CINCINNATI — The start of D.C. United’s schedule is as soft as could be, a four-game introduction to the MLS season that features an expansion side, the worst club for three years running and two non-playoff teams.
“The players mentioned themselves in the locker room: How many games did we deserve to win last season and we didn’t take any points, and how many games did we take points playing bad or not as good as we are?” Coach Hernán Losada said. “The answer I think is none.”
Defender Steven Birnbaum called the victory “a smash and grab.”
He added: “It’s one of those games where we were heading toward the end hoping for a point, and to get three is just awesome. I think last year we would’ve lost that game.”
It came on a night when Julian Gressel left with a muscle injury at halftime and Moses Nyeman was sent off in the 79th minute before 22,183 at TQL Stadium.
After United (2-0-0) absorbed late pressure, rookie Sofiane Djeffal served a free kick deep into the box. Birnbaum aimed to head the ball across the six-yard box to Kamara, but it struck Geoff Cameron’s raised and extended left arm.
Referee Pierre-Luc Lauziere allowed play to continue, but a moment later, the video assistant referee suggested a review.
“When you drop to 10 players, you might think you have to be lucky with a point, but still there is a free kick, and we put numbers in the box,” Losada said. “We asked Sofiane to kick that service, believing something else could happen.”
Birnbaum said: “It’s a Hail Mary at that point. If we can create some chaos in their box, we were in a good position to make something happen.”
Bill Hamid preserved the victory with a sensational save on Cameron.
Until Kamara’s goal, United’s only true chances came in the first half against Cincinnati, which earned more draws (18) than victories (14) in 91 games over its first three seasons and lost its 2022 opener at Austin FC, 5-0.
D.C. sputtered in the attack and relied on Hamid and the defense to repel Cincinnati’s forays.
“We feel relieved, honestly,” Hamid said. “It was a tough game for us, but we found a way.”
Hamid was terrific all night in recording his second shutout, making a diving save on Dominique Badji in the first half. He also benefited from an offside flag that negated Brandon Vazquez’s apparent goal in the first half, set up by Luciano Acosta, who was afforded ample space between D.C.'s lines. Video replay confirmed the close call.
United labored not only to sustain possession but acquire it in the attacking end, a facet that figures prominently in Losada’s plans.
Late in the half, Badji, an Episcopal High graduate, squandered a seven-yard opportunity at the end of a terrific counterattack.
Nyeman was tossed after a high challenge on Acosta. Initially, he received a yellow card, but after video review, it became a red. He was also red-carded in this stadium last year.
Hamid and United kept their nerve, and with a draw looking like the best outcome, the match turned in the closing moments. Kamara, who shared the MLS scoring title last year, scored his second goal of the season as a sub.
“In a few weeks,” Losada said, “no one is going to remember how you took the points.”
That said, he added, “we’ll also take good conclusions to improve because we are going to need it against better opponents.”
Birnbaum said: “We definitely didn’t play our best — we weren’t great by any means. But if we can win games when we play like that, it will give us a lot of confidence.”
Here’s what else to know about D.C. United’s victory:
Old friends again
For the second consecutive week, former United starters from recent years were in the opponent’s lineup. Last weekend, it was forward Yordy Reyna and defender Joseph Mora for Charlotte. On Saturday, it was Acosta and defensive midfielder Júnior Moreno, a four-year MLS starter who was not re-signed by United over the winter. United received up to $425,000 in general allocation money for his league rights.
New contract for Najar
Defender Andy Najar, who revived his injury-plagued career last season to become one of United’s most valuable players, agreed to a new contract for two guaranteed years and a club-held option in 2024, people close to the talks said.
In the offseason, United exercised an option on a deal that paid him just $100,000 last year. A 2023 option also remained.
Issue at new training venue
Losada is not happy about the field at United Performance Center, the new training venue in Leesburg.
This past week, he described the surface as “dry and hard. ... There is nothing you can do — just train and know that, on the day of the game, [the field] will be different.”
United moved into the long-delayed facility last fall after splitting time between Audi Field and RFK Stadium’s training grounds for years. The NWSL’s Washington Spirit moved into the Leesburg complex this past week.
