D.C. United let another match slip away under dispiriting circumstances in California over the weekend, but fans and observers looking for bright spots from the 3-1 loss to Chivas USA can point to Ryan Cordeiro's professional debut.
The rookie produced a capable display in 90 minutes on the left wing in his first-ever MLS appearance, an encouraging sign for a club which has largely banked on veteran savvy this season.
"I just wish we would've gotten a better result," said Cordeiro. "It felt good out there, though."
The first-team action marked another step in his steady forward progression this year. Cordeiro's labor on the practice field was rewarded with inclusion on the 18-man game day roster for United's previous three matches before getting the starting nod against Chivas.
"You don't always get the verbal feedback that you might have a good practice or a good week of practice," said Cordeiro. "Nothing might get said, but then once you get to the 18, that's like coach telling you you're doing good, and then once you make it into the starting 11, there's another pat on the back. It's good to see that your hard work is being noticed and then it's up to me to go out and prove that the hard work wasn't for nothing."
An adventurous attacker by nature, Cordeiro was given a defensive brief by D.C. head coach Tom Soehn, prompting a cautious approach at The Home Depot Center. But the match offered a solid foundation for the left-footer from the Hudson River valley community of Highland Mills, N.Y.
"For his first start, we talked a little bit about defensive positioning and he took it to heart," said Soehn. "I think for his first performance, it was pretty good. You'd like to see him get involved in the attack a little bit more, but that was probably us force-feeding him how to play defensively."
Cordeiro kept Chivas USA dangerman Sacha Kljestan in check for most of the match, but he and his teammates allowed United's hard-earned lead to crumble in the final half hour as the home side poured on the pressure and took advantage of their struggling opponents' nerves with three late goals.
"I learned that you've got to play 100 percent the whole game," said United's third-round 2008 SuperDraft pick. "If you take plays off, goals happen. Mistakes are magnified out there -- it's a lot different than reserve games and practice. Guys are out there fighting for their jobs so everybody's playing really hard, and you've got to match them and step it up a notch."
Fred's hamstring injury, combined with United's return to a 4-4-2 formation, helped hand Cordeiro his opportunity but Soehn was quick to hail Cordeiro's work on the training ground and in reserve team action.
"At the end of the game, after they scored it went into disarray and Kljestan got in behind him a couple times, but it wasn't just him, it was the whole team that collapsed. But for his first performance it wasn't bad," noted the D.C. boss. "He's just been working hard in training. We reward guys who train well and he's been doing a good job of competing."
Cordeiro got plenty of veteran support as he worked through his pregame jitters.
"It's just normal that you're going to be nervous your first game," said Santino Quaranta, who manned the opposite wing on Saturday. "I just told him, you've got to try to enjoy it as much as you can, because you don't get that back to play it over again, the [first] game. So you've got to embrace it as much as you can. I thought he did OK for his first time on the big stage."
Circumstances may force Cordeiro to wait for his next turn in the first XI. After United's Monday training session, Soehn confirmed that Fred will make the trip to Canada for Wednesday night's showdown with Toronto FC and if the Brazilian's hamstring is ready, he'll certainly step right back into the left wing spot. Cordeiro is serene about the situation.
"No, I think I should get the starting spot," he deadpanned on Monday. "Nah, I'm just kidding. I know that's a possibility. I'm sure Fred will jump back into the starting spot and I've got to be there ready to back him up, if need be. I'm fine with that. It's my job."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
