This past weekend, D.C. United welcomed back the familiar faces of its 1996 team, as the team celebrated the ten-year anniversary of winning the inaugural MLS Cup championship. Eighteen members of the MLS Cup-winning team were in D.C. to reminisce and be recognized. While in town, the former players and their families stayed at the luxurious Mandarian Oriental Hotel, and were treated to a number of activities and ceremonies to commemorate their achievement.
On Friday night, the 1996 champs attended a party in their honor, also held at the Mandarian Hotel. There, the players watched the DVD of the 1996 MLS Cup Championship, rewinding to watch Eddie Pope's game-winning goal over and over again. It was a cheerful, nostalgic atmosphere, as the players reunited with old friends, some of which they had not seen since they left the muddy New England field ten years earlier.
The following day, the players were the guests of honor at the match between D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls. Each of the players was recognized before the match, and a video of 1996 highlights ran over the stadium's monitors. In a moving ceremony at halftime, Etcheverry, who came out to a huge ovation, became just the second member inducted into United's 'Tradition of Excellence.'
In their few moments of down time, players spent time enjoying the city with their families.
R&R
Sometimes a little rest and relaxation can do wonders for one's performance. After head coach Peter Nowak gave captain Jaime Moreno a couple of extra days of rest last week, Moreno responded in a big way in Saturday's 4-3 win over New York. United's all-time leading goal-scorer entered the match in the 57th minute and proceeded to notch a goal and two assists, while causing extreme discomfort for the Red Bull's defenders.
Now, Nowak has decided to apply the same philosophy to most of his first-team players. Moreno, Troy Perkins, Facundo Erpen, Bobby Boswell, Brandon Prideaux, Bryan Namoff, Freddy Adu, Matias Donnet, Christian Gomez, and Josh Gros were all given an additional day off this week (the whole team had Monday off) to recharge. Nowak and the coaching staff hope the additional rest will find the players refreshed and ready for the season's final three games and a strong playoff run.
Playoff tickets are on sale now >
No reserves repeat
With its 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, D.C. United's reserve team has been eliminated from contention for its second Reserve Division championship. At 6-4-1, United sit third in the reserve standings, five points behind top-ranked Colorado, and three points behind Kansas City, who also have a game in hand. United won the inaugural Reserve Division Championship last season with a record of 8-4.
Forward Matt Nickell leads the Black-and-Red with four goals, fourth-best in the division, and is second on the team in assists with four. The man he trails, Rod Dyachenko, leads all Reserve Division players with five assists this season.
D.C. United's reserves conclude their season with a trip to Houston on Sunday to take on the Dynamo. Kick-off in that match is set for 10:00 a.m.
