender hamstring. The match ended in a scoreless draw. Dykstra later turned out to need back surgery that would sideline him for 10–12 weeks, [1] joining Hamid on the injury list and leaving the netminding duties up to sophomore keeper Travis Worra and the recently signed Horton.

DC hoped to bounce back in their home opener against the Colorado Rapids, but the team only managed a 1-1 draw thanks to Espindola coming off the bench and chipping a rebound into the net in the 80th minute. The following week, Steve Birnbaum and Álvaro Saborío were called up to their respective national teams in the US and Costa Rica. D.C. faced off against an FC Dallas side that was suffering even more losses from injury and national call-ups, but were crushed 3-0 after Dallas took advantage of multiple mistakes between Bobby Boswell and Kofi Opare, who filled in for Birnbaum.

April

D.C. United announced the signing of veteran MLS keeper Tally Hall to shore up their increasingly-wounded goalkeeping corps, which turned out to be a prescient move as Horton suffered a concussion during training and would not be ready in time for the next match. Still searching for their first victory of the season, D.C. instead found another draw in San Jose. Despite getting an early lead when Nyarko headed in a spectacular cross by Neagle, and seeing several miraculous saves from Worra, a mistake by Espindola late in the game quickly led to a game-tying goal by Adam Jahn. D.C. finally got its first win in 2016 when they returned home to face the Vancouver Whitecaps F.C. Espindola and Alvaro Saborio each scored a pair of goals, with the latter player's goals both assisted by Acosta late in the second half, to notch a 4-0 shutout. Unfortunately, the team's good fortune would be short-lived, when they allowed Sebastian Giovinco to score in the first minute of the very next game, leading to a 1-0 defeat against Toronto.

On April 20, the MLS Disciplinary Committee suddenly announced that they would suspend manager Ben Olsen and fine him $500 for stepping onto the field during the Toronto match. [2] With Chad Ashton as their acting manager, D.C. bounced back in their very next match with a 3-0 victory against New England. Neagle opened the scoring for D.C. and Saborio closed it out with another late insurance goal, but the most memorable moment of the game came when Lucho Acosta scored a fabulous goal—a long distance chip over the goalie that struck the bottom of the crossbar and went in the net for Acosta's first goal in a D.C. United uniform. The goal also earned Acosta the MLS Goal of the Week honor. United closed out the month on the road against the Chicago Fire. The Fire scored first on a free kick late in the first half, but D/C was able to level the score when Nyarko headed home a cross from Acosta.

May

Despite missing several key players, D.C. United started off the month of May expecting three points in a home match against cellar-dwelling NYCFC, but the team missed some good chances to score in the first half and the visiting team punished them with 2 goals early in the second half, the first by Spanish star David Villa and the second by Khiry Shelton. 5 days later, D.C. hosted the other team from the New York region, the potent New York Red Bulls The biggest home crowd of the season turned out for this rivalry match, and the home team responded with a strong overall effort. Nyarko sent Sarvas in on goal with a terrific through ball, and Sarvas unselfishly sent a pass across the goal to a waiting Saborio, who had an easy tap-in to take the lead. Worra delivered with several spectacular saves to maintain United's lead, and the team closed out the first half with a spectacular goal, as Neagle served up a sharp cross that Nyarko was able to turn into a goal with an impressive outside of the foot volley shot that sealed the 2-0 win.

The team also made a couple of personnel changes during that short home-stand, acquiring a young striker from Sierra Leone, via Sweden, Alhaji Kamara. Kamara had been ruled out from UEFA competition due to the discovery of a congenital heart defect that was deemed to pose risk to the striker's life. However, cardiologists hired by both D.C. United and MLS [3] decided Kamara was healthy enough to safely participate in the sport. To make room for Kamara, the team waived Clowes.

On the pitch, the team continued to struggle to produce offense, and dropped point when they surrendered a stoppage-point goal on a trip to the Philadelphia Union. Days after the 0-1 loss to the Union, the team announced that they had mutually parted ways with Markus Halsti, just as he was called up to the Finnish national team. Halsti had been plagued by injuries and fitness concerns, and only appeared in one match for the team in 2016, as a substitute in the second leg of the CCL against Querétaro.

On the 27th, despite furious storms that nearly scuttled the match, D.C. United managed to sneak away with a victory when the newly signed Kamara subbed in for Neagle in the 85th minute, and then scored his first goal for the team less than a minute later, giving his new team a 1-0 victory over Sporting KC.

June

United failed to build on the momentum of the Kansas City win, suffering a crushing 0-2 home loss to Seattle, on late goals by rookie Jordan Morris and Joevin Jones. The entire MLS went on break for the Copa América Centenario. Birnbaum and Saborio were called up to their respective national team squads for the USA and Costa Rica. During the league break, the team made an unusual move, adding 16-year old youth national team captain Chris Durkin as a Homegrown Player signing. Durkin was one of the youngest signings in league history, but the unusual deal did not add Durkin to D.C. United's MLS roster. Instead, he was available to play in a U.S. Open Cup match the next day, and would go out on loan after the match, first to Richmond Kickers, and then to resume his residency with the national team program in Bradenton as least until the USA U-17s finished their run at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Durkin did make his debut in the USOC match and by all accounts looked very much as if he belonged. However, the team was unable to break through against the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers defense, and the D.C. squad made a quick exit from the competition, after losing to the Strikers in a penalty kick shootout. When MLS league action resumed, United claimed 4 points in their final 2 matches of the month, including a dreary 0-0 draw in Houston that produced no excitement until stoppage time, when Bill Hamid was forced into two spectacular reaction saves. D.C. United turned in a stronger performance with some home cooking against the New England Revolution, as Neagle and Franklin turned in highlight reel goals, and the home team cruised to a 2-0 win.

July

July began with another impotent showing from the United offense in a place where the team had long ago become accustomed to losing. Despite repeated jaw-dropping heroics by goalie Hamid, United fell behind in Utah to home team Real Salt Lake on a 52nd-minute goal. United seemed resigned to another road loss at Rio Tinto Stadium until Jeffrey scored a header on a stoppage time corner kick to gain the surprise point. That result, however, seemed a distant memory the next week, when United traveled to the Philadelphia Union, and suffered the team's worst loss to that franchise, a 3-0 drubbing with 2 first-half penalty kick goals and a second yellow-card ejection for Opare. starting in place of captain Boswell, who had been beaten several times in the previous match against RSL.

D.C. United did bounce back the next week on a trip to Columbus. The game marked the first appearance for the D.C. side by long-time nemesis Lloyd Sam, acquired in a trade with the N.Y. Red Bulls. United seemed the more likely side for much of the match in Columbus, but surrendered a goal to the Crew's scoring sensation, Ola Kamara, in the 63rd minute. The D.C. team did catch a break 10 minutes later as Harrison Afful was shown a red card for a sliding challenge on Sarvas. That card was rescinded later by the Disciplinary Committee, but United was able to press the man advantage and gained a point when late substitute Fabian Espindola pounced on a loose ball and shot it past the reach of the Crew goalie. That thrilling moment proved to be the coda to Espindola's career with D.C. United as "Fabi" was traded the next week to the Vancouver Whitecaps in what amounted to a 3-way deal that saw former University of Maryland Terrapins star Patrick Mullins move from NYCFC to D.C. United, with the NYC side getting one of D.C.'s international roster slots. The acquisition of Mullins was one local fans had hoped for since the Hermann award winner left school.

