The team from the U.S. capital finished the 2012 season as the second best side in the Eastern Conference with 58 points. In 2013, D.C. United sits in the basement of the league with just 10 points from 21 games played.
One of the main reasons for the team’s slide: a lack of offence, having scored just 10 goals since the start of the season, despite the likes of Dwayne De Rosario and Chris Pontius on the roster.
Forward Conor Doyle was acquired on July 18, 2013 (Photo: dcunited.com)
To help try to turn things around, D.C. has looked to youth to jump start its offence, or at the very least revamp it for next season.
United recently acquired Toronto FC midfielder/forward Luis Silva (see in the above picture), who scored five times and added five assists in his rookie campaign with TFC after being drafted fourth overall at the 2012 SuperDraft.
The 24-year-old scored in his first game for the black and red, albeit it a 4-1 loss to the Chicago Fire on July 20.
D.C. also acquired former U.S. youth international Conor Doyle on loan from the English Championship’s (2nd division) Derby County. The 21-year-old striker has made 21 appearances for the English club since 2010, when he joined straight out of high school before ever suiting up for intended college destination Creighton University.
The Texan has also scored four times in six appearances for the U-20 U.S. national team.
In a season of difficulties and toil, Silva and Doyle will become keys to D.C.’s success in the future. With the Impact playing at RFK Stadium this Saturday, let’s hold our well-wishes for these two MLS youngsters for until next week.
The game against D.C. United will be broadcast on TVA Sports, illico web, illico mobile starting at 7pm ET.
