There have been a number of changes to the D.C. United side since they last faced the Montreal Impact on August 4, one of the biggest changes being the return of goalkeeper Bill Hamid, who reunited with the Black-and-Red on August 8 on loan from Danish side FC Midtjylland. A standout goalkeeper who already has experience playing with many of the Black-and-Red's core players, Hamid will look to be a difference maker come Saturday in the rematch versus Montreal.
Before Hamid’s return, United’s defense struggled to put together consistent performances and lock down opposing attacks. Through 20 matches, they earned just one shutout on April 11 against the Columbus Crew. Since Hamid took over the starting goalkeeper role on August 15, the Black-and-Red have picked up four wins, and recorded their first shutout at Audi Field, a 2-0 win over the New England Revolution on August 19.
While Hamid didn't rejoin United until the second half of the 2018 season, he has extensive experience and an impressive history with the club. Prior to his return, Hamid made 184 appearances with D.C. United from 2009-2017. He was the club's first Homegrown Player, and won the 2014 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Since returning to the District, Hamid has settled back in to his role with the club and has been a key factor to United climbing the Eastern Conference standings to put themselves in a potential playoff spot. The Homegrown has already had a number of huge performances for United, including a six-save match in the 3-1 win over Atlanta and an eight-save match in the 1-1 draw at New York City. And while the improved record has been influenced by a variety of changes—including the addition of Wayne Rooney, the improvement in Acosta’s game, and numerous players coming back from injury—there is no doubt the defensive improvement coupled with Hamid's return has played a role in that shift as well.
Saturday will present another difficult challenge for Hamid and the Black-and-Red in their push toward the postseason. Montreal have not been shutout in their last ten matches, scoring eighteen goals in the process. D.C. United’s dangerous offense will look to out-fire the Impact, but the defense will also need to rise to the occasion and shut down an opponent that has consistently produced in the final third.
Montreal are currently in the No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference standings, sitting in the final playoff spot for which D.C. United are fighting. Saturday will be critical to D.C.’s playoff run, and while the teams' last meeting resulted in a draw, Hamid could be the game-changer that United need to earn all three points this time around.