The team's long July road trip finished in Toronto, where Worra started for an injured Hamid. It was a tough lesson for Worra, who was beat for two free kick goals by Sebastian Giovinco in a 4-1 loss. When the team finally returned to RFK, the newly acquired Mullins made his first start for United and put his new team ahead with a header, but the team surrendered a late tying goal to the visiting Montreal Impact, not long after Montreal's star striker Didier Drogba had been sent off for a dead ball foul. The match also marked the first appearance for United by Kennedy Igboananike, who had just been acquired in a trade with the Chicago Fire.

August

D.C.'s homestand continued with a match against the Eastern Conference leading Philadelphia Union. United took the lead when Kemp intercepted a pass in the defensive end, raced through the Union defense and beat the goalie to the far post. However, the Union tied the game on a free kick just before halftime. The visitors took the lead when Acosta was dispossessed as he tried to dribble out of the defensive end and former United star Chris Pontius continued a remarkable renaissance in his first season away from D.C. and put the Union ahead. United's coach, Ben Olsen was ejected late in the second half for protesting one of many uncalled fouls on Acosta. Despite missing their leader, United pushed hard for a tying goal. Despite having a couple of apparent goals waved off by the officials, the team finally found the tying goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time, when Birnbaum got his head on the end of a service into the box by Nyarko. Despite being only a draw, it was a very emotional goal for the players and fans, but the home draw meant the team remained outside of playoff contention.

After getting only 2 points on draws in the first two games of the four-game homestand, United was desperate for a win when Portland Timbers came to town. The start of the game was delayed an hour because of record-setting heat that exceeded 100 degrees (on the Fahrenheit scale), but United got off to a hot start themselves. An early corner was headed on by Boswell to Birnbaum, who took his chance on a sharp volley to give D.C. an early lead. The team doubled that lead in the 29th minute, just before a scheduled heat break, when Acosta finished a chance in front of goal, set up by a nifty chipped pass from Mullins. Thanks to the usual heroics by Hamid, the team held on for a 2-0 shutout win that lifted United ahead of New England and at least temporarily holding the sixth and final postseason spot in the East.

The four-game homestand concluded with a Sunday afternoon national TV game against arch-rivals New York Red Bulls. Despite a pre-game shower during warm-ups and with inclement weather approaching, the teams kicked off on time, but the game was stopped just shy of the 8:00 mark, because a powerful storm was about to settle over RFK. After the torrential rains eased somewhat, grounds-crew tried to remove some of the bigger puddles of water and play resumed after a delay of about an hour and a quarter. Despite epically sloppy conditions, United was able to create some excellent chances to score, but their finishing was not up to the task. NYRB punished the home team's mistakes when Bradley Wright-Phillips finished off a play that opened up when Franklin whiffed on an attempted clearance due to poor footing. The visitors extended their lead in the second half on a shot by Felipe. As the team had done 2 weeks earlier, a desperate United team was able to rally to gain a home draw. First, Marcelo Sarvas scored on a penalty kick, earned by Lloyd Sam, who was playing against his old team for the first time. The tying goal was scored on a header by Patrick Mullins after Birnbaum headed a long corner kick back into the box. With a mid-week trip to Montreal looming, United were clinging to the final post-season slot, holding a tiebreaker edge over Orlando City SC.

In Montreal, United got off to an early lead on a penalty kick goal by Neagle, but Neagle gave it away late in the match when his turnover in the defensive zone was quickly turned into the tying goal. Still, the point was enough to hold on to the playoff position spot in the table.

D.C. United closed out an unbeaten August with some good home cooking and a 6-2 drubbing of the cellar-dwelling Chicago Fire SC. Acosta opened the scoring in the 25th minute, finishing off a cross through the box from Sarvas. Against the run of play, Hamid surrendered the lead six minutes later, when he gave up a big rebound on a long shot and he was helpless to deny the follow-up shot. However, United was soon playing with a man advantage after a Fire player was ejected for dissent. Mullins then slotted home a Nyarko pass to put United ahead again, and just before halftime Mullins finished off a pass from Acosta to extend the lead to 2 goals. The Fire responded with a goal just before the whistle for halftime. However, in the second half, a Nyarko volley just got across the line to restore the two-goal lead. Mullins added another goal to get the first hat-trick of the year for United, and Deleon came off the bench to close out the 6-2 scoreline with a crisp shot past the outstretched Chicago goalie, which was Deleon's first goal of the year.

September

D.C. United opened September with a Thursday match in Yankee Stadium against NYCFC without Steven Birnbaum, who was called up to play in his first United States Men's National Soccer Team World Cup qualifying match. Jalen Robinson played well over the first hour ad a quarter, as D.C. protected a 1-0 lead gained when Sam finished off a play started by Acosta and assisted by Nyarko. However, an errant back-pass by Luke Mishu, found its way to David Villa, who easily beat Hamid. In the 85th minute, Villa received a ball in the box and he was taken down by Robinson. Advantage was played when Frank Lampard collected the loose ball and beat Hamid with a laser shot. United seemed to have recovered for a draw, when Neagle headed in a corner kick by Büscher in stoppage time. However, the defense couldn't slow down the NYCFC attack and Lampard was able to get Robinson to slide early and then took the open shot to give NYCFC the 3-2 win in the third minute of stoppage time. In addition to the disappointing result for the team, Acosta received a yellow card which mean he would miss the next match due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Before the team's next match at NYRB, Andrea Mancini was released to join the New York Cosmos, freeing up an international roster slot, and allowing the team to activate Kamara, who had sat out over six weeks with a hamstring injury. Without Acosta, United seemed hopelessly overmatched by the potent NYRB in a match scheduled to honor the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Indeed, the Red Bulls went ahead in the first half following a Nyarko defensive turnover that led to a historic goal by Bradley Wright-Phillips, giving BWP the most goals over a 3-year stretch by any player in league history. In the second half, Wright-Phillips caught Hamid leaning towards the far post and slammed it past him to the near side, giving NY a 2-0 lead. The New York team only turned up the pressure, but Hamid responded with multiple highlight reel saves to keep his team in the match. In the 89th minute, a loose ball in the box came to Birnbaum, and he delivered with a shot that narrowed the gap to 2-1. Then, in the 5th minute of stoppage time, a loose ball in the box came to Neagle for an easy tap-in, and United emerged with a shocking draw against the run of play. The result was the first time that NYRB had ever surrendered a 2-goal lead in Red Bull Arena.

A short week two-game road trip concluded on a Friday in Chicago, where D.C. once again rescued a point in the final minutes. The game started brightly for the visitors, when they were awarded an indirect free kick just outside the Fire's 6-yard box. Rob Vincent scored his first MLS goal, with a blast through the defense, assisted by Acosta. However, the Fire responded quickly as Luke Mishu, playing for the injured Franklin, lost his mark on a corner kick and surrendered a header for goal. The Fire made it 2-0 not long thereafter, as David Accam dribbled around Birnbaum and took a long shot that found the corner of the goal. Down a goal, United turned in a tired display, and seemed destined for a defeat. As the game went into stoppage time, Mullins took a chance with a spectacular overhead volley that rang off the crossbar. The rebound went to Nyarko, who forced a save by the diving Sean Johnson, but Boswell headed that rebound in for the tying goal. The draw again put United ahead of Orlando City Soccer Club in the race for the final playoff position, – but only on the goal differential tiebreaker with a big home match against Orlando City looming the following weekend. Both teams actually trailed New England Revolution in that race, by two points, but the Revolution had played an additional game.

