D.C. United Homegrown player Chris Durkin earned his first start of the 2019 MLS season over the weekend in the team’s away match against Colorado. The 19-year-old defensive midfielder made regular appearances in the Starting XI in the first half of 2018 but took a backseat to the partnership of Junior Moreno and Russell Canouse later in the year.
With three matches in ten days, Head Coach Ben Olsen turned to his bench. Durkin stepped into the Starting XI in place of Canouse.
After a shaky start and an early goal for the home team, the Black-and-Red started to settle into the game. Luciano Acosta equalized in the 35th minute, running across goal and shooting the ball into the back of the net.
The Black-and-Red were now firmly back in the game, and it didn’t take long for them to get their go-ahead goal. Just three minutes after Acosta’s first goal, D.C. United was forming another attacking chance. Lucas Rodriguez sent the ball out to Durkin, who sent the ball into the far corner of the net for his first goal in MLS.
The young midfielder was ecstatic and so was his coach.
“I thought Durkin put in a good solid performance as well,” Olsen said after the match. “It’s nice for him to get the goal. What it allows for now is increased depth and guys you can rely on. It also builds a little team spirit and a little competition which is always healthy as well.”
D.C. United will need to rely on that depth as they head into the busy months of May and June. This was a chance for players like Durkin, Pines, and Robinson to prove to Olsen that they can handle the starting role. They did not disappoint.
D.C. United will return to Audi Field on Sunday, April 21st to take on New York City FC. The match will kick off at 4:00 PM ET. Tickets are still available for the match and if you would like to save your seat, CLICK HERE!
