2015 D.C. United season

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D.C. United
2015 season
General managerDave Kasper
Head coachBen Olsen
StadiumRFK Stadium
MLSConference: 4th
Overall: 8th
MLS Cup PlayoffsConference Semifinals
U.S. Open CupFifth round
CONCACAF Champions League (14–15)Quarterfinals
CONCACAF Champions League (15–16)Quarterfinals
Atlantic CupRunner-up
Top goalscorerLeague: Chris Rolfe (6)
All: Jairo Arrieta (9)
Highest home attendance21,517
( vs. NYCFC)
Lowest home attendanceLeague: 11,218
(June 3 vs. Chicago)
All: 8,137
(Mar. 4 vs. Alajuelense)
Average home league attendanceLeague: 14,458
All: 13,932
← 2014
2016 →

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.

Outside of MLS regular season play, the club participated in the 2015 U.S. Open Cup, as well as the knockout stages of the 2014–15 CONCACAF Champions League and group stages of the 2015–16 CONCACAF Champions League.

Background[edit]

Pre-season[edit]

January[edit]

D.C. United began the season in 2015, after a successful 2014 campaign, in which D.C. United went undefeated during the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League group play. The team, seeking to maintain its success, thought to keep much of the team the same. In the final month of 2014, the team traded its late-season 2014 acquisition, reserve fullback/midfielder Samuel Inkoom, along with back-up goalkeeper Joe Willis, to the Houston Dynamo, in exchange for the MLS rights to Andrew Driver, whose contract had not been renewed by Houston. The main purpose of the trade was to remove an international player, Inkoom, from the roster, so the team could protect all of the major 2014 players in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft. In the expansion draft, the team did lose veteran reserve midfielder Lewis Neal along with Thomas McNamara, who had just been acquired by the team in the 2014 MLS Dispersal Draft that followed the dissolution of Chivas USA. The team added depth in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, selecting a projected winger, Miguel Aguilar, along with a central midfielder from the nearby University of Maryland, Dan Metzger.[1] Several days before the draft, the team also signed veteran Finnish international, Markus Halsti, from the Swedish side Malmö FF.[2] With Malmö, Halsti had played defensive midfield in recent years, after having spent the early years in his career playing as a defender. On the day before the SuperDraft, the team also traded one of its unused international player roster slots to the Columbus Crew in exchange for forward Jairo Arrieta.[3]

Ben Olsen, who was awarded league honors as the 2014 MLS Coach of the Year, continued to manage the side along with General Manager Dave Kasper. The team lost two 2014 assistant coaches, goalkeepers coach Preston Burpo and staff assistant Enzo Concina. Prior to the Superdraft, the team prepared to hire longtime MLS goalkeeper, former league All-Star and Maryland native Zach Thornton to replace Burpo.[4] Several D.C. United players were invited to participate in a January training camp for the United States men's national soccer team, including Perry Kitchen and Steve Birnbaum. 2014 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Bill Hamid had to decline because of a lingering shoulder injury.

The big offseason news for the team, however, did not involve players or the coaching staff. At the end of 2014, the team culminated years of searching for a site to construct a new stadium. The team's long efforts were rewarded in December 2014, with the passage of legislation by the D.C. City Council that committed the city to spend as much as $150 million to acquire and prepare the necessary land at Buzzard Point, which would be leased to the team for at least 30 years.[5] The team was prepared to build a stadium on the site for another $150 million. The bill was signed into law by the outgoing Mayor Vincent C. Gray, in his final days in office.[6] D.C. United hoped to move into its new 'soccer-specific' stadium for the 2017 season, and prepared to play the team's final 2 seasons in RFK Stadium.

February[edit]

D.C. United acquired Michael Farfan with its MLS Allocation signing spot and soon after released Driver and Metzger from the team. The team travelled to Austin, Texas where the Austin Aztex hosted a friendly 4-team tournament, the ATX Pro Challenge. D.C. managed to win this tournament by beating the host team with a pair of early goals in the semifinals, and then beating runner-up FC Dallas in the finals. The team won a bronze armadillo trophy for their efforts.

After the tourney, David Estrada was released from the team and undrafted goalkeeper Travis Worra was signed to provide depth at the position after Willis' departure. The team travelled to Costa Rica to fight Alajuelense in the quarterfinals of the CCL. Bill Hamid struggled with a back issue and stayed home while backup Andrew Dykstra was given the starting job. Unfortunately, several errors by Dykstra and the defense led D.C. United to a horrendous 2–5 defeat.

March[edit]

Despite a great effort to dig themselves out of a three-goal deficit, a lack of successful finishes and an accidental Own Goal by Chris Korb meant D.C. United would be knocked out of the CCL on a 4–6 aggregate score. The match was also notable for the referee handing out a combined nine yellow cards to both sides.

Regular season[edit]

After the MLS and the MLS Players Union managed to sign a new CBA, the team successfully opened the 2015 MLS season with a 1–0 win at home against the Montreal Impact. Fabian Espindola, Eddie Johnson and Luis Silva were all unable to play in the match, heavily draining DC's offense. The newly added Jairo Arrieta started at forward alongside a healthy Chris Pontius and scored the first goal of the season for the team. Following a bye week, DC United traveled to New Jersey to fight the rival New York Red Bulls. Unfortunately, an anemic offense and poor marking by the DC backline led to a dispiriting 2-0 defeat.

DC returned home to fight the defending MLS Champions, the LA Galaxy, in RFK. Sophomore center back Steve Birnbaum landed awkwardly on his ankle and had to be taken off the field in the fifth minute of play as Kofi Opare got his first league cap in a DC United uniform. Just as it appeared the game would end in a scoreless draw, at the very last minute of the match, Nick DeLeon broke free down the right wing and sent in a cross to Pontius, who fought off his own defender to head the ball past the keeper for a 1–0 victory.

April[edit]

A similar scenario would unfold in the very next match against Orlando City SC. Orlando had an advantage in ball possession and shots on goal, but Hamid's excellent saves would earn him another clean sheet. Silva, who finally returned from his preseason injury as a substitute, bent a direct free kick into the opposing net in stoppage time and secured a 1–0 victory for DC. When DC United returned home following the Orlando match, press reports emerged that Eddie Johnson's career was in jeopardy because of a heart defect. Although the team continued official radio silence on the issue, the Washington Post eventually reported that Johnson would no longer continue to be paid by the team. Outstanding issues remained to be negotiated before this would be officially confirmed. These issues included whether DC would be allowed to sign a replacement using the salary cap space budgeted to Johnson's contract.[7]

On the pitch, things continued fairly brightly for the team, which finished the month atop both the Eastern Conference and overall MLS standings based on most points per game. Despite squandering second-half leads at home against both the New York Red Bulls and the Houston Dynamo, United did not lose in April. Against New York, DC, took a 2–0 lead on a pair of goals by Perry Kitchen. The Red Bulls came back to get a point, culminating the comeback as Lloyd Sam knocked in a rebound when Hamid could not control a Sacha Kljestan free kick. In the next match, against the Dynamo, United's Chris Rolfe scored on a free kick from almost the same spot that the Red Bulls took their game-tying free-kick in the previous match. Once again, though, the defense failed to prevent a late goal on a tap-in following a rebound allowed by the DC goalie, This time it was Andrew Dykstra who was in the net, unable to prevent the tying goal. After the successive disappointing home draws, DC United finished the month with a surprising win in Vancouver, a first ever for the franchise. The Whitecaps opened the scoring in that match with a goal on their first foray forward, but DC responded with a goal by Bobby Boswell to knot the score. Just before halftime, Fabian Espindola, drew a foul along with a second yellow card for Whitecaps player, Matias Laba. Espindola was making his MLS season debut after serving a 6-game suspension. Playing with a man-advantage, United took the lead in the second half on a goal by Chris Rolfe. Defending the lead was made more challenging when goalie Andrew Dykstra injured his ankle and had to be subbed off. Dykstra was playing because Bill Hamid was back in Washington, missing his second straight match, nursing a thigh injury. Rookie Travis Worra came on to make his MLS debut, manning the goal as United held on for a 2–1 win.

