Vide drives his point home

He took a day off last week to fly down and get it, and during his drive back — in another one of the family automobiles, since his car didn’t actually arrive on time — Vide got a chance to think about whether it was all worth after D.C. United demoted him to the developmental roster to make room for new goalkeeper Louis Crayton.

Vide decided it was, and he was duly rewarded, scoring his first career goal in United’s 3-0 win over Colorado.

“You’re always thinking about things,” said Vide, 24. “It’s a numbers game, and I understand we needed to bring another goalkeeper.

 Obviously, being one of the younger guys, and D.C. gave me a chance anyways when they picked me up because I was waived. I came here with zero expectations. That’s how it is.”

Coaches assured Vide that the roster shuffle in no way reflected his play on the field, and with United (10-10-1) still decimated by injuries, he’s likely to not only see the field, but start often down the stretch this fall.

Most of those starts will come alongside Clyde Simms, meaning one of the two, both natural defensive central midfielders, will have to get forward into the attack.

“When they play, Clyde and Joe play together more, the understanding gets there,” said United head coach Tom Soehn. “They know when to cover each other, and now have the ability to read each other.”

Simms covered for Vide against the Rapids, who sat back to prevent Luciano Emilio from getting free to shoot on goal. The Brazilian responded by dishing the ball for two assists, including a soft layoff late in the first half to Vide, who took the ball on the bounce for a screamer of a goal past helpless Colorado goalkeeper Preston Burpo.

“You want to perform for the team,” said Vide. “It has nothing to do with your contract, whether you’re making millions or ten dollars.”