Every season it seems like D.C. United is dealing with a slew of early season injuries, and this year is no different. Steve Birnbaum and Patrick Nyarko are almost definitely out, with Nick DeLeon a question mark and Patrick Mullins unlikely to go the full 90 minutes. However, this teams build depth every offseason, so that depth will be tested this week.
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With Patrick Mullins just coming back to the 18 this week, I think it is unlikely that he will start; expect him to replace Jose Ortiz in the 70th minute or so, especially if the team is needing a goal. He will be joined in the attack by Luciano Acosta and Lloyd Sam, as usual, and also with Sebastian Le Toux. The veteran attacker recently notched his 250th MLS appearance, and will get the opportunity here to state his case for even more playing time.
On the back line, Bobby Boswell and Taylor Kemp will start on the left side, as per usual, and Sean Franklin will slide back out to right back if Nick DeLeon can’t go. I would prefer Jalen Robinson get another run out at center back, especially given how well he played in place of Birnbaum last season. However, based on Olsen’s selections so far this year I think that Kofi Opare will get a chance to show that 2016 was an aberration.
Finally, given the team’s performance last week, Marcelo Sarvas will get another chance; Chris Durkin may have been inching closer to the lineup, but he is in Panama for the next couple of weeks on international duty.
With this lineup, the subs would be Travis Worra, Jalen Robinson, Maxim Tissot, Lamar Neagle, Julian Buescher, Jared Jeffrey, Patrick Mullins. What do you want to see Ben Olsen do this weekend?