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Preview: Reserves, Newcomers Get Chance For DCU Against Union

Preview: Reserves, Newcomers Get Chance For DCU Against Union

D.C. United will give the reserves a chance tonight in a friendly against local rivals the Philadelphia Union.

Feb 20, 2019 by Wesley Davidson
Preview: Reserves, Newcomers Get Chance For DCU Against Union

D.C. United will take the field this evening for their penultimate preseason friendly, when they take on the Philadelphia Union at 7 PM ET at Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex in Clearwater, Florida. On Saturday, the Black-and-Red grinded out a 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies as Paul Arriola found the only goal on the night. However, a very different starting lineup will likely take the field tonight for United, with the last preseason game coming on Saturday against the Montreal Impact.

A live stream will be available through the Union’s website at PhiladelphiaUnion.com.

Head coach Ben Olsen is expected to use this match as a chance to feature players who didn’t start against the Rowdies, to go along with academy players and trialists. The final match in Florida on Saturday, a week before the first kick of the campaign against Atlanta United, should see a return to a full strength lineup.

One veteran who might feature is new signing Chris McCann. The club recently picked up the 31-year-old off waivers from Atlanta United. Olsen kept McCann out of Saturday’s game as the left back and midfielder worked up his fitness, but Wednesday should provide a first opportunity to exhibit the versatility that makes him such a valuable asset to the squad. 

He will likely fill a pressing need for the team this season by sliding in at left back, whether that’s in the starting XI or in a reserve role. His calming presence and experience can see him play a key role in both stabilizing the back line and in the young squad’s locker room.

New signing Lucas Rodríguez might also get some playing time tonight, after returning to full practice this week after picking up an injury in the first preseason camp. Tonight could be an opportunity for him to gain some much-needed game time in his quest to make up ground ahead of his first season in MLS.

On the goalkeeping front, Earl Edwards Jr. got the nod to replace Bill Hamid late in the second half of the Rowdies match instead of Chris Seitz. Seitz recently joined the squad from the Houston Dynamo, and with much more MLS experience was expected to immediately become the backup (103 league appearances compared to six). The position is certainly one to watch moving forward, as Edwards’ inclusion on Saturday may mean that he has really impressed in camp.

The Union come into the game on the heels of a 1-0 defeat to the Montreal Impact. Mexican international Marco Fabián — Philly’s blockbuster signing this offseason — logged his first minutes for the club. D.C.’s opponents are also expected to field a selection comprised mostly of youth this time around.

Jim Curtin, the Union’s head coach, told reporters today that he will send out a team that will be “attack-minded.” There still might be changes to the starting lineup from last Saturday, but Curtin is using this game more as a dress rehearsal for a regular season game than Olsen. 

Our predicted starting lineup against the Union: 

4-2-3-1: Chris Seitz, Chris McCann, Jalen Robinson, Donovan Pines, Akeen Ward, Chris Durkin, Academy player, Academy player, Shinya Kadono (Loudoun United), Ulises Segura, Trialist

Steven Goff of the Washington Post has previously said that the trialist with the team is forward Kyle Murphy. In addition, the academy players with the team, all of whom played on Saturday, are Bryang Kayo, Griffin Yow, and Alex Savaria.