May[edit]

The winning ways continued for United with three home games to start the month. In the first, United defeated the Columbus Crew 2–0, with two first half goals. The first came on a shot by Espindola that finished off a play that began with a 40-yard run by Rolfe, who got the assist on a perfectly weighted pass through the Crew defense. Espindola had the assist on the second goal with a corner kick to the far post when Sean Franklin volleyed for the goal. Back in goal for this game, Hamid earned yet another shutout. United's impressive home unbeaten streak continued a week later, with a 1–1 draw against Sporting Kansas City. A long pass from Perry Kitchen found Pontius, who chested the ball into the path of Jairo Arrieta, and Arrieta's shot found the back of the net. United gave away the lead about a minute later, just before halftime, as a cross by Sporting's Roger Espinoza found the foot of Dom Dwyer for the tying goal. Four nights later, United again defended Fortress RFK, against MLS debutantes, Orlando City SC. Missing star striker Espindola due to injury, United started slowly and Orlando capitalized as rookie Cyle Larin, the first pick in the 2015 MLS Superdraft, pounced on a loose ball in the box and beat goalie Bill Hamid. However, United was able to rally with two goals over the final 20 minutes to come away with a 2–1 win and regain the lead in the Supporters Shield race. A free kick by Taylor Kemp found the head of Opare, who was starting in place of the injured Birnbaum. Rolfe got the game-winner, stretching his leg out to get on the end of a cross by Arrieta, and tipping it in for the goal that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

An eight-game unbeaten streak came to a gut-wrenching end in Philadelphia. Despite playing an unfamiliar midfield that included Markus Halsti and Miguel Aguilar getting their first starts ever for United, and Michael Farfan in his second start, United seemed headed to an earning a point with a scoreless draw against the Philadelphia Union. After using all three substitutions, United was suddenly shorthanded in the game's final minutes, when Silva left the match because of a hamstring injury. In the 3rd minute of stoppage time, Zach Pfeffer got the winning goal for the Union. Traveling to Foxboro the next weekend to play the New England Revolution, United seemed headed to a dispiriting second straight loss, trailing 1-0 at halftime. When two players were shown red cards early in the second half, there was reason to expect United to rally and take the 3 points. Nonetheless, the team struggled to generate good chances. Desperate to find the tying goal, Coach Olsen even turned to a new player, Facundo Coria, who had been signed only the week before. Coria reward the move, sending a pass to Kemp in the left corner, and Kemp's cross found the foot of the streaking Arrieta, who scored the equalizing goal in a 1–1 draw that kept United on top of the Eastern Conference. United finished a hugely challenging road trip, playing the 3rd straight road game over an 8-day span, against the Portland Timbers. Because of injuries and tired legs, Olsen rolled out a decidedly second-choice lineup that featured a midfield consisting of Halsti, Aguilar, Jared Jeffrey and Luke Mishu. These players had a combined two starts in prior matches. Jeffrey was making only his second appearance in 2015 for United, and Mishu was not only starting for the first time, but making his first ever appearance in an MLS match. The makeshift lineup played surprisingly well, especially in the second half, but an early turnover by Kemp led to the game's only goal, as United left Portland empty-handed, with a 1–0 loss.

United closed out the month with another uplifting comeback in RFK. A 2–1 win over the Union extended United's home unbeaten streak to a team-record tying 19 games. Despite falling behind in the first 5 minutes for the second time in 4 nights, United was able to knot the score on a header by Pontius just before halftime, on another great cross into the box by Kemp. The winning goal came on a penalty kick taken by Rolfe in the 85th minute, leaving United where it began the month, on top of the Eastern Conference.

June[edit]

The first match for United in June saw yet another roaring comeback for the home side, setting a new team record by stretching the home unbeaten streak to 20 games.[8] The Chicago Fire faced another patchwork lineup from United. Birnbaum made his first start ever at left back with both Kemp and Korb out for injuries. Silva (who had not played since the injury he suffered in Philadelphia), Pontius and Hamid were also late scratches, and Rolfe was out on a game suspension for a kick to the chest of an opposing player that was caught on video during the prior game against the Union. Goalie Dykstra saved a first half penalty kick, but the Fire went out ahead a minute later on a goal by David Accam. Halftime substitution Fabian Espindola engineered a comeback win in his comeback from injury. Arrieta got the tying goal on a header off a corner by Espindola. The go-ahead goal was also scored by Arrieta, and the final goal in a 2–1 United win came on a cross by Espindola that was redirected into the net by Conor Doyle, for his first goal of the season.

Two unlikely streaks ended 3 nights later at RFK Stadium. DC United had surrendered the first goal in each of the preceding six games, but that streak ended when an early goal by Steve Birnbaum gave DC United a 1–0 lead against Toronto FC. However, Toronto's highly regarded Designated Player Sebastian Giovinco tallied a first half goal to knot up the score. In the 83rd minute, Giovinco again beat United's second-string goalkeeper, Dykstra, this time from distance, to earn all 3 points for the visiting team. The home defeat was the first for United since dropping a game to the Sounders nearly a year earlier in June 2014. United's home unbeaten streak ended at 20 games, but the team still held on to first place in the Eastern Conference. A week later, the team traveled to Orlando where they fell by a 1–0 scoreline, marking the first time in 2015 that D.C. United lost two consecutive games. The decisive blow came on a penalty kick that followed a very controversial call against Taylor Kemp. Bill Hamid was actually able to deny the PK shot by the legendary former FIFA Player of the Year Kaka, but Kaka was able to pounce on the loose ball and knock it in for the decisive score.

Despite the team's sudden struggles on the field, fans got great news about the franchise's future stadium. Speculation had arisen in early June about meetings with Virginia officials about a possible move to Loudoun County, but the team and the District of Columbia government soon announced that they had agreed to the final terms on the proposed deal for a stadium in the District's Buzzard Point neighborhood, which was to be completed for the 2018 season.[9]

United made their debut in the 2015 U.S. Open Cup three nights after the loss in Orlando, with the team's first ever trip to the Steel City to face the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Pittsburgh proved to be a tough opponent, taking their MLS opposition into extra time, but D.C. United prevailed with two goals in the overtime period, to win 3–1, on goals by Coria, Opare and Deleon. United returned to RFK four nights later, where they rediscovered their home field winning ways, with yet another striking comeback, to defeat the New England Revolution, by a now very familiar 2–1 score. United fell behind in the first half, when one-time D.C. United striker, Charlie Davies put the visitors in front in the 10th minute. The home team struggled for much of the game, but salvaged a win on 2 second-half goals by Chris Rolfe. Espindola had the assist on the first goal, and Rolfe's game-winner came on a penalty kick. Fixture congestion forced Coach Ben Olsen to use a decidedly second-choice lineup on a midweek trip to Chicago, but the visiting team came away with a surprising 1–0 victory. The game-winner was scored in the 73rd minute, when Conor Doyle struck an absolute cannon of a shot that was probably the team's most impressive goal of the year to that point. United remained on the road with a trip to Toronto at the end of that week. The teams played to a 0-0 scoreless draw in very adverse weather conditions, with rain and very heavy winds. Despite being outplayed, United nearly won the game in the last minute, but Jairo Arrieta's bid for Goal of the Year, a bicycle attempt, was frantically tipped over the bar by Toronto FC goalie, Chris Konopka.