The match against Orlando City was a hit at the box office, as the official attendance at RFK Stadium exceeded 25,000 for the first time in years. D.C. rewarded the big home crowd with a fluid performance that produced a 4-1 win and gave United a cushion over the visitors in the playoff chase. Mullins opened the scoring in the 34th minute, getting a foot on a cross across the goalmouth from Kemp, which followed a nifty back heel from Nyarko that created Kemp's chance. Two goals in quick succession put the game out of reach early in the second half. Sam got a header on a cross by Kemp, who had his second assist of the match. That was followed by Mullins' second goal, when the striker collected a pass from Nyarko, slipped wide of a defender, and cut the ball back just inside the far post. Orlando did get one back on a free kick in the 72nd minute, but the rookie Julian Büscher, who subbed on for an injured Sarvas in the first half, capped off the scoring with a goal in the 90th minute. The goal was Büscher's first in MLS play.

The midweek match at home against Columbus Crew SC was almost the opposite. Rain earlier in the day and a rainy forecast resulted in a small, but enthusiastic crowd. The visitors controlled play over most of the first hour, but United began to assert itself and seized control when Acosta was able to deliver the ball to Sam just outside the six-yard box. Sam created a shooting lane and took advantage with a shot that put United in the lead, even as Neagle stood at midfield waiting to come on for Sam. Fifteen minutes later, it was Neagle whose shot found the back of the net. He finished off a play that began when Nyarko got on the end of a long kick by Hamid and passed to Büscher. Then, Büscher passed to Neagle, who was unmarked inside the 18-yard box. A 3-0 victory was in the books after Neagle collected a long outlet pass by Hamid and then set up Saborio in front of the goal in the 90th minute. The Costa Rican had not played in over a month but showed no sign of rust as he neatly beat the Crew goalie. It was the first time in 2016 that D.C. had won two games in a row, and it stretched the team's home unbeaten streak to 8 games. The win solidified United's hold on 6th place and a playoff spot, stretching the lead over New England to four points, but United also trailed Montreal by only a point and Philadelphia by only two points, with three games remaining in the regular season.

October

For D.C. United, the final month of MLS' regular season began the way the prior month ended—with a victory, one that extended the winning streak to three games in a row. Following the midweek win over the Crew, United traveled to Toronto, where they faced a Toronto F.C. squad that had struggled since their star Giovinco was injured. Jozy Altidore, however, continued his hot streak. as he dribbled past both Birnbaum and Hamid and scored to stake the home team to a lead in the 36th minute. But, Neagle scored on a header three minutes later to level the score, when a goalmouth scramble forced a saved by the Toronto goalie that found its way to Neagle in front of the goal. Neagle made it two in the second half when he got on the end of a Sam pass and touched it beyond the keeper's reach. Pending the next day's Montreal Impact match, the win catapulted D.C. at least temporarily into 4th place in the Eastern Conference. The Toronto match was followed by a break for international games, and both Birnbaum and Hamid were called into the national team. Birnbaum made the trip to Cuba where he was a second-half substitute, but a kick to the face left him bloody and needing stitches.

Despite the incident in Havana, Birnbaum was in the starting lineup when NYCFC came to RFK in the final home game of the regular season for DC. Playing before an announced crowd of over 30,000, United played as strong a half as the team had at any time under Coach Ben Olsen. Patrick Mullins put DC out in front as he finished a Lloyd Sam cross in the 27th minute. Four minutes later, Boswell headed in a Sam corner kick to give the home team a much deserved 2-0 lead. Just before halftime, a defensive error allowed United to extend the lead to 3-0. An errant back pass found its way to Mullins, who then found Rob Vincent at the top of the box, leaving Vincent with a wide-open goal to shoot at for his second MLS goal. NYCFC got one back after the 70' mark, when David Villa drew a soft penalty call, and then beat Hamid on the penalty kick. The 3-1 win clinched a postseason spot for United and left them a point ahead of Montreal in the race for 4th place and a home-field advantage in the play-in game.

D.C. closed out the regular season in Orlando knowing that they would be hosting the play-in round match four days later so long as the Montreal Impact did not win at New England, so it probably should not have surprised anyone that Coach Olsen started a line-up made of entirely of reserves and a few players returning from lengthy injury spells. Not surprisingly, Orlando City dominated the match, winning 4-2, despite United goals by Saborio and Igboananike, who notched his first goal for United, with Büscher assisting on both goals. Montreal fell to defeat to the Revolution, however, so D.C. would host the Impact in the mid-week play-in match.

United's season came to a crashing end in the playoff match against Montreal Impact. In the 3rd minute, captain Bobby Boswell made a huge mental mistake, ignoring his goalie's pleas to allow a missed shot to bounce over the end line and under no pressure, Boswell played it out for a corner. Montreal converted on the set piece as Laurent Ciman ran onto the cross and volleyed to give the visitors the early lead. United was frustrated by the Impact defense, and finally surrendered a second goal late in the first half after a failed clearance gave the Impact a chance to run at the D.C. defense. Ignacio Piatti chipped the ball behind the back line and Matteo Mancosu ran on to the pass and slotted it in for a 2-0 lead. The lead grew to 3-0 when a Mancosu header beat Hamid. United began showing some life late, but two Birnbaum headers were cleared off the line. The result was put beyond any doubt when Mancosu and Piatti combined on a breakaway, with Piatti getting the goal. D.C. did manage to make the scoreline more respectable in the closing moments, as Neagle headed in a Nyarko cross for a goal in the 90th minute and Kemp scored unassisted in stoppage time with a screamer inside the post from 25 yards. Though the team showed the same late-game fire they had for the last 3 months, they had dug too deep a hole, and a 4-2 loss began the long off-season.

