The last time brothers Jeff Carroll and Brian Carroll appeared together in the same match was for West Springfield High in the 2000 Northern Region semifinals.
The Carrolls, who now both play for D.C. United, lost that game to eventual statechampion W.T. Woodson, which featured Abe Thompson and Clarence Goodson, who now both play for F.C. Dallas.
While Jeff Carroll made his first appearance for D.C. United on Wednesday – not quite alongside his brother, instead replacing him late in United’s 5-1 thrashing of Columbus – West Springfield and W.T. Woodson were again meeting in Fairfax in the region semis.
“The last time I had that feeling was back in high school. To do it at a professional level with D.C. United is just really special,” said Brian Carroll. “I wished him good luck, have fun and congratulations.”
“Coming on for my brother was awesome. I kind of felt like it was going to happen,” said Jeff Carroll, who had been dressed as a substitute in United’s previous three matches.
D.C. gets little time to enjoy the midweek win. United hosts New England on Saturday, a team it lost to in three out of four matches last season.
“We know it’s going to be big, physical match,” said goalkeeper Troy Perkins. “Coming off two wins in a row, one on the road and a big one at home, you never want to get ahead of yourself, you never want to get your head too big.”
New England Revolution (3-3-2) at D.C. United (6-1-3)
Where: RFK Stadium
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WMET-1160 AM,
WACA-1540 AM