The draw in Toronto extended the team's Eastern Conference lead to 11 points, though United had played more games than any other Eastern Conference team. The team also led the Supporters Shield race by 3 points, but the team below them in the table, Vancouver Whitecaps FC held 2 games in hand. United closed out June with another U.S. Open Cup match, at Philadelphia. The continued fixture congestion meant coach Olsen continued with his rotation and trotted out a nearly fully second choice lineup, with only one regular, defender Steve Birnbaum. Despite the disparity in lineup strength, United struck first. Shortly after Philadelphia Union striker C.J. Sapong was shown a red card, United exploited the man advantage with Arrieta scoring on a deflected cross from rookie Miguel Aguilar. Though they were down a man, the Union soon dominated much of the ensuing play, and won the game on two second half goals, eliminating D.C. from the 2015 Open Cup competition.

July[edit]

Given the team's recent offensive struggles, United fans might have thought they caught a break on the timing of a cross-country trip to face Seattle Sounders FC. The Sounders were playing without stars Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins, but United were soon without their starting forwards, in fairly short order, too. Once again, Luis Silva had to leave a game because of muscle injury, this time in the 5th minute. About 20 minutes later, the team was also down a man, after Espindola was shown a straight red card, for a retaliatory elbow. Despite conceding a man advantage, United held strong until a cannon shot Goal-of-the-Week game-winner off the foot of fullback Tyrone Mears in the 88th minute, against back-up netminder, Dykstra. Despite the loss, United remained atop the Supporters Shield standings, just 3 points ahead of the Sounders. United also had a two-week break to nurse a number of injured players to health in advance of a trip to Dallas. The injured list included Silva, Pontius, Franklin, Farfan and Hamid. The news was especially disappointing regarding Hamid, who was leading the league in several categories, despite battling a few injuries. It was announced that Hamid had undergone surgeries on his knee and hand, and would miss another 4–6 weeks. 2 days before the Dallas game, DC United also announced the trade of Luis Silva to Real Salt Lake in exchange for the Costa Rican striker Alvaro Saborio. While Saborio's addition seemed promising for a team desperate to find a goal-scorer, he could not yet join his new club, because Costa Rica was still involved in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. United's match against FC Dallas followed a troubling pattern that was becoming all-too familiar for United. Playing without the suspended Espindola in addition to all the missing, injured players, the DC side had little possession or attack, leaving the defense and goalie Andrew Dykstra under regular pressure. The United dam finally broke in the 73rd minute with a goal by Kellyn Acosta. United seemingly had managed to claim a draw and a point a few minutes later when Taylor Kemp's attempted cross to Arrieta was knocked into the Dallas net by an FC Dallas defender. However, once again, United's stout defense folded in the final minutes, allowing a stoppage-time winner by Fabian Castillo.

In United's next match, home cooking seemed to make all the difference, as the team won 3–2 on their return to RFK for United's first home match in 5 weeks. Playing at home in front of over 19,000 fans was probably a boost to the team, but an even bigger boost might have been the sight of the team's new striker tandem of Espindola and Saborio. The game started horribly for the home side as the Philadelphia Union scored in the first and fourth minute to take what might have seemed a commanding 2–0 lead. United began to claw their way back into the game as Saborio scored on his United debut, with a 37th minute volley of a Korb cross. The game was tied midway through the second half when Nick DeLeon finished a rebound of an Espindola shot. D.C. United finally went ahead on an Espindola header, with Chris Korb getting his second assist of the match. DeLeon's goal was his first in over a year in a regular season match.

August[edit]

August began explosively for D.C. United, with United defeating visitors Real Salt Lake in a wild 6–4 shooting gallery of a game. As they did the previous weekend at home, United surrendered an extremely early goal, this time in the second minute. Once again, United also soon gave up another goal, falling behind 2–0 before rallying to victory. Rolfe scored unassisted from about 7 yards before halftime. Chris Rolfe tied the score in the second half, on a penalty kick that set off an incredible spree of goals. Five minutes after Rolfe's penalty kick evened the score, Taylor Kemp put the home team in front with a prodigious one-time strike on a loose ball from about 25 yards. The visitors evened the score only 3 minutes later with a header for goal on a free kick taken by Javier Morales. The tie score lasted about a minute, as Fabian Espindola was credited with a goal as he stretched to try and connect with a loose rebound, following a shot by Alvaro Saborio. RSL defender Justen Glad attempted to clear the loose ball off the line, but his attempted clearance hit Espindola's outstretched leg and the ball crossed the line before the defense could react. Once again, United failed to protect the lead, as RSL's Morales again picked apart the defense and earned his second assist within 6 minutes. This time, the tie score lasted for 11 minutes as Kemp served in a cross after a short corner kick, with Perry Kitchen getting on the end of the cross, heading it for the game-winning goal, in the 79th minute. Six minutes later, Nick DeLeon knifed through the RSL defense and blasted a long-range shot for an unassisted goal, capping off the 6-4 win. The six goals scored by United were the most the team had scored since a game in 2004, tying the team's all-time record mark. The combined 10 goals were also the most in any MLS game since 2004, a total that had been exceeded only once in league history. The win put D.C. United back on top of the Supporters Shield standings. Several teams held games in hand and the chance to catch United in that race, but only FC Dallas had earned more points per game played.

United's next match was on the road, against Montreal Impact, and the game could not have been more different than the nearly record-setting 6-4 shootout in United's prior game at home against RSL. The surprising, quick return from injury by goalie Bill Hamid and the sprained knee injury suffered by Fabian Espindola during training the day before the match virtually guaranteed that United would play a cautious, defensive-minded game. Statistics from the game bore that out, as United was outshot 25–1 by the home team, and possession was more than 2–1 in the Impact's favor. Amazingly though, United emerged with a 1–0 victory, thanks to strong goalkeeping and a first-half goal by Rolfe that finished off a play assisted by Arrieta's high pressure. Arrieta forced a turnover by the Montreal defense and directed the ball to Rolfe who scored what proved to be the game-winner on United's only shot of the game. United became the first team ever to win an MLS match having recorded only one shot all game.[10]

The road trip continued with a midweek at Yankee Stadium, United's first match there and first ever match against NYCFC. As in Montreal, United capitalized on first half defensive error, this time by Italian footballing legend Andrea Pirlo, to take a first-half lead. Rolfe intercepted a pass by Pirlo, raced toward goal and found Saborio in front of goal, waiting to finish. However, United turned in one of its poorest 45 minutes of soccer in the second half, surrendering 3 goals, despite a pair of spectacular saves by Hamid, and United's 3-game winning streak came to a crashing end. United not only lost the game, but also lost Korb to a season-ending ACL knee injury. The next 3 matches for United saw Olsen go to a tried-and-true rotation. United opened up its 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League campaign in Panama, as a squad of reserves weathered consistent pressure by Arabe Unido to emerge with a 1–0 win on a late goal by Miguel Aguilar. The goal was Aguilar's first professional goal, coming off a spectacular no-look back-heel pass by Michael Farfan. The team returned home for an MLS match with San Jose Earthquakes, and the first team's struggles continued in a 2–0 loss, played without star goalie Hamid, whose post-surgical knee kept him out of the lineup. Hamid and the other regulars were not needed in the next game, a CONCACAF Champions League match @ RFK against a Jamaican side that was still in preseason form. United defeated Montego Bay United F.C. 3–0, on goals by Aguilar, Opare and Doyle, and two assists for Farfan.

