WASHINGTON — For head coach Ben Olsen, D.C. United’s spectacular second-half climb has gone beyond merely achieving the goal of a return to the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs.
It’s brought a club that was MLS’ original power in the late 1990s back to a version of itself that is worthy of comparison to those great teams.
There’s a long way to go to match the accomplishments of those teams, of course. D.C. only ensured its playoff spot with their 3-1 victory over New York City FC on Sunday at Audi Field. Yet it’s clear Olsen, now the second-longest tenured coach in the league in his eighth full season in charge in D.C., doesn’t want this trip to end anytime soon.
“I’m enjoying coaching probably over the last couple months more than I ever have,” Olsen said. “And it’s partly because we’re winning, and it’s easy to enjoy that. But it’s also the way we’re playing. I know we’re entertaining the fans and we’re putting together a really good product.
“It’s not just glitz, it’s tough, it’s gritty. I feel like it has a lot of really good components, and I’m looking forward to testing how far we can go.”
The opening 23 minutes of Sunday’s encounter suggested that may be as far as Luciano Acosta and Wayne Rooney can take them.
Acosta slalomed devastatingly through a handful of NYCFC defenders to set up Rooney’s eighth-minute opener and tie Philadelphia’s Borek Dockal for the MLS lead with 17 assists.
Then 15 minutes later, Rooney’s holdup play helped free Acosta for a gorgeous strike from distance that had too much power for goalkeeper Sean Johnson’s outstretched hand.
After converting a penalty to seal the match, Rooney now has a team-leading 12 goals despite only making his debut in the Audi Field opener on July 14. He’s scored five goals in D.C.’s last four games.
Meanwhile, Acosta has nine of his 10 goals and nine assists since the beginning of August.
“A couple games ago, I got the sense [Rooney] wasn’t pleased with his performance, his own performance,” Olsen said. “And the last two games, he’s been, again, at a very, very high level. And Lucho today, was just playing at a level I think early that they just couldn’t deal with.”
The victory actually pushed United up to fifth in the Eastern Conference standings ahead of Columbus Crew SC. A win in Chicago on Decision Day presented by AT&T would actually clinch a home Knockout Round match because Philadelphia and NYCFC face each other.
That leaves Olsen with a tougher decision than he might’ve envisioned heading to Toyota Park, given all but one of D.C.’s 14 wins this season have come at home.
“On the surface a home game is a big deal, especially for a knockout game,” Olsen said. “And then you weigh the risk of how quick the turnaround is, and the energy level. And [if you’re] better off going away and being fresh. But we’re also in a really good rhythm.
“That’s all stuff I’ll ponder tonight over a quiet bourbon.”