Squad

Roster

As of 9 September 2016
Squad No.NameNationalityPosition(s)Previous clubDate of birth (age)
Goalkeepers
28 Bill Hamid formerly HGP Flag of the United States.svg GK Flag of the United States.svg D.C. United Academy November 25, 1990 (age 33)
30 Charlie Horton Flag of the United States.svg GK Flag of England.svg Leeds United September 14, 1994 (age 29)
48 Travis Worra Flag of the United States.svg GK Flag of the United States.svg New Hampshire Wildcats April 19, 1993 (age 31)
50 Andrew Dykstra Flag of the United States.svg GK Flag of the United States.svg Charleston Battery January 2, 1986 (age 38)
Defenders
2 Taylor Kemp Flag of the United States.svg LB / WB Flag of the United States.svg Maryland Terrapins July 23, 1990 (age 33)
5 Sean Franklin Flag of the United States.svg RB / WB Flag of the United States.svg LA Galaxy March 21, 1985 (age 39)
6 Kofi Opare Flag of Ghana.svg CB Flag of the United States.svg LA Galaxy October 12, 1990 (age 33)
15 Steve Birnbaum formerly GA Flag of the United States.svg CB / RB Flag of the United States.svg California Golden Bears January 23, 1991 (age 33)
20 Jalen Robinson HGP Flag of the United States.svg CB / DM Flag of the United States.svg Wake Forest Demon Deacons May 8, 1994 (age 30)
22 Chris Korb Flag of the United States.svg RB / WB Flag of the United States.svg Akron Zips October 8, 1987 (age 36)
32 Bobby Boswell (C) Flag of the United States.svg CB Flag of the United States.svg Houston Dynamo March 15, 1983 (age 41)
34 Luke Mishu Flag of the United States.svg RB / CB Flag of the United States.svg Notre Dame Fighting Irish June 26, 1991 (age 32)
Midfielders
7 Marcelo Sarvas Flag of Brazil.svg CM / AM Flag of the United States.svg Colorado Rapids October 16, 1981 (age 42)
8 Lloyd Sam Flag of Ghana.svg LW / RW Flag of the United States.svg New York Red Bulls September 27, 1984 (age 39)
11 Luciano Acosta Flag of Argentina.svg AM / FW Flag of Argentina.svg Boca Juniors May 31, 1994 (age 30)
12 Patrick Nyarko Flag of Ghana.svg RW Flag of the United States.svg Chicago Fire January 15, 1986 (age 38)
13 Lamar Neagle Flag of the United States.svg LW / FW Flag of the United States.svg Seattle Sounders FC May 7, 1987 (age 37)
14 Nick DeLeon formerly GA Flag of the United States.svg CM / LM Flag of the United States.svg Louisville Cardinals July 17, 1990 (age 33)
21 Chris Durkin HGP Flag of the United States.svg DM Flag of the United States.svg Richmond Kickers February 8, 2000 (age 24)
25 Jared Jeffrey Flag of the United States.svg CM / AM Flag of Germany.svg Mainz 05 July 14, 1990 (age 33)
26 Rob Vincent Flag of England.svg CM Flag of the United States.svg Pittsburgh Riverhounds October 26, 1990 (age 33)
27 Collin Martin HGP Flag of the United States.svg CM Flag of the United States.svg Wake Forest Demon Deacons November 9, 1994 (age 29)
33 Julian Büscher GA Flag of Germany.svg CM / AM Flag of the United States.svg Syracuse Orange April 22, 1993 (age 31)
Forwards
9 Álvaro Saborío Flag of Costa Rica.svg FW Flag of the United States.svg Real Salt Lake March 25, 1982 (age 42)
16 Patrick Mullins Flag of the United States.svg FW Flag of the United States.svg New York City FC February 5, 1992 (age 32)
17 Miguel Aguilar Flag of Mexico.svg FW / RW Flag of the United States.svg San Francisco Dons August 30, 1993 (age 30)
18 Chris Rolfe (VC) Flag of the United States.svg FW / LW Flag of the United States.svg Chicago Fire January 17, 1983 (age 41)
45 Alhaji Kamara Flag of Sierra Leone.svg FW Flag of Sweden.svg Norrköping April 16, 1994 (age 30)
77 Kennedy Igboananike Flag of Nigeria.svg FW Flag of the United States.svg Chicago Fire February 26, 1989 (age 35)

Competitions

Preseason friendlies

January 29 Elfsborg Flag of Sweden.svg 1–0 D.C. United Bradenton
19:00 EDT Claesson Soccerball shade.svg4' Report Stadium: IMG Academy
February 2 J-Södra Flag of Sweden.svg 2–2 D.C. United Bradenton
15:00 EDT Cibicki Soccerball shade.svg48'
Siwe Soccerball shade.svg58'
Espíndola Soccerball shade.svg4' (pen.)
Aguilar Soccerball shade.svg61'
Stadium: IMG Academy
February 5 Brann Flag of Norway.svg Cancelled D.C. United Bradenton
10:00 EDT Stadium: IMG Academy

Suncoast Invitational

Major League Soccer

League tables

Eastern Conference
PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPtsQualification
2 New York City FC 34151096257+554 MLS Cup Conference Semifinals
3 Toronto FC 34149115139+1253 MLS Cup Knockout Round
4 D.C. United 341110135347+646
5 Montreal Impact 341111124953445
6 Philadelphia Union 34111495255342
Source: MLS
Overall
PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
8 Sporting Kansas City 34131384241+147
9 Real Salt Lake 341212104446246
10 D.C. United 341110135347+646
11 Montreal Impact 341111124953445
12 Portland Timbers 34121484853544
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored;