As the team closed out August, United continued to struggle mightily. Bill Hamid was back in goal as the team made a trip to the New York Red Bulls home field. Without Espindola though, United's attack remained absolutely toothless. NYRB dominated the midfield, perhaps in part because United was playing without Arnaud, who had suffered a concussion against San Jose. Hamid made some pivotal saves early on, but the floodgates eventually opened as the Red Bulls repeatedly sliced through the United defence, utterly dominating the contest which finished 3–0 in favour of NYRB. The loss left United clinging to a 2-point lead in the Eastern Conference, but NYRB held 3 games in hand.

September[edit]

September began with a familiar feel for D.C. United fans. After almost a two-week break that saw the Red Bulls pass United in the standings and seize first place in the Eastern Conference, D.C. United traveled to Denver to face Colorado Rapids. Even with Espindola back in the lineup, United's offense continued to struggle to string together any passes or to generate scoring chances. The Rapids went out to a first half lead when defender Bobby Burling capitalized on a poor clearance by Saborio with a shot that sneaked past Hamid. United managed to rescue a point and snap their 3-game MLS losing streak when Steve Birnbaum finished off a free kick play with a header for a late goal that gave United a 1–1 draw. The result drew United into a numerical tie for first place, but the Red Bulls had played 3 fewer games. Perhaps more importantly, the result in Colorado left United one point of ahead of Columbus Crew SC, with the two teams scheduled to face each other the following weekend in Washington, D.C. If the first team continued to struggle in MLS play, the reserves continued United's good fortune and winning streak in CONCACAF Champions League play. United won its seventh straight group play match over two years, with a 2–0 home-field win over Arabe Unido. Conor Doyle got United on the board in the first minute off an assist from Pontius, and Jeffrey doubled the lead later in the match with a header off a corner kick taken by Coria. The 2–0 clinched first place in the group, sending United through once more to the knockout stages to be played in 2016.

Even a return to RFK Stadium was not enough to cure whatever had been ailing United over the last 2 or 3 months of league play. United fell behind 2–0 against Columbus, but an attempt at a late rally came up short. A penalty kick by Rolfe put United on the scoreboard. Later, Saborio appeared to have tied the score in the 84th minute, off a through pass by Pontius, but the Costa Rican was controversially ruled offside. The result vaulted the Crew to the top of the standings in the Eastern Conference, while United slipped to 4th place. With dreams of MLS hardware slipping away, D.C. United still had top position in CONCACAF Champions League group play, which the team locked down in their final group match of 2015, a 3–3 draw in Jamaica, against Montego Bay United. The Jamaican side jumped out to an early lead when a quick restart caught out a really makeshift D.C. defence, that included Aguilar making his first start as a fullback, and Jalen Robinson making his first start as a center back. That goal was Montego Bay's first ever tally in CCL play. The home side extended the lead 3 minutes later and took what appeared to be a commanding 3-0 lead early in the second half on a penalty kick, after a phantom foul call against midfielder Jared Jeffrey. D.C. however rallied, with goals by Arrieta and Opare, and earned a draw and a point, when Michael Farfan collected a loose ball deep into stoppage time and aimed his shot into the top corner of the goal. The draw was the first CCL group match that D.C. United didn't win over the last two entries into CONCACAF play, but it did extend their CCL group play unbeaten streak to 8 games and left the team with 10 points, waiting to learn their seeding and knockout round opponent when Champions League play resumes in 2016.

Needing only one win to clinch a playoff spot, D.C. United's five-game MLS winless streak stretched to six games when the Montreal Impact's new star addition, Didier Drogba scored twice early in the first half, and United's anemic attack failed to answer. The loss left United only 3 points ahead of the Impact, who still held the final playoff slot, but also having played two fewer games than D.C. Toronto FC held the 5th slot, 2 points behind D.C. Orlando City SC remained outside of the playoff seedings, in seventh place, 7 points behind D.C., with 3 games remaining for both teams.

October[edit]

New York City FC made their first trip to RFK Stadium, and the debutante side proved to be the tonic that D.C. United needed to break their spirit-crushing winless streak, which had begun at NYCFC's home field seven games earlier. When the game began, it seemed that United's losing ways were destined to continue. At the 45-second mark, Frank Lampard followed up the rebound of a David Villa shot, and gave the visitors a very early 1-0 lead. It was not even the first time this season that United had fallen behind in the first minute, but that knowledge was probably little comfort. Over the next 70 minutes, both teams squandered chances, but D.C. finally broke through when Espindola scored off of a rebound that came when NYCFC goalie Josh Saunders made a diving stop on a long-range strike by Chris Pontius. In stoppage time, Pontius was dragged down making a long run, setting up a free kick for the home team. Espindola's service found its way to substitute Saborio, after a misplay by a NYCFC defender. Saborio delivered with a memorable game-winner for D.C. The 2-1 victory, D.C. United's first ever win over NYCFC, not only ended almost two months of frustration for the team, it also clinched a playoff spot for the team. This would be the first time since 2006 and 2007 that United would qualify for the playoffs in each of two consecutive seasons.

D.C. United's sudden turn in fortunes continued in the team's final home regular-season match, against cellar-dwelling Chicago Fire. United broke through late in the first half, when Pontius won a race, beating two defenders and the Fire's goalie, Jon Busch to the ball and then rounding the goalie and slotting home the first goal. Midway through the second half, Boswell scored with a header on a corner kick taken by Espindola. A few minutes later, Espindola got his own goal, with an assist to DeLeon, when a sharply taken shot was deflected just inside the near post. A 4-0 scoreline was completed when a deflected shot came to Saborio in the 6-yard box, and the Costa Rican striker's shot beat the Fire 'keeper. The four-goal margin was the team's largest margin of victory since August 2011. The team would close out the regular season in Columbus, part of MLS' first Decision Day. Going into this final day, United held a one-point lead over Columbus for second place in the Eastern Conference, but four teams would be playing with a chance at claiming second place and a bye through the first round of MLS playoffs. That prize would depend on the results in Columbus and in a match being played at the same time between visiting Montreal and host Toronto. As United geared to play the MLS regular season finale, CONCACAF group play concluded. Thanks to a goal surrendered by the Los Angeles Galaxy on the last kick of their game in Guatemala, D.C. United would carry the #2 seed into the CONCACAF quarterfinals, matching them against the #7 seed, Queretaro F.C. in early 2016.

The regular season concluded with the match in Columbus, and the result matched the all-time worst in United's team history. The United attack hardly ever threatened, but it was shoddy work by the back line that really did in the team, as a 5-0 loss dropped the team into 4th place. That left United as host for a midweek 'play-in' match at home against a New England Revolution team that finished the season with a convincing 3-1 win at NYCFC. On a rainy day in the D.C. area, one of the smallest crowds of the year turned out to watch what proved to be one of the most entertaining games in the MLS season. Typical of the 2015 edition of the team, D.C. United fell behind in the first 15 minutes, but it was hard to fault the quality of a spectacular bicycle goal by New England's Juan Agudelo. Following the goal, the Revolution continued to press but Hamid was able to keep United in the match with some big saves. United leveled the score on a free kick in the 45th minute, as Pontius scored on a header set-up by Espindola's service. Pontius would have to leave the game in the second half, due to hamstring tightness. The D.C. team missed a chance to go ahead in the 75th minute, when Rolfe failed to convert a penalty kick, striking the inside of the post. Rolfe, however, got redemption, scoring in the 83rd minute, finishing off a cutback centering pass from Espindola, DeLeon was also credited with an assist for his nifty back-heel that set-up Espindola's run to the end line. Another spectacular save by Hamid denied a header bid by Revolution's Jermaine Jones in the late-going. The game ended on a controversial note, as Jermaine Jones was shown a red card for grabbing the referee while protesting the decision not to award a penalty kick for an apparent handball against United defender Sean Franklin in the 92nd minute. United had led the league with 8 comeback victories during the regular season, so the comeback win was a fitting way to kick off the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs.

