(Yes, the photo is a purple pillow, you can cry into it if you want to.)
DC United, with a bare-to-the-bone roster, was thrashed in Orlando by Orlando City FC last Saturday (July 6), 5-0.
DC started Miller in goal; McVey, Bartlett and Tubbs in defense; Santos, Rodriguez, Pirani, Peltola and Herrera in midfield; and Benteke and Ted KDP at forward. To further deplete the already skeletal roster, Klich was out with an illness.
In the 19th minute. Orlando's Dagur Thorhallsson beat McVey down the right side. Miller came out slightly, and Thorhallsson passed to a wide open Martin Ojeda for an easy goal into an undefended net. Miller was out of position, but no one picked up Ojeda either. Four minutes later, an unmarked Robin Jansson headed in a cross from Wilder Cartagena to make it 2-0.
Murrell came in for Herrera due to injury in the 30th minute. DC almost had a goal in the 33rd minute on a header/collision at the 6 yard box, but Orlando cleared the high, arcing shot off the line. In the 42nd minute, Miller made a leg save but it bounced to Ivan Angulo, who scored easily to make it 3-0.
To end the half with style, Bartlett was given a red card for tackling Angulo just outside the box on a goal-scoring opportunity. It seemed very harsh, since Bartlett did get a touch on the ball. Red cards just seem drawn to DC these days.
Not much to say about the second half. It was all Orlando. Miller made some saves, but Facundo Torres scored in the 74th minute, and Ramiro Enrique headed in a corner kick in the 85th minute. Hayden Sargis replaced Tubbs in the 61st minute, and Jeremy Garay came in for Ted KDP in the 82nd minute after Ted was injured.
DC had 38% of the possession, 5 shots (1 on goal) and 1 corner kick.
A bad day at the office all around. Stroud was dressed but did not play; not sure how he is doing, he looked to be injured last game. Herrera and Ted KDP are now possible injury issues as well. Bartlett is out next game. At least McVey went all 90 minutes.
Two more games before the Leagues Cup break: next Saturday (July 13) at home against Nashville, and Wednesday July 17 away against Minnesota. The two Leagues Cup games are Friday July 26 in Atlanta, and Wednesday July 31 at home against Mexican squad Santos Laguna.
There are some reinforcements coming. DC signed 25-year-old defender David Schnegg from Sturm Graz in the Austrian league. Schegg has played for the Austrian Under-21 team and also has a cap on the Austrian national team.
DC has also signed 31 year old forward Dominque Badji from Bandirmaspor in Turkiye's second division. Prior to moving to Turkiye this season, Badji played in MLS with Colorado, Dallas, Nashville and Cincinnati. Our GM Ally Mackay would definitely have known him since he was assistant GM in Nashville during Badji's tenure there.
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