Results

March 61 LA Galaxy 4–1 D.C. United Carson
22:00 EDT Steres Soccerball shade.svg54'
Magee Soccerball shade.svg64', 87'
Keane Soccerball shade.svg83' (pen.)
Report Neagle Soccerball shade.svg5'Yellow card.svg 48'
Franklin Yellow card.svg 59'
DeLeon Yellow card.svg 86'
Stadium: StubHub Center
Attendance: 25,667
March 12 2 New England Revolution 0–0 D.C. United Foxborough
22:00 EDT Koffie Yellow card.svg 26' Report Acosta Yellow card.svg 45+1'
Franklin Yellow card.svg 56'
DeLeon Yellow card.svg 64'
Sarvas Yellow card.svg 87'
Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 16,102
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
March 203 D.C. United 1–1 Colorado Rapids Washington, D.C.
17:00 EDT Espindola Soccerball shade.svg80'
Sarvas Yellow card.svg 86'
Report Watts Yellow card.svg 19'
Powers Yellow card.svg 45+1'Soccerball shade.svg69'
Sjöberg Yellow card.svg 49'
Azira Yellow card.svg 73'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 15,334
Referee: Chris Penso
March 264 D.C. United 0–3 FC Dallas Washington, D.C.
17:30 EDT Sarvas Yellow card.svg 37' Red card.svg 66'
Rolfe Yellow card.svg 61'
Report Barrios Soccerball shade.svg14', 28'Yellow card.svg 60'
Gruezo Yellow card.svg 30'
Urruti Soccerball shade.svg52'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 14,201
Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
April 25 San Jose Earthquakes 1–1 D.C. United San Jose
22:30 EDT Francis Yellow card.svg 31'
Imperiale Yellow card.svg 55'
Jahn Soccerball shade.svg88'
Report Nyarko Soccerball shade.svg34'Yellow card.svg 64'
Kemp Yellow card.svg 59'
Acosta Yellow card.svg 86'
Stadium: Avaya Stadium
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
April 96 D.C. United 4–0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Washington, D.C.
17:30 EDT Espindola Soccerball shade.svg39', 54'
Franklin Yellow card.svg 70'
Saborio Soccerball shade.svg88', 90+1'
Report Froese Yellow card.svg 65'Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 14,088
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
April 167 D.C. United 0–1 Toronto FC Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Sarvas Yellow card.svg 89'
Birnbaum Yellow card.svg 90+5'
Report Giovinco Soccerball shade.svg1'
Altidore Yellow card.svg 35'
Irwin Yellow card.svg 88'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 16,236
Referee: Mathieu Bourdeau
April 238 D.C. United 3–0 New England Revolution Washington, D.C.
17:00 EDT Sarvas Yellow card.svg 21'
Neagle Soccerball shade.svg33' (pen.)
Franklin Yellow card.svg 62'
Acosta Soccerball shade.svg86'
Saborío Soccerball shade.svg90'
Report Caldwell Yellow card.svg 45+1'
Gonçalves Yellow card.svg 68'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 16,005
Referee: Alan Kelly
April 309 Chicago Fire 1–1 D.C. United Bridgeview
17:00 EDT Campbell Soccerball shade.svg41'
Igboananike Yellow card.svg 44'
Report Rolfe Yellow card.svg 45+1'
Nyarko Soccerball shade.svg64'
Birnbaum Yellow card.svg 83'
Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 13,114
Referee: Edvin Jurisevic
May 8 10 D.C. United 0–2 New York City FC Washington, D.C.
19:30 EDT Acosta Yellow card.svg 3'
Jeffrey Yellow card.svg 47'
Büscher Yellow card.svg 90+4'
Report Villa Soccerball shade.svg49'
Shelton Soccerball shade.svg53'
Brillant Yellow card.svg 59'
Saunders Yellow card.svg 78'
Bravo Yellow card.svg 79'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 14,504
Referee: Allen Chapman
May 13 11 D.C. United 2–0 New York Red Bulls Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Sarvas Yellow card.svg 8'
Saborío Soccerball shade.svg20'
Nyarko Soccerball shade.svg43'
Birnbaum Yellow card.svg 45+1'
DeLeon Yellow card.svg 83'
Report Grella Yellow card.svg 11'
Duvall Yellow card.svg 41'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 19,632
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
May 2012 Philadelphia Union 1–0 D.C. United Chester
19:00 EDT Barnetta Yellow card.svg 80'
Gaddis Yellow card.svg 82'
Marquez Soccerball shade.svg90+1'Yellow card.svg 90+2'
Report Nyarko Yellow card.svg 45+1'
Birnbaum Yellow card.svg 53'
Stadium: Talen Energy Stadium
Attendance: 17,364
Referee: Jaime Herrera
May 2713 Sporting Kansas City 0–1 D.C. United Kansas City
00:00 EDT Dwyer Yellow card.svg 71'
Nagamura Yellow card.svg 78'
Report Sarvas Yellow card.svg 7'
Jeffrey Yellow card.svg 42'
Neagle Yellow card.svg 68'
Kamara Soccerball shade.svg86'
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 19,118
Referee: Alan Kelly
June 114 D.C. United 0–2 Seattle Sounders FC Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Espíndola Yellow card.svg 73' Report Ivanschitz Yellow card.svg 38'
Kovar Yellow card.svg 64'
Morris Soccerball shade.svg79'
Jones Soccerball shade.svg83'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 15,174
Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
June 1815 Houston Dynamo 0–0 D.C. United Houston
20:00 EDT Rodríguez Yellow card.svg 42' Report DeLeon Yellow card.svg 9'
Boswell Yellow card.svg 28'
Jeffrey Yellow card.svg 87'
Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
Attendance: 19,774
Referee: Allen Chapman
June 25 16 D.C. United 2–0 New England Revolution Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Neagle Soccerball shade.svg20'
Opare Yellow card.svg 22'
Franklin Soccerball shade.svg27'
Espíndola Yellow card.svg 57'
Acosta Yellow card.svg 67'
Report Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 16,051
Referee: Marcos de Oliveira
July 117 Real Salt Lake 1–1 D.C. United Sandy
22:30 EDT Beltran Yellow card.svg 19'
Beckerman Yellow card.svg 42'
Martínez Soccerball shade.svg52'
Report Kemp Yellow card.svg 3'
Boswell Yellow card.svg 81'
Jeffrey Soccerball shade.svg90+2'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 20,389
Referee: Juan Guzman
July 9 18 Philadelphia Union 3–0 D.C. United Chester
19:00 EDT Alberg Soccerball shade.svg20' (pen.)
Ilsinho Soccerball shade.svg37' (pen.), 47'
Report Opare Yellow card.svg 19'Yellow card.svg 65' Red card.svgStadium: Talen Energy Stadium
Attendance: 18,463
Referee: Sorin Stoica
July 1619 Columbus Crew 1–1 D.C. United Columbus
19:30 EDT Kamara Soccerball shade.svg63'
Trapp Yellow card.svg 21'
Afful Red card.svg 74'
Clark Yellow card.svg 88'
Fabian Espindola Soccerball shade.svg89'Stadium: Mapfre Stadium
Attendance: 20,065
Referee: Silvio Petrescu
July 2320 Toronto FC 4–1 D.C. United Toronto
19:30 EDT Chapman Yellow card.svg 17'
Giovinco Soccerball shade.svg21', 39', 90+1'
Delgado Soccerball shade.svg29'Yellow card.svg 60'
Moor Yellow card.svg 54'
Report Jeffrey Soccerball shade.svg24'Yellow card.svg 38'
Sarvas Yellow card.svg 28'
Stadium: BMO Field
Attendance: 26,349
Referee: Armando Villarreal
July 3121 D.C. United 1–1 Montreal Impact Washington, D.C.
18:30 EDT Mullins Soccerball shade.svg20'Yellow card.svg 77'
Sarvas Yellow card.svg 25'
Report Bekker Yellow card.svg 54'
Drogba Red card.svg 81'
Bernardello Soccerball shade.svg86'Yellow card.svg 90+2'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 16,728
Referee: Ted Unkel
August 622 D.C. United 2–2 Philadelphia Union Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Kemp Soccerball shade.svg16'
Acosta Yellow card.svg 58'
Birnbaum Soccerball shade.svg90+4'
Report Marquez Yellow card.svg 5'
Barnetta Soccerball shade.svg45+1'
Pontius Soccerball shade.svg57'
Tribbett Yellow card.svg 63'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 16,392
Referee: Jair Marrufo
August 1323 D.C. United 2–0 Portland Timbers Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Birnbaum Soccerball shade.svg7'
Acosta Soccerball shade.svg29'
Boswell Yellow card.svg 56'
Franklin Yellow card.svg 75'
Report Ridgewell Yellow card.svg 50'
Jewsbury Yellow card.svg 57'
Andriuskevicius Yellow card.svg 83'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 16,298
Referee: Jorge González
August 21 24 D.C. United 2–2 New York Red Bulls Washington, D.C.
15:00 EDT Acosta Yellow card.svg 36'
Marcelo Yellow card.svg 52'Soccerball shade.svg70' (pen.)
Mullins Soccerball shade.svg73'
Report B. Wright-Phillips Soccerball shade.svg38'
Felipe Soccerball shade.svg64'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 15,139
Referee: Ismail Elfath
August 2425 Montreal Impact 1–1 D.C. United Montreal
19:00 EDT Bush Yellow card.svg 36'
Camara Soccerball shade.svg77'
Report Birnbaum Yellow card.svg 8'
Neagle Soccerball shade.svg39' (pen.)
Sarvas Yellow card.svg 63'
Igboananike Yellow card.svg 67'
Opare Red card.svg 89'
Stadium: Stade Saputo
Attendance: 19,740
Referee: Robert Sibiga
August 2726 D.C. United 6–1 Chicago Fire Washington, D.C.
19:30 EDT Jeffrey Yellow card.svg 19'
Acosta Soccerball shade.svg25'
Mullins Soccerball shade.svg40', 45+1', 74'
Nyarko Soccerball shade.svg51'
DeLeon Soccerball shade.svg89'
Report de Leeuw Soccerball shade.svg31'
Thiam Red card.svg 34'
Cociș Yellow card.svg 45+2'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 15,720
Referee: Drew Fischer
September 127 New York City FC 3–2 D.C. United New York City
19:00 EDT Villa Soccerball shade.svg79'
Lampard Soccerball shade.svg85', 90+3'
Report Acosta Yellow card.svg 33'
Sam Soccerball shade.svg36'
Vincent Yellow card.svg 58'
Neagle Soccerball shade.svg90+1'
Stadium: Yankee Stadium
Attendance: 23,768
Referee: Chris Penso
September 11 28 New York Red Bulls 2–2 D.C. United Harrison
13:00 EDT Verón Soccerball shade.svg35'
B. Wright-Phillips Soccerball shade.svg54'
Report Vincent Yellow card.svg 24'
Sam Yellow card.svg 34'
Büscher Yellow card.svg 68'
Birnbaum Soccerball shade.svg89'
Neagle Soccerball shade.svg90+5'
Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Attendance: 20,086
Referee: Jair Marrufo
September 1629 Chicago Fire 2–2 D.C. United Bridgeview
20:00 EDT Cociș Soccerball shade.svg22'
Accam Soccerball shade.svg29'
Report Vincent Soccerball shade.svg19'
Boswell Soccerball shade.svg90+2'
Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 13,807
September 2430 D.C. United 4–1 Orlando City SC Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Acosta Yellow card.svg 25'
Mullins Soccerball shade.svg34', 53'
Sam Soccerball shade.svg51'
Büscher Yellow card.svg 59'Soccerball shade.svg90'
Vincent Yellow card.svg 72'
Report Nocerino Red card.svg 66'
Alston Yellow card.svg 67'
Baptista Soccerball shade.svg72'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 25,842
Referee: Sorin Stoica
September 2831 D.C. United 3–0 Columbus Crew Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Sam Soccerball shade.svg71'
Neagle Soccerball shade.svg86'
Saborío Soccerball shade.svg90'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 12,094
October 132 Toronto FC 1–2 D.C. United Toronto
19:30 EDT Altidore Soccerball shade.svg36' Report Vincent Yellow card.svg 22'
Neagle Soccerball shade.svg39', 58'
Acosta Yellow card.svg 83'
Stadium: BMO Field
Attendance: 22,212
Referee: Mark Geiger
October 1633 D.C. United 3–1 New York City FC Washington, D.C.
15:00 EDT Mullins Soccerball shade.svg27'
Boswell Soccerball shade.svg31'
Vincent Soccerball shade.svg45'
DeLeon Yellow card.svg 75'
Report Pirlo Yellow card.svg 53'
Villa Soccerball shade.svg72' (pen.)
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 30,943
Referee: Alan Kelly
October 2334 Orlando City SC 4–2 D.C. United Orlando
16:00 EDT Molino Soccerball shade.svg13'
Kaká Soccerball shade.svg21'
Higuita Soccerball shade.svg50'
Baptista Soccerball shade.svg89'
Report Saborío Soccerball shade.svg43'
Igboananike Soccerball shade.svg78'
Stadium: Camping World Stadium
Attendance: 30,022
Referee: Juan Guzman

