D.C. United head coach Tom Soehn is resolute that despite a 0-2 start in CONCACAF Champions League group play, the team remains in contention to finish in the top half of the four-team group and advance to next spring’s knockout stage.
“We’re in a situation where if we win [Tuesday vs. San Juan Jabloteh in Trinidad], we come back against Marathon,” said Soehn last week, referring to the Honduran team that handed United a shocking 3-1 defeat on Aug. 18. “I know we want to rectify that result. I actually thought we played well, and we had a couple of errors that cost us the result. We’re still positioned well.”
Cue the 16-player travel roster for Trinidad that includes only eight players who started at least one of United’s two league contests last week, along with recently signed defender Lawson Vaughn, who was added to the team Friday and hasn’t yet played a minute. The same goes for 18-year-old goalkeeper Bill Hamid, who was brought up officially from D.C.’s youth academy two weeks ago.
Hamid, who is not eligible for MLS regular season games due to roster limits, couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear when he learned in the locker room after United’s loss to Seattle on Saturday night that he had been slated for the trip.
“I’ve never even been to the Caribbean,” said Hamid.
The trip also will mark a return home for Trinidad natives Avery John and Julius James.
“We both have the same feelings,” said James, who hasn’t been home in more than a year. “Going back is always, always nice, you know. We all have friends and family there. It’s an exciting feeling. I can’t wait to go and eat some good Trinidadian food … My mouth is actually watering right now, thinking about the food.”
