DC United

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Kick Off:
DeRo demands DC step it up tonight on NBCSN


D.C. United say the 0-0 draw in Vancouver last weekend was a step in the right direction but “now we want results,” says veteran defender Robbie Russell.

The chance to get the first win of the season comes tonight on the NBC Sports Network as United host FC Dallas (7:30 p.m. ET). Captain Dwayne De Rosario says his club has to “step it up a little more at home,” where they have collected just five points in the last six league games played at RFK Stadium.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...-tonight-nbcsn

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They Live!
United pour it on, thump FCD 4-1 for first win of the season


WASHINGTON – D.C. United erased a woeful start to their season with their first victory of the 2012 campaign, a 4-1 win against FC Dallas Friday night at RFK Stadium in the nation’s capital.

A three-goal outburst in the second half proved the difference as United were spurred on by veteran Maicon Santos and rookie Nick DeLeon. Dallas, meanwhile, struggled to keep up after an even first 45 minutes and dropped their second road decision in a row.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter...dc-v-dal/recap

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Recap:
D.C. United 0 - Seattle Sounders FC 0

Post ensures DC and Seattle play to scoreless draw

The absence of a finishing touch was the name of the game Saturday night at RFK Stadium, as D.C. United and the Seattle Sounders FC battled to a 0-0 draw in front of 15,651 fans.

Despite a lack of clear-cut opportunities throughout the match, Seattle left back Marc Burch nearly stole the show late on, as he sent a header crashing against the bar moments after coming into the match.

http://www.dcunited.com/news/2012/04...-sounders-fc-0

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Rookie Rankings:
Nicky De atop heap after Week 4

At this stage of the season, Nick DeLeon is the flavor of the month when it comes to the voting, the result of two AT&T Goal of the Week-worthy strikes in the season's first month. However, Kelyn Rowe and Ryan Meara aren't far behind, while top picks Andrew Wenger and Darren Mattocks haven't hit their strides in Montreal and Vancouver just yet. As playing time and the fortunes of each player change during the coming months, so will these rankings.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...p-after-week-4



Nicky De was a unanimous choice at the top after week five

A week after debuting at the top of the inaugural rookie rankings, Nick DeLeon was a unanimous choice at the top after week five, remaining in voters memories via two AT&T Goal of the Week-worthy strikes in the season's first month and solid work on both sides of the ball. Moving up this week were Ryan Meara, who narrowly missed out on his first-ever shutout against Columbus, and Sebastian Velasquez, who is filling in ably for a Real Salt Lake side that's had no problem picking up points.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...ez-moves-top-5

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Recap:
New England Revolution 1 - D.C. United 2

Pontius strikes late as Black-and-Red rally past Revs

Second-half substitute Chris Pontius scored with nine minutes to play to secure D.C. United's 2-1 victory at New England on Saturday afternoon.

Pontius clinched all three points and extended United's unbeaten streak to four matches with a deft cut inside and a fine finish two minutes after his introduction. The goal completed the visitors' comeback after Maicon Santos' header canceled out José Moreno's first MLS goal inside the opening 20 minutes of the contest.

http://www.dcunited.com/news/2012/04...-1-dc-united-2

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Total Domination

Recap:
Pontius hits hat trick as United thump New York

WASHINGTON – Before the season, few would’ve predicted D.C. United were Eastern Conference contenders, but after they cruised past the New York Red Bulls 4-1 Sunday night, that’s exactly what they are.

Amid heavy rain at RFK Stadium, the star of the night was Chris Pontius, who scored his first professional hat trick, as United ran out to a four-goal lead before New York’s Thierry Henry pulled one back with a 70th-minute free kick. Rookie Nick Deleon scored the other goal for D.C.