MLS Cup Playoffs

Knockout round

October 27Knockout Round D.C. United 2–4 Montreal Impact Washington, D.C.
19:30 EDT Neagle Soccerball shade.svg90'
Kemp Soccerball shade.svg90+4'
Report Ciman Soccerball shade.svg4'
Mancosu Soccerball shade.svg43', 58'
Piatti Soccerball shade.svg83'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 12,773
Referee: Jair Marrufo

U.S. Open Cup

CONCACAF Champions League

2015–16

D.C. United advanced to the quarterfinals after dominating their Group with three wins and one draw. Lamar Neagle was ruled ineligible to play, as he had previously played in the group stage with the Seattle Sounders before being traded to D.C., and could not represent two different teams in the same competition. Miguel Aguilar was suspended from the first match due to yellow card accumulation in the group stage.

Quarterfinals
February 23First leg Querétaro Flag of Mexico.svg 2–0 D.C. United Querétaro City
20:00 EDT Candelo Soccerball shade.svg71'
Benítez Soccerball shade.svg83'
Report Sarvas Yellow card.svg 73'Stadium: Estadio Corregidora
Referee: Ramón Hernández
March 1Second leg D.C. United 1–1
(1–3 agg.)
Flag of Mexico.svg Querétaro Washington, D.C.
20:00 EDT Sarvas Yellow card.svg 12'
Boswell Yellow card.svg 72'
Büscher Soccerball shade.svg84'
Report Sepúlveda Soccerball shade.svg4'
Martínez Yellow card.svg 18'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 10,790
Referee: John Pitti

Transfers

In

No.Pos.PlayerTransferred fromFee/notesDateSource
13MF Flag of the United States.svg Lamar Neagle Flag of the United States.svg Seattle Sounders FC TradeDecember 7, 2015 [4]
12FW Flag of Ghana.svg Patrick Nyarko Flag of the United States.svg Chicago Fire Traded for SuperDraft pickJanuary 6, 2016 [5]
33MF Flag of Germany.svg Julian Büscher Flag of the United States.svg Syracuse Orange 2016 MLS SuperDraft 1st round pickJanuary 14, 2016
16MF Flag of England.svg Paul Clowes Flag of the United States.svg Clemson Tigers 2016 MLS SuperDraft 2nd round pickJanuary 14, 2016
DF Flag of the Isle of Man.svg Liam Doyle Flag of the United States.svg Ohio State Buckeyes 2016 MLS SuperDraft 4th round pickJanuary 19, 2016
7MF Flag of Brazil.svg Marcelo Sarvas Flag of the United States.svg Colorado Rapids Approximately $180,000February 1, 2016
11MF Flag of Argentina.svg Luciano Acosta Flag of Argentina.svg Boca Juniors On loan, with buyout optionFebruary 15, 2016 [6]
26MF Flag of England.svg Rob Vincent Flag of the United States.svg Pittsburgh Riverhounds Undisclosed FeeFebruary 17, 2016 [7]
30GK Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Horton Flag of England.svg Leeds United Free TransferFebruary 29, 2016 [8]
41MF Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Mancini Flag of Hungary.svg Szombathelyi Haladás Free TransferMarch 27, 2016 [9]
1GK Flag of the United States.svg Tally Hall Flag of the United States.svg Orlando City SC Free TransferApril 1, 2016 [10]
45FW Flag of Sierra Leone.svg Alhaji Kamara Flag of Sweden.svg Norrköping Free TransferMay 10, 2016 [3]
21MF Flag of the United States.svg Chris Durkin Flag of the United States.svg Richmond Kickers Signed as a Homegrown PlayerJune 14, 2016 [11]
8MF Flag of Ghana.svg Lloyd Sam Flag of the United States.svg New York Red Bulls Acquired in exchange for General Allocation MoneyJuly 7, 2016 [12]
16FW Flag of the United States.svg Patrick Mullins Flag of the United States.svg New York City F.C. Acquired in exchange for General Allocation Money and international roster slotJuly 20, 2016 [13]
77FW Flag of Nigeria.svg Kennedy Igboananike Flag of the United States.svg Chicago Fire Acquired in exchange for Targeted Allocation Money and a 3rd round pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraftJuly 29, 2016 [14]

