Coach-in-waiting Wayne Rooney watched D.C. United from the suite degree once more Saturday. However of higher import to a 2-0 defeat at Minnesota United, Taxi Fountas watched from residence.
Washington
Without Taxi Fountas, D.C. United slumps to loss in Minnesota
Fountas (10 targets in 12 appearances) was held again for precautionary causes. “It’s nothing main,” interim coach Chad Ashton stated. “We anticipate him again quickly.”
His absence was conspicuous as D.C. lacked concepts and alternatives at Allianz Discipline in St. Paul.
“We weren’t as harmful presumably as we might have been,” Ashton stated. “But it surely’s subsequent man up; we’ve obtained to do some bit higher. … [Fountas] scored numerous our targets this 12 months, and when he’s not right here we clearly miss him.”
Emanuel Reynoso scored early in every half as D.C. (5-11-3) fell to 1-6-3 previously 10 outings.
Rooney, the previous English celebrity who on Tuesday was named head coach, isn’t permitted on the sideline till he receives a piece visa. He’s, nevertheless, allowed to journey with the staff and meet with gamers and workers earlier than and after matches.
Till Rooney is cleared, Ashton will proceed overseeing on-field operations and implementing Rooney’s plans.
Three days after witnessing a 2-2 draw with Columbus at Audi Discipline, Rooney watched alongside Pete Shuttleworth, who served on his Derby County workers in England final season. Given his presence, Shuttleworth appears prone to be part of the D.C. workers quickly. Group officers have stated Rooney will convey one England-based assistant with him.
Saturday’s match fell sooner or later after D.C. traded Julian Gressel to Vancouver for as much as $900,000 usually allocation cash. Gressel was an necessary determine over 2½ years, however his wing again place doesn’t exist in Rooney’s most popular formation and his contract was to enter a team-held possibility this winter.
With accidents, Gressel’s departure and the continuing wait for brand new signings, United’s ranks had been skinny. Needing assist in the assault, the technically gifted Andy Najar moved from the again line to attacking wing. Chris Durkin, a pure defensive midfielder, crammed Najar’s proper again position.
Given the lineup, D.C. was not going to fabricate many scoring alternatives. Within the eleventh minute, although, one happened on a well-designed set piece — and second-year attacker Kimarni Smith ought to have put away a six-yard header.
Two minutes later, Minnesota (9-8-4) went forward. Reynoso squared a header to Luis Amarilla, then bolted right into a gaping channel as Durkin slipped. Amarilla returned it to the open Argentine with a leaping flick. Reynoso drove a 12-yard one-timer previous goalkeeper Rafael Romo.
Although the hosts continued to use strain, D.C. did construct some respectable possession late within the half. However with out Fountas, there was no menace.
“We weren’t harmful sufficient. We didn’t create sufficient,” Ashton stated. “Guys simply must play with slightly extra confidence when it comes to every thing.”
5 minutes into the second half, Reynoso doubled the lead. A D.C. giveaway led to a fast counterattack. Amarilla sailed down the left facet earlier than crossing to Reynoso, who, together with his second contact within the coronary heart of the field, positioned a low shot previous Romo for his sixth purpose in 5 matches and ninth general.
“We harm ourselves by giving freely the ball in dangerous areas,” defender Brendan Hines-Ike stated. “Poor turnovers that led to counterattacks and led to most of their possibilities. That’s obtained to be cleaned up.”
Right here’s what else to know from D.C.’s defeat:
Kamara sidelined with damage
Except for Fountas, United arrived within the Twin Cities with out a number of injured gamers. The opposite one scratched late this week was Ola Kamara, who, in its place, scored the stoppage-time equalizer towards Columbus. The Norwegian striker, whose seven targets are second on the staff, is sidelined with a strained gluteus.
Goalkeeper Invoice Hamid is out a minimum of two months after hand surgical procedure and wing again Brad Smith will miss the remainder of the season after tearing an ACL final week. Defender Tony Alfaro (ankle) and ahead Adrien Pérez (foot) are additionally unavailable.
Midfielder Russell Canouse returned from a three-week damage absence, getting into within the 81st minute. … Chilean attacker Martín Rodríguez, who signed June 23, continues to await a piece visa.
Morrison arrives for talks
Ravel Morrison, a much-traveled attacking midfielder who performed for Rooney at Derby County, arrived in Washington on Friday for a potential transfer to United, three folks near the scenario stated. Morrison, 29, had 4 targets and 4 assists final season earlier than changing into a free agent. He’s amongst a number of European-based gamers on D.C.’s listing of signing targets earlier than the Aug. 4 switch deadline.
Zanne summoned from Loudoun
Ivorian midfielder Abdoul Zanne was known as up from Loudoun United, the place he has contributed one purpose and one help in 11 appearances within the second-division USL Championship. He made his MLS debut within the 87th minute. … On Saturday in Leesburg, Loudoun (4-11-3) conceded 4 targets in 18 minutes of the second half in dropping a 4-1 choice to the Tampa Bay Rowdies (11-3-7).