Rookie taking on role as season nears its end D.C. United has been reduced to thinking about the future in its final game of the season after its playoff hopes were dashed by Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Portland.
But a new era at one position, defensive central midfield, already may have been ushered in with rookie Perry Kitchen’s breakout performance against the Timbers.
| Up next |
| Sporting Kansas City at D.C. United |
| When » Saturday, 7:30 p.m. |
| Where » RFK Stadium |
| TV » CSN+ |
United coach Ben Olsen was reduced to shaking his head in wonderment following the 19-year-old’s second start of the year (and in three games) in a role that has been veteran Clyde Simms’ for the better part of five seasons.
“It’s exciting to have him in this organization,” Olsen said. “He’s a big-time player, and he’s got a huge heart. It’s really nice to see him play.”
Kitchen, the third overall pick in the MLS draft in January, actually leads all D.C. United players in minutes (2,636) and starts (29) and is tied with Andy Najar in matches played (30), but nearly all of that work has come in a utility role along the back line. Even though he was brought into the team as a defensive midfielder or center back, Kitchen has spent most of the season at right back, replacing the injured Jed Zayner.
But in a must-win situation against the Timbers, Kitchen embraced the multifaceted responsibility to make hard tackles, initiate the offense with incisive passing and lead United (9-12-12) emotionally in the center of the park.
Kitchen did all three, urging on his teammates throughout the match and showing the kind of two-way ability Simms has long lacked. Simms instead has been more reliant on who he has been paired with in the midfield to take the ball forward.
“I think I was put in there just to try to keep the game connected,” said Kitchen, who anchored a similar spot for Akron during its 2010 NCAA title run. “It got a little crazy with everybody pushing numbers forward. But I think I was just put in there to try to keep connected, communicate to the guys and make sure our shape was good.”
Kitchen could have one more opportunity on Saturday against Sporting Kansas City (12-9-12) to stake his claim to the spot for next year.
“It’s definitely a good fit for me, I think,” he said. “But like I’ve said this whole year, wherever they need me is where I’m going to play.”
Olsen likely will sit some of his banged-up veterans, such as Dwayne De Rosario, who said he got kicked in the same spot on his right shin for the third straight game against the Timbers.
“We want to win,” Olsen said. “We don’t want to end this year on a loss. We want to reward our fans with something to cheer about. We will go at it with the best team possible.”
