Making its second deal with the New York Red Bulls in three weeks, D.C. United bolstered its midfield with the acquisition of Austin da Luz, a 2010 first-round draft pick (14th overall) out of Wake Forest, sending an international roster spot to New York in return.
The son of Demon Deacons women’s soccer coach Tony da Luz, Austin da Luz had one goal and one assist in seven appearances (four starts) for the Red Bulls this season after not playing at all as a rookie.
“I thought he did very well, stepped up and was one of the better players in a couple of the games,” United general manager Dave Kasper said. “It’s there. The full year, and now in his second year, you expect the guy to start contributing more, especially a guy who was rated high coming out of college.”
In New York, da Luz was buried behind Joel Lindpere, but the left-sided winger has the ability to fill in anywhere in the midfield, on either wing or in a central role.
“It’s a tough team to break into,” da Luz said after his first training session in Washington on Monday. “I think the atmosphere, the attitude, is sort of ‘win now,’ and that’s not always conducive to developing young talent. I think I maybe fell victim to that a little bit. But I’m excited to be here.”
D.C. United (5-5-8), who acquired playmaker Dwayne De Rosario from New York in exchange for Dax McCarty on June 27, gave up almost nothing in the deal for da Luz, sending a roster spot up Interstate 95 that enables the Red Bulls to sign German goalkeeper Frank Rost. But New York will relinquish rights at the end of the year, when D.C. will regain the spot.
United (5-5-8) has not lost in three matches (1-0-2) since adding De Rosario while New York, tying FC Dallas, 0-0, last weekend after holding the Red Bulls scoreless at home for the first time this year on July 9.
The arrival of da Luz, 23, will help D.C. United account for the loss of Fred, who will be on the D.C. gameday roster for the last time Wednesday against New England before transferring to the Melbourne Heart in Australia. Pencil in da Luz as a guy off the bench who can offer a break for Andy Najar or Chris Pontius.
The team continues to be without multiple other midfielders, including Branko Boskovic (knee surgery), Santino Quaranta and Brandon Barklage, the latter two among four D.C. players dealing with concussion symptoms.
Kasper said Barklage and forward Blake Brettschneider are on pace to return sooner than later, but both Quaranta, who has been out since May, and Devon McTavish, who suffered his head injury during preseason, are making slower progress. Kasper said McTavish’s progress has been slow but steady while Quaranta has made few strides forward.
