Bill Hamid leads renewed D.C. defense against NYCFC
D.C. United will attempt to extend their unbeaten run to four matches Sunday when they visit New York City FC, which continues to add players as the season progresses.
United (4-5-1, 13 points) have undergone a dramatic change in style under first-year coach Hernan Losada, emphasizing a high-risk, high-reward pressing defense.
The results have been markedly better than a year ago, when D.C. finished second from bottom in the Eastern Conference. But the finishing could still be a lot better.
Despite playing a large portion of the last two matches with a man advantage, D.C. have scored only once in those opportunities, on an Ola Kamara penalty kick in a 1-0 win over Inter Miami last weekend.
More recently, on Wednesday night they failed to take advantage of a Montreal red card at the end of the first half, resulting in a scoreless draw at Montreal's temporary home in South Florida. D.C. unleashed 26 shots, but only five were on target.
"We knew going into the second half we had to be patient but still attack the game," said D.C. midfielder Russell Canouse. "And I actually thought we did that well. The one thing we don't leave this game with is a goal. It's frustrating, but it's good that we have all those opportunities."
Perhaps most significant, keeper Bill Hamid kept a clean sheet for the third consecutive game since returning from injury. Before his return, D.C. had allowed 11 goals in their first seven games.
Hamid and his teammates face NYCFC (4-3-2, 14 points), a team getting used to playing its home games across the river in Harrison, N.J., because of scheduling conflicts at Yankee Stadium.
After losing its first two matches at Red Bull Arena, City beat Atlanta 1-0 Wednesday night on Ismael Tajouri-Shradi's 69th-minute goal.
Despite recent signings like Thiago Andrade, Talles Magno and Santiago Rodriguez giving manager Ronny Deila options, Tajouri-Shradi has started three of the last five matches.
He's also scored in his last four games, but rejected the idea that those recent additions had lifted his game.
"I always say I want to play every game from the beginning," Tajouri-Shradi said. "I'm not happy to be on the bench. I think any player is not happy to be on the bench. I do my best every session to show the coaching staff, the trainer, everyone, that I'm a starting player. That's what I do now, and I'm going to do it always."
--Field Level Media