The win stopped the Red Bulls’ four-game unbeaten streak, and extended United's to six matches. It also lifted D.C. to second place in the Eastern Conference.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter...-dc-v-ny/recap

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MLS Player of the Week

Chris Pontius named MLS Player of the Week

D.C. United announced today that midfielder/forward Chris Pontius was unanimously selected by the North American Soccer Reporters as the MLS Player of the Week. Pontius is the first player in five years of voting by the North American Soccer Reporters to be a two-time unanimous selection.

http://www.dcunited.com/press-releas...er-of-the-week

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Rookie Rankings:
DeLeon keeps on rolling for United


Each week during the 2012 season, MLSsoccer.com's editors will cast their votes for the frontrunners, contenders and dark horses for MLS Rookie of the Year. By way of a virtuoso rookie campaign, Sporting Kansas City's C.J. Sapong took home the award in 2011, leaving a new crop of rookies to fight for the top honor handed out to first-year pros in Major League Soccer.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...rolling-united

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DeRo: No goals, no problem

"The most important thing is we have other guys stepping up and scoring."

Through eight matches this season, only four players across Major League Soccer have taken more shots than D.C. United's Dwayne De Rosario. Yet for all of his 26 attempts thus far in 2012, the reigning league MVP is still scoreless. It is a situation that would frustrate most players accustomed to piling up stats as DeRo has over his MLS career, but the Black-and-Red captain couldn't - frankly - care less.

"I don't need to score," De Rosario said matter-of-factly after D.C.'s training session on Tuesday. "Everybody else is scoring and we are winning. My goals will come. The most important thing is we have other guys stepping up and scoring."

http://www.dcunited.com/news/2012/04...als-no-problem

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Timing, poise lead DeLeon closer to DCU rookie record


In just eight games this season, the midfielder has amassed three goals and three assists, while filling the void left early in the season by Andy Najar and Chris Pontius. His play has been integral to D.C.'s early success this season, and after a couple of good games to start his professional career, there’s no sign his performances will drop off.

DeLeon is already closing in on one United record that few gave him a chance to set on draft day. With three goals in MLS play this season, he is just two goals behind the record of five goals for a United rookie, set by Santino Quaranta (2001), Freddy Adu (2004) and Andy Najar (2010). With 26 games remaining, few would now question his ability to break that record.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...-rookie-record

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DC 2 - TFC 0

Pontius and Salihi score for the Black-and-Red

http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter...-dc/highlights

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Recap:
D.C. United 2 - Colorado Rapids 0


.C. United hasn’t utilized their Designated Players this season as most teams would. On Wednesday night though, that would all change, as United comfortably defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-0 at RFK Stadium.

With Dwayne De Rosario, Branko Boskovic, and Hamdi Salihi starting together for just the second time this season, United rode goals from De Rosario and Salihi past the Rapids for their sixth win of the season.


http://www.dcunited.com/news/2012/05...orado-rapids-0

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Recap:
DC 3 - TFC 1

DeRo's brace leads United past struggling Toronto FC

Toronto FC’s horrid start to the 2012 just keeps getting worse, as they recorded their ninth straight loss against a rampant D.C. United side on Saturday night. United ran out 3-1 winners at RFK Stadium, as former TFC star Dwayne De Rosario provided two early goals which set the capital club on their way.

De Rosario netted his fourth and fifth goals of the season in the first half, as United won for the second time against Toronto this season.

http://www.dcunited.com/news/2012/05...3-toronto-fc-1

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De Rosario two goals shy of century mark for MLS career


WASHINGTON – Don’t look now, but the 100-goal club in MLS is about to get a new member.

Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario, who has traveled far since his days with FSV Zwickau in Germany and the Richmond Kickers in the old A-League, is just two goals short of becoming the seventh MLS player with 100 career goals in the regular season.

With two more goals, De Rosario would be the first player to reach the plateau since Landon Donovan hit the century mark back in 2010. With Donovan, De Rosario would join the likes of Jeff Cunningham, Jaime Moreno, Ante Razov, Jason Kreis and Taylor Twellman as the only MLS players to notch 100 goals during regular-season play.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...ark-mls-career

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Rivalry Week on Comcast SportsNet

Soccer fans treated to iconic rivalry games leading up to June 16
live match against the Philadelphia Union

Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, the region’s leading source for multiplatform sports coverage, along with D.C. United today announced plans to air encore presentations of five memorable D.C. United matches June 10-14 as a part of D.C. United Rivalry Week. The special five-game series will feature classic matches against heated rivals spanning the 17-year history of the Black-and-Red.

http://www.dcunited.com/press-releas...cast-sportsnet