Out

No.Pos.PlayerTransferred toFee/notesDateSource
7FW Flag of the United States.svg Eddie Johnson NoneRetiredNovember 1, 2015
19FW Flag of Costa Rica.svg Jairo Arrieta Flag of the United States.svg New York Cosmos Option DeclinedDecember 7, 2015
12MF Flag of the United States.svg Michael Farfan Flag of the United States.svg Seattle Sounders FC Option DeclinedDecember 7, 2015
21MF Flag of Argentina.svg Facundo Coria Flag of Argentina.svg Quilmes WaivedDecember 7, 2015
13FW Flag of the United States.svg Chris Pontius Flag of the United States.svg Philadelphia Union TradeDecember 6, 2015
23MF Flag of the United States.svg Perry Kitchen Flag of Scotland.svg Heart of Midlothian Contract expired, refused new contractDecember 23, 2015 [15] [16]
DF Flag of the Isle of Man.svg Liam Doyle Flag of the United States.svg Harrisburg City Islanders ReleasedFebruary 5, 2016 [17]
30FW Flag of the United States.svg Conor Doyle Flag of the United States.svg Colorado Rapids Trade for 3rd round pick in 2017 MLS SuperDraft February 9, 2016
8MF Flag of the United States.svg Davy Arnaud NoneRetired, staying as coach.March 3, 2016 [18]
16MF Flag of England.svg Paul Clowes Flag of the United States.svg Charlotte Independence WaivedMay 10, 2016
4MF Flag of Finland.svg Markus Halsti Flag of Denmark.svg Midtjylland Mutually Terminated ContractMay 25, 2016 [19]
10FW Flag of Argentina.svg Fabian Espindola Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Vancouver Whitecaps FC Trade in exchange for General Allocation MoneyJuly 20, 2016 [13]
1GK Flag of the United States.svg Tally Hall NoneRetiredJuly 29, 2016 [20]
41MF Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Mancini Flag of the United States.svg New York Cosmos ReleasedSeptember 9, 2016 [21]

Loan out

No.Pos.PlayerLoaned toStartEndSource
27MF Flag of the United States.svg Collin Martin Flag of the United States.svg Richmond Kickers March 23, 2016 [22]
20DF Flag of the United States.svg Jalen Robinson Flag of the United States.svg Richmond Kickers March 23, 2016 [22]
16MF Flag of England.svg Paul Clowes Flag of the United States.svg Richmond Kickers March 23, 2016May 10, 2016 [22]
30GK Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Horton Flag of the United States.svg Richmond Kickers May 17, 2016 [23]
26MF Flag of England.svg Rob Vincent Flag of the United States.svg Pittsburgh Riverhounds May 25, 2016June 11, 2016 [24]

Draft picks

2016 D.C. United Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollege
1 11 Julian Buescher Midfielder Syracuse
232 Paul Clowes Midfielder Clemson
467 Liam Doyle Defender Ohio State
74PASS
79PASS

Statistics

As of match played July 1, 2016

Appearances and goals

No.PosNatPlayerTotal MLS MLS Cup Playoffs U.S. Open Cup CONCACAF Champions League
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Taylor Kemp 36231+111+010+102+00
5 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Sean Franklin 32129+010+001+002+00
6 DF Flag of Ghana.svg  GHA Kofi Opare 11010+000+001+000+00
7 MF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Marcelo Sarvas 31126+210+100+002+00
8 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Lloyd Sam 14313+031+000+000+00
9 FW Flag of Costa Rica.svg  CRC Álvaro Saborío 2068+1160+000+000+10
11 MF Flag of Argentina.svg  ARG Luciano Acosta 35325+631+000+101+10
12 MF Flag of Ghana.svg  GHA Patrick Nyarko 29423+341+000+002+00
13 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Lamar Neagle 321021+1090+110+000+00
14 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Nick DeLeon 35127+511+000+002+00
15 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Steve Birnbaum 29326+031+000+002+00
16 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Patrick Mullins 15812+281+000+000+00
17 FW Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX Miguel Aguilar 700+600+001+000+00
18 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Chris Rolfe 1109+000+000+002+00
20 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jalen Robinson 503+100+001+000+00
21 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Chris Durkin 100+000+001+000+00
22 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Chris Korb 000+000+000+000+00
25 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jared Jeffrey 23214+721+001+000+00
26 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Rob Vincent 24212+821+001+001+10
27 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Collin Martin 201+100+000+000+00
28 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Bill Hamid 21020+001+000+000+00
30 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Charlie Horton 000+000+000+000+00
32 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Bobby Boswell 33229+121+000+002+00
33 MF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Julian Büscher 2423+1710+101+000+21
34 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Luke Mishu 805+200+001+000+00
45 FW Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  SLE Alhaji Kamara 711+510+001+000+00
48 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Travis Worra 14013+000+001+000+00
50 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Andrew Dykstra 301+000+000+002+00
77 FW Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Kennedy Igboananike 712+510+000+000+00
Players who left the club during the 2016 season
1 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tally Hall 000+000+000+000+00
4 MF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Markus Halsti 100+000+000+000+10
10 FW Flag of Argentina.svg  ARG Fabián Espíndola 1539+430+000+002+00
16 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Paul Clowes 000+000+000+000+00
41 MF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Andrea Mancini 100+000+000+100+00

Goals and assists

No.Pos.Name MLS MLS Cup U.S. Open Cup CONCACAF
Champions League
Total
GoalsAssistsGoalsAssistsGoalsAssistsGoalsAssistsGoalsAssists
13M/F Lamar Neagle 96100000106
16FW Patrick Mullins 8200000082
9FW Álvaro Saborío 6300000063
12MF Patrick Nyarko 4801000049
10FW Fabian Espindola 4100000142
11M/F Luciano Acosta 311000000311
8MF Lloyd Sam 3600000036
15D Steve Birnbaum 3200000032
2DF Taylor Kemp 1610000026
33MF Julian Büscher 1400001024
32D Bobby Boswell 2100000021
26MF Rob Vincent 2000000020
25MF Jared Jeffrey 2000000020
5DF Sean Franklin 1200000012
7MF Marcelo Sarvas 1200000012
45FW Alhaji Kamara 1000000010
14MF-D Nick DeLeon 1000000010
77FW Kennedy Igboananike 1000000010
18F Chris Rolfe 0100000001

Disciplinary record

No.Pos.Name MLS MLS Cup U.S. Open Cup CONCACAF
Champions League
Total
Yellow card.svgRed card.svgYellow card.svgRed card.svgYellow card.svgRed card.svgYellow card.svgRed card.svgYellow card.svgRed card.svg
7MF Marcelo Sarvas 111000020111
11M/F Luciano Acosta 9000000090
25MF Jared Jeffrey 5000000050
15DF Steve Birnbaum 5000000050
5DF Sean Franklin 5000000050
14MF Nick DeLeon 5000000050
26MF Rob Vincent 4000000040
32DF Bobby Boswell 3000001040
10FW Fabian Espindola 3000000030
33MF Julian Büscher 3000000030
12MF Patrick Nyarko 2000000020
13M/F Lamar Neagle 2000000020
18FW Chris Rolfe 2000000020
2DF Taylor Kemp 2000000020
6DF Kofi Opare 2200000022
8MF Lloyd Sam 1000000010
77F Kennedy Igboananike 1000000010
21MF Chris Durkin 0000100010
45FW Alhaji Kamara 0000100010

Starting XI

See also

Related Research Articles

The 2010 Real Salt Lake season was the sixth year of the club's existence. It was also the sixth year for the club in Major League Soccer and the sixth-consecutive year for the club in the top-flight of American soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Columbus Crew season</span> Columbus Crew 2010 soccer season

The 2010 Columbus Crew season was the fifteenth season of the team's existence and fifteenth in Major League Soccer (MLS).