In the conference semifinal series, United would face their arch-rival, the New York Red Bulls. With the first game at home, United still had to overcome the sudden loss of 2 starters—Pontius to a hamstring injury, and Boswell, who was given a one-game suspension for an off-the-ball incident during the Revolution match. The team was also without Arnaud, who hadn't played in over two months, suffering the lingering effects of a concussion, and Jeffrey, who had suffered facial fractures in training a couple of weeks earlier.

November[edit]

The semifinal series was very typical of the way D.C United played throughout the second half of the season. The attack, such as it was, generated a handful of chances at best, and United became the first team in league history to fail to record a shot on goal as the home team in a playoff match. The passing accuracy was the 3rd worst for any MLS team in any game since 2010. The Red Bulls dominated possession and finally broke through in the second half as one-time United player Dax McCarty headed home the winner in a 1-0 defeat for United. The return match didn't go much better for United. Again, the Red Bulls dominated possession, but thanks to some big saves by Hamid, United still had a chance to try and knot the series as the game drifted into stoppage time. The Red Bulls, however, would finish off United's 2015 season, with a counter-attack goal in stoppage time, scored by Bradley Wright-Phillips, giving NYRB a 2-0 aggregate series win.

With the disappointing second half of the season, it was no surprise that DC United didn't take home any pos-season awards, in contrast to the 2014 season. Bill Hamid finished 3rd in voting for Goalkeeper of the Year, despite finishing first in voting among MLS club management. Although his save percentage made him the league leader, presumably the amount of time he missed for injuries played a factor in the voting, The team went into the offseason with a plan to keep the core together, announcing new deals for Saborio, Rolfe, Boswell and DeLeon, while discussions continued with Kitchen.

December[edit]

As the 2015 MLS season wound up, word emerged that DC United was completing a pair of trades. The player with the longest tenure with the club, the oft-injured and highly compensated Chris Pontius, was sent to the Philadelphia Union, in exchange for allocation money. To fill Pontius' slot, United sent allocation money to the Seattle Sounders in exchange for Lamar Neagle.[11]

Non-competitive[edit]

Preseason[edit]

January 30 Orlando City SC 1–1 D.C. United Bradenton, Florida
7:00p.m. EST Rivas 67' Report Pontius 14' Stadium: IMG Academy
February 6 D.C. United United States 0–1 Sweden Malmö FF Bradenton, Florida
12:00p.m. EST Driver Yellow card 65'
Arrieta Yellow card 88'
Berget 45' Stadium: IMG Academy

ATX Pro Challenge[edit]

February 13 Semifinals Austin Aztex 0–2 D.C. United Austin, Texas
21:00 EST Opare Yellow card 4'
Aguilar 9'
Doyle 16'
Arnaud Yellow card 85'
Stadium: Myers Stadium
February 15 Final FC Dallas 0–1 D.C. United Austin, Texas
14:15 EDT Arnaud Yellow card 13'
Rolfe 54'
Trialist Yellow card 90'
Stadium: Myers Stadium

Competitions[edit]

Major League Soccer[edit]

Overall MLS Table[edit]

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification[a]
6 Seattle Sounders FC 34 15 13 6 44 36 +8 51
7 Montreal Impact 34 15 13 6 48 44 +4 51
8 D.C. United 34 15 13 6 43 45 −2 51
9 LA Galaxy 34 14 11 9 56 46 +10 51
10 Sporting Kansas City (U) 34 14 11 9 48 45 +3 51 2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goals scored; 7) away goal differential; 8) home goals scored; 9) home goal differential; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots
(U) U.S. Open Cup winner
Notes:
  1. ^
    CONCACAF Champions League
    Selection Procedure

Eastern Conference Table[edit]

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
2 Columbus Crew 34 15 11 8 58 53 +5 53 Conference semifinals
3 Montreal Impact 34 15 13 6 48 44 +4 51 Knockout round
4 D.C. United 34 15 13 6 43 45 −2 51
5 New England Revolution 34 14 12 8 48 47 +1 50
6 Toronto FC 34 15 15 4 58 58 0 49
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goals scored; 7) away goal differential; 8) home goals scored; 9) home goal differential; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots

Results summary[edit]

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
25 13 5 7 34 26  +8 44 9 3 1 27 16  +11 4 2 6 7 10  −3

Last updated: June 29, 2015.
Source: Match Results

Results by round[edit]

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
StadiumHAHAHHAHHHAAAHHHAHAAAAHHAAHAAHAHHA
ResultWLWWDDWWDWLDLWWLLWWDLLWWWLL
Updated to match(es) played on June 29, 2015. Source: Match Results
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Match results[edit]

