A Post, in Parts

Our newly-minted DC United fan TR mentioned this in the comments last night, just as I was beginning to formulate a post on the topic. United's Wayne Rooney struck a sublime goal against defending MLS Cup champion Toronto FC to give the home side a 1-0 win and take his team to the brink of the playoffs.



The combination of technique and power required to beat a keeper from 35 yards is otherworldly. Candidly, a Premier League (or international quality) keeper might save that. But he might not - the audacity of trying to score from that far away and the four-yard swerve on the ball might've beaten even the best.

The 2018 DC United story is remarkable. I'll be back later today to tell you more about it. Unless TR feels like picking up the baton and running with it.
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Technically, this is later today.

Through 14 games in 2018, DC United sat in dead last in MLS' Eastern Conference, having won two, lost seven, and drawn five. In fact, Ben Olsen's side spent 15 consecutive weeks at the very bottom of the table.

Two things happened starting in DC's 15th game: English legend Wayne Rooney came to America to join the premier side of the league's first decade, and Russell Canouse made his 2018 debut in defensive midfield for United.

Courtesy MLS.com

Rooney you know all about. He's scored 10 goals and assisted on seven others. He's lifted Luciano Acosta from super-talented but frequently MIA little dude to bad motherfucker. Eight of Acosta's nine goals this season and nine of his 16 assists have come since Rooney came to DC.

And Rooney did this, the signature play of the team's season and the emblem of DC United's resurrection:



Canouse is a bit more of an unknown to most. But his return to the side corresponded with a significant improvement on the defensive side of the ball. Without Canouse, DC gave up 2.1 goals per game through the season's first 14 outings. With the Lancaster, PA native in the lineup, they allow a full goal per game fewer.

And while DC's slow start was partially attributed to the fact that they only played two of their first 14 games at home, their resurrection was spurred by the opening of Audi Field in July, and a schedule that saw them play eight of their final 10 in that cozy new yard.

With two games to play, DC are four points ahead of Montreal for the final playoff spot in the East. One win, or one Montreal loss, ensures DC of the most improbable playoff berth in some time in MLS. There's an outside chance that they could host a first-round elimination match.

Vamos DC!