The 2011 D.C. United season was D.C. United's 17th year of existence, their 16th season in Major League Soccer, and their 16th consecutive season in the top-flight of American soccer. D.C. United tried to salvage a poor showing last season where they finished at the bottom of the MLS standings. The season covers the period of November 1, 2010, through October 31, 2011.

The 2012 D.C. United season was the club's seventeenth season of existence, and their seventeenth consecutive season of playing in Major League Soccer, the top division of American soccer. The club's season began on March 10, with a 0–1 home defeat against Sporting Kansas City, and culminated on November 18 with a 1–1 draw against Houston Dynamo.

The 2012 Vancouver Whitecaps FC season was the Whitecaps' second season in Major League Soccer, the top tier of soccer in the United States and Canada. In 2011, the expansion Whitecaps FC struggled to find the results and finished at the bottom of the league table winning just six matches with none on the road. By finishing last overall in the regular season the Whitecaps FC received the 2nd overall pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft and 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft that were held in January 2012.

The 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final was the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the oldest ongoing competition in American soccer. The match featured Major League Soccer (MLS) teams D.C. United and Real Salt Lake. It was played on October 1, 2013, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, a southern suburb of Salt Lake City. It was the first Open Cup final to be held in the state of Utah. The final score was D.C. United 1, Real Salt Lake 0. This was D.C. United's third title.

The 2014 D.C. United season was the club's nineteenth season of existence, and their nineteenth in Major League Soccer, the top tier of the American soccer pyramid.

The 2013 Vancouver Whitecaps FC season was the Whitecaps' third season in Major League Soccer, the top tier of soccer in the United States and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Mullins</span> American soccer player

Patrick Michael Mullins is an American former professional soccer player. A left-footed forward, he was a two-time winner of the Hermann Trophy as the top men's college soccer player and was the leading scorer in NCAA Division I soccer in 2013. He scored 31 goals during an eight-season career in Major League Soccer (MLS), appearing with five different clubs.

The 2015 D.C. United season was the club's twentieth season of existence, and their twentieth in Major League Soccer, the top tier of the American soccer pyramid. The club entered the season as the defending Eastern Conference regular season champions.

The 2016 New York City FC season was the club's second season of competition and their second in the top tier of American soccer, Major League Soccer (MLS). New York City FC played their home games at Yankee Stadium in the New York City borough of The Bronx.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Major League Soccer season</span> 21st season of Major League Soccer

The 2016 Major League Soccer season featured 20 total clubs. The regular season began on March 6 and ended on October 23. The playoffs began on October 26 and ended on December 10. The defending MLS Cup champions were the Portland Timbers, while the New York Red Bulls were the defending Supporters' Shield winners. FC Dallas won the Supporter's Shield for the first time, and the Seattle Sounders FC won their first MLS Cup in their history after defeating Toronto FC 5–4 in a penalty kick shootout, after playing to a 0–0 result after regulation and added extra time.

The 2017 D.C. United season was D.C. United's 22nd season of existence, and their 22nd in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer.

The 2018 D.C. United season was D.C. United's 23rd season of existence, and their 23rd in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 D.C. United season</span> D.C. United 2019 soccer season

The 2019 D.C. United season was D.C. United's 24th season of existence, and their 24th in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. The campaign was the club's first full season playing in Audi Field. Previously, United spent 2018 split between the Maryland SoccerPlex, Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, and Audi Field.

The 2020 D.C. United season was the club's 25th season of existence, and their 25th consecutive season playing in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. The regular season began on February 29, 2020, and was suspended on March 12, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The club's season is resumed on July 13, 2020 with the MLS is Back Tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida, where group stage fixtures counted towards the regular season standings. The season ended on November 8, 2020 with their final regular season match.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Orlando City SC season</span> Season of American association football team

The 2020 Orlando City SC season was the club's 10th season of existence in Orlando and sixth season as a Major League Soccer franchise, the top-flight league in the United States soccer league system. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Open Cup was canceled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MLS Cup 2021</span> 2021 edition of the MLS Cup

MLS Cup 2021 was the 26th edition of the MLS Cup, the championship match of Major League Soccer (MLS) at the conclusion of the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs. The soccer match was played on December 11, 2021, at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, United States. It was contested by hosts Portland Timbers and New York City FC to determine the champion of the 2021 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Orlando City SC season</span> Season of American association football team

The 2022 Orlando City SC season was the club's 12th season of existence in Orlando and eighth season as a Major League Soccer franchise, the top-flight league in the United States soccer league system. The season was highlighted by a first trophy since joining MLS, winning the 2022 U.S. Open Cup with a 3–0 home victory over USL Championship team Sacramento Republic FC. Orlando City also reached the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs but were eliminated in the first round by CF Montréal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MLS Cup 2022</span> 2022 edition of the MLS Cup

MLS Cup 2022 was the 27th edition of the MLS Cup, the championship match of Major League Soccer (MLS) at the conclusion of the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs. The soccer match took place on November 5, 2022, at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, California, United States. It was contested by hosts Los Angeles FC from the Western Conference and the Philadelphia Union of the Eastern Conference to determine the champion of the 2022 season. Both clubs finished the regular season atop the Supporters' Shield standings, but LAFC earned the title with the wins tiebreaker.

References

  1. "DC United's Andrew Dykstra to have back surgery, out 10-12 weeks | MLSSoccer.com".
  2. "MLS suspends D.C. United Coach Ben Olsen for clearing stray ball off field during match". The Washington Post .
  3. 1 2 "Cleared by cardiologists, Sierra Leone's Alhaji Kamara joins D.C. United". The Washington Post .
  4. "D.C. United acquire Lamar Neagle from Seattle Sounders FC". DCUnited.com. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  5. "DC United acquire Chicago Fire winger Patrick Nyarko in exchange for 2016 SuperDraft pick". Major League Soccer. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  6. "With a 'bag of tricks,' Argentine playmaker Luciano Acosta joins D.C. United". The Washington Post .
  7. "D.C. United acquire Rob Vincent from Pittsburgh Riverhounds | DC United".
  8. "D.C. United signs U.S. under-23 national team goalkeeper Charlie Horton". The Washington Post .
  9. "United sign Andrea Mancini | DC United".
  10. "D.C. United sign Tally Hall | DC United".
  11. "D.C. United sign homegrown talent Chris Durkin | DC United".
  12. "United acquire Lloyd Sam | DC United".
  13. 1 2 "D.C. United trades Fabian Espindola to Vancouver, acquires Patrick Mullins from NYCFC". The Washington Post .
  14. "United acquire Kennedy Igboananike from Chicago Fire". D.C. United.
  15. Goff, Steven. "Perry Kitchen, D.C. United 'have moved on'". Washington Post. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  16. Keefer, Ryan (March 2, 2016). "Report: Perry Kitchen to sign with Scotland club Hearts".
  17. "D.C. United trims preseason roster after first stage of training camp". The Washington Post .
  18. "Davy Arnaud announces his retirement | DC United".
  19. "D.C. United and Markus Halsti mutually terminate contract | DC United".
  20. "Tally Hall retires from professional soccer | DC United".
  21. "Andrea Mancini released, joins New York Cosmos". September 9, 2016.
  22. 1 2 3 Dorr Jr., Vic (March 23, 2016). "D.C. United taps Martin, Robinson and Clowes for duty with Kickers". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  23. "Richmond boots aside amateur team in U.S. Open Cup". May 18, 2016.
  24. "HOUNDS WELCOME BACK VINCENT ON LOAN". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.