March 7 1 D.C. United 1–0 Montreal Impact Washington, D.C.
15:00 EDT Arrieta 58' Report Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 11,549
Referee: Mark Geiger
March 22 2 New York Red Bulls 2–0 D.C. United Harrison, New Jersey
17:00 EDT Wright-Phillips 25'
Sam 71'
Perrinelle Yellow card 82'
Report Boswell Yellow card 78' Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Attendance: 21,036
Referee: Alan Kelly
March 28 3 D.C. United 1–0 LA Galaxy Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Arnaud Yellow card 46'
Boswell Yellow card 89'
Pontius 90+3'
Report Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 14,462
Referee: Ismail Elfath
April 3 4 Orlando City 0–1 D.C. United Orlando, Florida
19:00 EDT Molino Yellow card 27'
Ceren Yellow card 66'
Rivas Yellow card 83'
Report Arnaud Yellow card 60'
Silva 90+1'
Stadium: Citrus Bowl
Attendance: 32,822
Referee: Chris Penso
April 11 5 D.C. United 2–2 New York Red Bulls Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Kitchen 26', 67'
Kemp Yellow card 36'
Report Grella Yellow card 45'
Perrinelle Yellow card 58', 68'
Sam 90'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 16,304
Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
April 18 6 D.C. United 1–1 Houston Dynamo Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Rolfe 36'
Kitchen Yellow card 50'
Report Clark Yellow card 9', 65' Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 13,047
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
April 25 7 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1–2 D.C. United Vancouver, British Columbia
22:30 EDT Morales 2', Yellow card 2'
Adekugbe Yellow card 9'
Laba Yellow card 34' Yellow-red card 42'
Report Boswell 9'
Rolfe 64'
Kitchen Yellow card 84'
Farfan Yellow card 88'
Stadium: BC Place
Attendance: 21,000
Referee: David Gantar
May 2 8 D.C. United 2–0 Columbus Crew Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Espindola 15', Yellow card 71'
Franklin 41', Yellow card 90'
Report Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 13,107
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
May 9 9 D.C. United 1–1 Sporting Kansas City Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Arnaud Yellow card 41'
Arrieta 42'
Report Espinoza Yellow card 9'
Dwyer 45'
Marín Yellow card 81'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 16,221
Referee: Armando Villarreal
May 13 10 D.C. United 2–1 Orlando City SC Washington, D.C.
20:00 EDT Opare 70'
Rolfe 79'
Kemp Yellow card 90+4'
Report Larin 11'
Boden Yellow card 60'
Avila Yellow card 63'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 12,532
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
May 17 11 Philadelphia Union 1–0 D.C. United Chester, Pennsylvania
19:00 EDT Williams Yellow card 31'
White Yellow card 79'
Pfeffer 90+3'
Edu Yellow card 90+4'
Report Kemp Yellow card 65' Stadium: PPL Park
Attendance: 16,853
Referee: Alan Kelly
May 23 12 New England Revolution 1–1 D.C. United Foxborough, Massachusetts
19:30 EDT Woodberry Yellow card 26'
Davies 45+1'
Nguyen Yellow card 45+2' Yellow-red card 58'
Tierney Red card 52'
Jones Yellow card 88'
Report Franklin Yellow card 75'
Arrieta 80'
Kitchen Yellow card 86'
Arnaud Yellow card 89'
Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 15,216
Referee: Mark Geiger
May 27 13 Portland Timbers 1–0 D.C. United Portland, Oregon
19:30 EDT Urruti 5'
Paparatto Yellow card 56'
Chara Yellow card 76'
Report Jeffrey Yellow card 29'
Boswell Yellow card 90+2'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 21,144
Referee: Chris Penso
May 30 14 D.C. United 2–1 Philadelphia Union Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Doyle Yellow card 44'
Pontius 45+1' Yellow card 64'
Boswell Yellow card 59'
Rolfe 85' (pen.)
Report Le Toux 5'
Nogueira Yellow card 63'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 16,284
Referee: Ted Unkel
June 3 15 D.C. United 3–1 Chicago Fire Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Halsti Yellow card 30'
Espindola Yellow card 57'
Arrieta 61', 69'
Doyle 75'
Report Jones Yellow card 24'
Accam 28'
Polster Yellow card 58'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 11,218
Referee: Edvin Jurisevic
June 6 16 D.C. United 1–2 Toronto FC Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Birnbaum 6', Yellow card 87'
Kitchen Yellow card 65'
Opare Yellow card 88'
Report Giovinco 34', 83'
Creavalle Yellow card 64'
Perquis Yellow card 64'
Konopka Yellow card 90+3'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 17,105
Referee: Jair Marrufo
June 14 17 Orlando City 1–0 D.C. United Orlando, Florida
19:00 EDT Kaká 30' Report Arnaud Yellow card 23' Stadium: Citrus Bowl
Attendance: 30,054
Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
June 21 18 D.C. United 2–1 New England Revolution Washington, D.C.
17:00 EDT Rolfe 70', 81' (pen.)
Arnaud Yellow card 78'
Report Davies 10' Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 17,213
Referee: Ismail Elfath
June 24 19 Chicago Fire 0–1 D.C. United Bridgeview, Illinois
20:30 EDT Ritter Yellow card 45'
Guly Yellow card 79'
Report Doyle 73'
Birnbaum Yellow card 90'
Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 11,833
June 27 20 Toronto FC 0–0 D.C. United Toronto, Ontario
17:00 EDT Warner Yellow card 53' Report Korb Yellow card 54'
Aguilar Yellow card 61'
Coria Yellow card 89'
Arnaud Yellow card 90+1'
Stadium: BMO Field
Attendance: 16,382
Referee: Armando Villarreal
July 3 21 Seattle Sounders FC 1–0 D.C. United Seattle, Washington
23:00 EDT Scott Yellow card 13'
Alonso Yellow card 78'
Mears 88'
Neagle Yellow card 90+1'
Report Espíndola Red card 27'
Doyle Yellow card 58'
Kitchen Yellow card 78'
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Attendance: 40,410
July 18 22 FC Dallas 2–1 D.C. United Frisco, Texas
23:00 EDT Acosta 73'
Castillo 90+2' Yellow card 90+2'
Report Arrieta 77' Yellow card 90+4' Stadium: Toyota Stadium
Attendance: 16,215
Referee: Allen Chapman
July 26 23 D.C. United 3–2 Philadelphia Union Washington, D.C.
17:00 EDT Saborío 37'
DeLeon 66'
Espíndola 79'
Report Sapong 1'
Le Toux 4'
Mbu Yellow card 68'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 19,125
Referee: Drew Fischer
August 1 24 D.C. United 6–4 Real Salt Lake Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Rolfe 42' 54' (pen.)
Kemp 59' Yellow card 90+1'
Espíndola 63'
Kitchen 79'
DeLeon 85'
Plata 2'
Beckerman 21' Yellow card 70'
Glad Yellow card 28'
Sandoval Yellow card 53'
Maund 62'
Mansally 68'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 17,288
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
August 8 25 Montreal Impact 0–1 D.C. United Montreal, Quebec
17:00 EDT Piatti Yellow card 40'
Venegas Yellow card 45'
Donadel Yellow card 74'
Report Rolfe 13'
Arnaud Yellow card 64'
Franklin Yellow card 78'
Stadium: Stade Saputo
Attendance: 18,769
Referee: Sorin Stoica
August 13 26 New York City FC 3–1 D.C. United The Bronx, New York
19:30 EDT Facey Yellow card 31'
McNamara 51' Yellow card 75'
Villa 80' Yellow card 81'
Poku 88'
Report Saborio 36' Stadium: Yankee Stadium
Attendance: 28,262
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
August 22 27 D.C. United 0–2 San Jose Earthquakes Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Report Wondolowski 4'
Salinas 52'
Godoy Yellow card 89'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 20,043
Referee: Alan Kelly
August 30 28 New York Red Bulls 3–0 D.C. United Harrison, New Jersey
19:00 EDT Sam 33'
Wright-Phillips 42', 64'
Report Birnbaum Yellow card 8'
Doyle Yellow card 65'
Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Attendance: 22,645
Referee: Jair Marrufo
September 12 29 Colorado Rapids 1–1 D.C. United Commerce City, Colorado
21:00 EDT Burling 28'
Sanchez Yellow card 65'
Report Birnbaum 87' Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 15,953
Referee: Sorin Stoica
September 19 30 D.C. United 1–2 Columbus Crew SC Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Birnbaum Yellow card 51'
Kitchen Yellow card 62'
Rolfe 68' (pen.)
Kemp Yellow card 90+2'
Report Finlay 27'
Kamara 49'
Klute Yellow card 72'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 19,033
Referee: Ted Unkel
September 26 31 Montreal Impact 2–0 D.C. United Montreal, Quebec
TBDEDT Drogba 4', 11' Yellow card 53'
Reo-Coker Yellow card 66'
Report DeLeon Yellow card 49'
Birnbaum Yellow card 50'
Doyle Yellow card 62'
Stadium: Stade Saputo
Attendance: 20,801
Referee: Jair Marrufo
October 2 32 D.C. United 2–1 New York City FC Washington, D.C.
19:00 EDT Franklin Yellow card 66'
Espíndola 73'
Boswell Yellow card 87'
Saborío 90+2'
Report Lampard 1'
Wingert Yellow card 31'
Mena Yellow card 43'
Mix Yellow card 54'
Allen Yellow card 81'
Hernandez Yellow card 90+1'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 21,517
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
October 18 33 D.C. United 4–0 Chicago Fire Washington, D.C.
14:00 EDT Pontius 39'
Boswell 67'
Espíndola 71'
Saborío 80'
Report Gilberto Yellow card 50'
Accam Yellow card 77'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 20,104
Referee: Sorin Stoica
October 25 34 Columbus Crew SC 5–0 D.C. United Columbus, Ohio
17:00 EDT McInerney 25' Yellow card 59'
Meram 54'
Finlay 66', 67'
Schoenfeld 80'
Report Kemp Yellow card 58' Stadium: Columbus Crew Stadium
Attendance: 19,121

MLS Cup Playoffs[edit]

Preliminary round[edit]

October 28 D.C. United 2–1 New England Revolution Washington, D.C.
TBD EDT Pontius 45'
Boswell Yellow card 69'
Halsti Yellow card 77'
Rolfe 83'
Report Agudelo 15'
Farrell Yellow card 44'
Jones Yellow card 72' Red card 90+2'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 11,554
Referee: Mark Geiger

Conference semifinals[edit]

