[Above: poor field conditions cost DC a home game against Santos Laguna on July 31; see below]
DC United won both group games (and the group) in the Leagues Cup and will play in the round of 32 on August 9 against an opponent (and location) still to be determined. More on that later.
On Friday, July 26, DC won a penalty shootout in Atlanta against Atlanta United FC. The game was one of the more entertaining ones of the year, as regulation ended 3-3. DC started Bono, new arrival David Schnegg, McVey, Bartlett, Herrera, Peltola, Dajome, Stroud, Klich, new arrival Dominique Badji, and Benteke.
Atlanta keeper Josh Cohen muffed a clearance in the 4th minute, and Badji headed it to Benteke for the opening goal. DC was dominant early, as McVey hit the post in the 10th minute. However, Atlanta's Daniel Rios scored against the run of play in the 20th minute on an inch-perfect pass from Brooks Lennon, making it 1-1. Five minutes later, Lennon allowed Stroud to get past him for DC's second goal. Bono stopped Rio on a breakaway in the 31st minute, and a minute later Stroud settled a ball and volleyed it in the air into the upper right corner to make it 3-1. Beautiful strike. Benteke hit the corner of the goal in the 37th minute, and Atlanta's Saba Lobjanidze scored from the left side of the box. It was 3-2 DC at halftime.
The second half belonged mostly to Atlanta, although Dajome hit the crossbar in the 52nd minute. Bartlett collared Rios, resulting in a penalty from Bartos Slisz that Bono saved and then kicked the rebound away in the nick of time. However, Atlanta got another penalty in the 81st minute when Herrera fouled Jamal Thiare, and Rios scored this one to tie the game at 3-3. Second half subs for DC were Santos for Badji, Hopkins for Peltola, Murrell for Schnegg, and Pirani for Stroud.
The game then went immediately to penalties. Klich missed the opening penalty, and Lennon missed Atlanta's second penalty. Benteke, Herrera, Dajome, and Santos all made their kicks, and it was 4-4 after the first 5 rounds. McVey and Pirani converted, and finally in the 7th round Bono saved Slisz (again) as he went down the middle and Bono did not dive. The win gave DC 2 points and Atlanta 1. As I said, a very exciting game, and a lovely result.
DC then played Santos Laguna on Wednesday, July 31. The game was supposed to be at Audi Field, but it was moved to Philadelphia due to the poor condition of the pitch (see picture above). In front of a very sparse crowd, DC easily beat Santos Laguna, 3-0. Benteke scored in the 28th minute, Ted KDP in the 48th minute, and Dajome in the 58th minute. DC started Bono, Schnegg, Akinmboni, Bartlett, Herrerra, Peltola, Dajome, Stroud, Klich (the previous 4 in a diamond midfield formation), Ted KDP and Benteke. Subs were Tubbs for Akinmboni, Pirani for Schnegg, Rodriguez for Klich, Murrell for Stroud, and Hopkins for Ted KDP.
DC will play the second place team in the East 5 group on Friday, August 9; the standings right now are below.
The home team for the knockout rounds depends not on seeding in the groups, but on teams' places in the 2023 league table. Because DC finished behind both New England and Nashville last year, if one of those teams gets the second seed, the game will be in New England or Nashville. Since the Mexican teams are on the road for all games (hardly a fair arrangement), DC will only get a home game if Mazatlan finishes second.
New England and Nashville play in New England on Tuesday, August 6. If New England wins or draws, then Mazatlan will finish second and DC will have a home game on the 9th. If New England loses, all three teams will finish with 3 points and goal difference will decide who moves forward. I haven't worked out all the permutations.
One last bit of news: DC has signed Cameroon midfielder Boris Enow. He will be able to play after his visa and International Transfer Certificate are completed.
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