Three Players to Watch: D.C. United
(image via D.C. United)
The Houston Dynamo are back and hosting D.C. United who are right inside the bubble of the Eastern Conference Playoffs as things stand. D.C. have been one of the most up and down teams in MLS this season with some disastrous performances like the 4-0 defeat to Dallas and some superb performances like their road win against Chicago. Here are three players the Dynamo must watch if they want to continue their fine run of form and climb the Western Conference stadings.
Tai Baribo
It’s no surprise that Tai Baribo is the first player mentioned as he’s having an exceptional first season in the nation’s capital. After finishing inside the top 10 in goals scored last season with the Philadelphia Union, he was traded to D.C. United in the second highest cash for player trade in MLS history. He comes into this game in hot form with five goals in his last four starts including a hat trick against the New York Red Bulls.
Lucas Bartlett
Bartlett is a more obscure name that casual MLS fans may not know, but he is quietly having a late breakout season. Bartlett has been a gigantic piece for a D.C. United side that is building their game plan around directness and set pieces. Bartlett ranks amongst the top three center backs in MLS in expected goals, providing a gigantic threat in dead ball situations. He’s not just good offensively as he also ranks first in MLS in total defensive clearances, making him a two way threat the Dynamo will have to deal with.
Nathan Ordaz
Nathan Ordaz has yet to play for D.C. United following a recent $2.4 million cash for player trade from LAFC. Some might see this as an overpay for a player who hasn’t left a huge mark on MLS yet. However, there is lots of upside for a player who has shown huge potential off the bench and in spot starts for LAFC over the years. Ordaz will be looking to play a bigger role on a new team at the age of 22. It is hard to knock Ordaz too hard for not getting in the LAFC team over Denis Bouanga and Heung-Min Son. He did end up with eight goals and five assists in all competitions for LAFC last season and will look to build on that as a main man for D.C. United.