November 1 First leg D.C. United 0–1 New York Red Bulls Washington, D.C.
15:00 EDT Espindola Yellow card 75'
Saborio Yellow card 77'
Report McCarty 72'
Miazga Yellow card 35'
Zubar Yellow card 88'
Wright-Phillips Yellow card 88'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 19,525
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
November 8 Second leg New York Red Bulls 1–0
(2–0 agg.)
D.C. United Harrison, New Jersey
TBD EDT Wright-Phillips 90+2'
Kljestan Yellow card 74'
Report Rolfe Yellow card 25'
Kitchen Yellow card 69'
Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Attendance: 25,219
Referee: Ted Unkel

CONCACAF Champions League[edit]

2014–15 season[edit]

Quarterfinals[edit]
February 26 First leg Alajuelense Costa Rica 5–2 United States D.C. United Alajuela, Costa Rica
22:00 EDT Rodríguez 15' (pen.)
Ortiz 22', 54'
Venegas 27'
McDonald 90'
Report Dykstra Yellow card 14'
Espindola 24'
Arrieta Yellow card 67'
Birnbaum 88'
Stadium: Alejandro Soto Stadium
Attendance: 17,895
Referee: Mexico Roberto Garcia
March 4 Second leg D.C. United United States 2–1
(4–6 agg.)
Costa Rica Alajuelense Washington, D.C.
20:00 EDT Birnbaum Yellow card 11'
Kitchen Yellow card 27'
Arrieta 36' Yellow card 37'
Korb Yellow card 45+3'
Arnaud Yellow card 63'
Espindola 88' (pen.)
Report Venegas Yellow card 11'
McDonald Yellow card 45+3'
Korb 71' (o.g.)
Alonso Yellow card 81'
Acosta Yellow card 88'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 8,137
Referee: Guatemala Walter López

2015–16 season[edit]

Group stage[edit]
August 19 1 Arabe Unido Panama 0–1 United States D.C. United Balboa, Panama
20:00 EDT Gómez Yellow card 59'
Cedeño Yellow card 70'
Report Doyle Yellow card 76'
Aguilar 85' Yellow card 90'
Stadium: Maracanã Stadium
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Karl Tyrell (Jamaica)
September 15 3 D.C. United United States 2–0 Panama Arabe Unido Washington, D.C.
20:00 EDT Doyle 1'
Jeffrey 22'
Report Caesar Yellow card 26' Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 3,000

U.S. Open Cup[edit]

Statistics[edit]

Last updated: October 18, 2015

Appearances and goals[edit]

No. Pos Nat Player Total MLS MLS Cup Playoffs U.S. Open Cup CONCACAF Champions League
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
2 DF United States USA Taylor Kemp 31 1 25+2 1 3+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
4 MF Finland FIN Markus Halsti 22 0 12+2 0 3+0 0 2+0 0 2+1 0
5 DF United States USA Sean Franklin 28 1 23+1 1 2+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
6 DF Ghana GHA Kofi Opare 25 4 17+1 1 1+0 0 2+0 1 4+0 2
7 FW United States USA Eddie Johnson 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
8 MF United States USA Davy Arnaud 25 0 21+2 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
9 FW Costa Rica CRC Álvaro Saborío 17 4 9+3 4 2+1 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
10 FW Argentina ARG Fabián Espíndola 22 7 15+2 5 3+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 2
12 MF United States USA Michael Farfan 22 1 7+10 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 3+2 1
13 FW United States USA Chris Pontius 30 4 17+6 3 1+0 1 0+0 0 6+0 0
14 MF United States USA Nick DeLeon 35 3 25+4 2 3+0 0 0+1 1 2+0 0
15 DF United States USA Steve Birnbaum 31 3 21+1 2 3+0 0 1+0 0 4+1 1
17 MF Mexico MEX Miguel Aguilar 26 3 4+13 0 0+2 0 2+0 0 3+2 3
18 FW United States USA Chris Rolfe 37 11 30+1 10 3+0 1 0+1 0 1+1 0
19 FW Costa Rica CRC Jairo Arrieta 36 8 15+12 5 0+1 0 2+0 1 5+1 2
20 DF United States USA Jalen Robinson 6 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0 4+0 0
21 MF Argentina ARG Facundo Coria 13 1 1+6 0 0+0 0 2+0 1 4+0 0
22 DF United States USA Chris Korb 20 0 17+1 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 1+0 0
23 MF United States USA Perry Kitchen 39 3 31+2 3 3+0 0 0+0 0 2+1 0
25 MF United States USA Jared Jeffrey 8 1 1+1 0 0+0 0 2+0 0 3+1 1
27 MF United States USA Collin Martin 4 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+4 0
28 GK United States USA Bill Hamid 28 0 24+0 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
30 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Conor Doyle 33 5 10+15 2 0+1 0 2+0 0 2+3 3
32 DF United States USA Bobby Boswell 38 2 33+1 2 2+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
34 DF United States USA Luke Mishu 8 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0 4+0 0
48 GK United States USA Travis Worra 1 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
50 GK United States USA Andrew Dykstra 16 0 9+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0 5+0 0
Players who left the club during the middle of the season
11 MF United States USA Luis Silva 16 1 4+10 1 0+0 0 1+1 0 0+0 0
29 FW Jamaica JAM Michael Seaton 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0

Top scorers[edit]

Source: D.C. United

Rnk Pos No. Player MLS Season MLS Cup USOC CCL Total
1 MF 18 United States Chris Rolfe 10 1 0 0 11
2 FW 19 Costa Rica Jairo Arrieta 5 0 0 3 8
3 FW 10 Argentina Fabian Espindola 5 0 0 2 7
4 FW 30 United States Conor Doyle 2 0 0 3 5
5 FW 9 Costa Rica Alvaro Saborio 4 0 0 0 4
M/F 13 United States Chris Pontius 3 1 0 0 4
DF 6 United States Kofi Opare 1 0 1 2 4
8 DF 15 United States Steve Birnbaum 2 0 0 1 3
MF 23 United States Perry Kitchen 3 0 0 0 3
MF 14 United States Nick DeLeon 2 0 1 0 3
MF 17 Mexico Miguel Aguilar 0 0 0 3 3
12 DF 32 United States Bobby Boswell 2 0 0 0 2
13 DF 5 United States Sean Franklin 1 0 0 0 1
MF 11 United States Luis Silva 1 0 0 0 1
DF 2 United States Taylor Kemp 1 0 0 0 1
MF 21 Argentina Facundo Coria 0 0 1 0 1
MF 25 United States Jared Jeffrey 0 0 0 1 1
MF 12 United States Michael Farfan 0 0 0 1 1

Top assists[edit]

Source: D.C. United

Rnk Pos No. Player MLS Season MLS Cup USOC CCL Total
1 FW 10 Argentina Fabian Espindola 7 2 0 1 10
2 DF 2 United States Taylor Kemp 6 0 0 0 6
3 MF 14 United States Nick DeLeon 5 0 0 0 5
FW 19 Costa Rica Jairo Arrieta 2 0 1 2 5
5 MF 18 United States Chris Rolfe 4 0 0 0 4
M/F 13 United States Chris Pontius 1 0 0 3 4
7 MF 8 United States Davy Arnaud 3 0 0 0 3
MF 12 United States Michael Farfan 1 0 0 2 3
9 DF 22 United States Chris Korb 2 0 0 0 2
MF 21 Argentina Facundo Coria 1 0 0 1 2
MF 25 United States Jared Jeffrey 0 0 1 1 2
12 MF 23 United States Perry Kitchen 1 0 0 0 1
FW 30 United States Conor Doyle 0 0 1 0 1

Disciplinary record[edit]

