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Tonight we learned that D.C. United is not yet ready to join the English Premier League. At least not while using a starting lineup of mostly reserves. Everton FC was clearly the better side tonight at RFK Stadium, beating United 3-1 in this international friendly.
The best thing that happened in this match: Brandon McDonald and Dejan Jakovic got their awkward and uninspired first 15 minutes together out of the way in a meaningless game. If they'd played this terribly against the San Jose Earthquakes, I'd be pretty disappointed. But tonight, I don't really care. That was a really good team over there wearing blue.
The rest of the good news revolved around the players wearing numbers 13 and 14 for United. Chris Pontius scored D.C.'s lone goal by getting behind the Everton defense and finishing off a lobbed through ball from Dwayne De Rosario with a simple one-time strike. He also created another opportunity for himself later in the match with a nice spin past two Everton defenders. If there's anyone on our current roster that could fill in for Charlie Davies in a pinch, it might be Pontius. Andy Najar was also his usual creative self, testing the Everton defense often.
A few of the players who have yet to see the field for United this season showed fairly well. Steve Cronin made some quality saves in the second half, and Conor Shanosky contributed from the central defensive role he occupied for the final 45 minutes.
Overall, this was a decent match to watch. Victor Anichebe, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Magaye Gueye may have had their way with us, but United didn't leave embarrassed, and that was about all we were looking for.