# Position Nationality Name MLS Season MLS Cup U.S. Open Cup CCL Total
Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
2 DF United States Taylor Kemp 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
4 D/M Finland Markus Halsti 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
5 DF United States Sean Franklin 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
6 DF United States Kofi Opare 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
7 FW United States Eddie Johnson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 MF United States Davy Arnaud 8 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 9 0
9 FW Costa Rica Alvaro Saborio 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
10 FW Argentina Fabián Espíndola 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
11 MF United States Luis Silva 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 MF United States Michael Farfan 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
13 M/F United States Chris Pontius 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
14 MF United States Nick DeLeon 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
15 DF United States Steve Birnbaum 5 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 7 0
17 M/F Mexico Miguel Aguilar 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 4 0
18 M/F United States Chris Rolfe 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
19 FW Costa Rica Jairo Arrieta 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 4 0
20 DF United States Jalen Robinson 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
21 M/F Argentina Facundo Coria 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
22 DF United States Chris Korb 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 0
23 MF United States Perry Kitchen 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 6 0
25 MF United States Jared Jeffrey 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
27 MF United States Collin Martin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
28 GK United States Bill Hamid 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
29 FW Jamaica Michael Seaton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
30 FW United States Conor Doyle 5 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 7 0
32 DF United States Bobby Boswell 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
34 DF United States Luke Mishu 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
48 GK United States Travis Worra 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
50 GK United States Andrew Dykstra 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0

Transfers[edit]

In[edit]

No. Pos. Player Transferred from Fee/notes Date Source
MF United States Thomas McNamara United States Chivas USA Acquired from Chivas USA's Dispersal Draft November 19, 2014 [12]
MF England Andrew Driver United States Houston Dynamo Acquired in trade for Joe Willis and Samuel Inkoom December 8, 2014 [13]
4 D/M Finland Markus Halsti Sweden Malmö FF Free Transfer January 12, 2015 [14]
19 FW Costa Rica Jairo Arrieta United States Orlando City SC Acquired in trade for International Roster Spot January 14, 2015 [15]
17 FW Mexico Miguel Aguilar United States San Francisco Dons Selected in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft January 15, 2015
MF United States Dan Metzger United States Maryland Terrapins Selected in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft January 15, 2015
12 MF United States Michael Farfan Mexico Cruz Azul MLS Allocation signing February 10, 2015 [16]
48 GK United States Travis Worra United States New Hampshire Wildcats February 25, 2015 [17]
34 DF United States Luke Mishu United States Notre Dame Fighting Irish March 6, 2015 [18]
21 M/F Argentina Facundo Coria Argentina Argentinos Juniors Free Transfer May 18, 2015 [19]
FW Costa Rica Álvaro Saborío United States Real Salt Lake Acquired in trade for Luis Silva July 16, 2015 [20]

Out[edit]

No. Pos. Player Transferred to Fee/notes Date Source
31 GK United States Joe Willis United States Houston Dynamo Trade December 8, 2014
21 DF Ghana Samuel Inkoom United States Houston Dynamo Trade December 8, 2014
4 DF Canada Nana Attakora United States San Antonio Scorpions Option declined December 8, 2014
12 MF United States Alex Caskey Retired Option declined December 8, 2014
2 DF United States Jeff Parke Retired Option declined December 8, 2014
19 MF Canada Kyle Porter United States Atlanta Silverbacks Option declined December 8, 2014
17 MF United States Conor Shanosky United States Louisville City FC Option declined December 8, 2014
24 MF England Lewis Neal United States Orlando City SC Selected in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft December 10, 2014 [21]
MF United States Thomas McNamara United States New York City FC Selected in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft December 10, 2014 [21]
MF England Andrew Driver Scotland Aberdeen FC Released February 11, 2015 [22]
MF United States Dan Metzger United States New York Red Bulls II Released February 13, 2015
3 M/F United States David Estrada United States Sacramento Republic Released February 20, 2015 [23]
11 MF United States Luis Silva United States Real Salt Lake Trade July 16, 2015 [20]
29 W Jamaica Michael Seaton United States Portland Timbers Undisclosed August 6, 2015 [24]

Loan out[edit]

No. Pos. Player Loaned to Start End Source
48 GK United States Travis Worra United States Richmond Kickers March 20, 2015 [25]
34 DF United States Luke Mishu United States Richmond Kickers March 20, 2015 [25]
27 MF United States Collin Martin United States Richmond Kickers March 20, 2015 [25]
20 DF United States Jalen Robinson United States Richmond Kickers March 20, 2015 [25]
29 FW Jamaica Michael Seaton Sweden Örebro SK April 2, 2015 June 4, 2015 [26][27]
17 MF Mexico Miguel Aguilar United States Richmond Kickers April 21, 2015 [28]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Goff, Steven (January 15, 2015). "In MLS draft, D.C. United turns to Bay area and College Park". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  2. ^ Goff, Steven (January 14, 2015). "D.C. United signs Finland's Halsti". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  3. ^ Goff, Steven (January 14, 2015). "D.C. United acquires Costa Rican forward". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  4. ^ Goff, Steven. "Thursday Kickaround". The Washington Post. No. 15 january 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  5. ^ Goff, Steven (December 17, 2014). "D.C. United stadium approval improves its playing filed in many ways". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  6. ^ DeBonis, Mike (December 30, 2014). "Soccer stadium bills are signed as MayorMayor Vincent Gray closes out term". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  7. ^ "Eddie Johnson unlikely to play again". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  8. ^ "Espindola arrives — and just in time for D.C. United in 3-1 win over Fire - The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
  9. ^ O'Connell, Jonathan (June 8, 2015). "United, District reach final terms on stadium deal". Washington Post. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  10. ^ Goff, Steven. "Bill Hamid Stars in D.C, United's 1-0 Victory at Montreal". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  11. ^ "D.C. United announces trades: Chris Pontius to Philadelphia, Lamar Neagle from Seattle - The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
  12. ^ "Goalkeeper Dan Kennedy selected first as MLS holds Chivas USA Dispersal Draft". mlssoccer.com. November 19, 2014. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  13. ^ "Trade Tracker: MLS half-day trade window to make for a busy post-MLS Cup Monday | MLSsoccer.com". Archived from the original on January 23, 2015.
  14. ^ "D.C. United acquires Markus Halsti | D.C. United". Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Archived 2015-01-12 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ "D.C. United acquires Jairo Arrieta | D.C. United". Archived from the original on January 21, 2015.
  16. ^ "D.C. United acquires Michael Farfan | D.C. United". Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Archived 2015-02-10 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ "D.C. United signs Travis Worra | D.C. United". Archived from the original on February 27, 2015.
  18. ^ "D.C. United signs Luke Mishu | D.C. United". Archived from the original on March 7, 2015.
  19. ^ "D.C. United signs forward/midfielder Facundo Coria | D.C. United". Archived from the original on May 18, 2015.
  20. ^ a b "Real Salt Lake trade all-time leading scorer Alvaro Saborio to DC United for Luis Silva | MLSsoccer.com". Archived from the original on July 18, 2015.
  21. ^ a b Goff, Stephen. "D.C. United loses Neal, McNamara in MLS expansion draft". The Washington Post. WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  22. ^ "D.C. United arrives in Austin for second phase of training camp - The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
  23. ^ "DCU cuts David Estrada". February 20, 2015.
  24. ^ "Portland Timbers acquire forward Michael Seaton from D.C. United in exchange for targeted allocation money, international roster slot". Portland Timbers. Timbers.com. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  25. ^ a b c d "D.C. UNITED SENDS FOUR TO RICHMOND". Richmond Kickers. Richmond Kickers. Archived from the original on March 24, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  26. ^ "Michael Seaton loaned to Orebro SK in Sweden". March 31, 2015.
  27. ^ "Michael Seaton lämnar ÖSK".
  28. ^ "D.C. United news and notes - The Washington Post". The Washington Post.