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History: In the twelve seasons of Major League Soccer, the top division of US Soccer, D.C. United is easily the most decorated club in league history. The winner of four MLS Cups (considered the league championship despite being a playoff cup format) with the last championship in 2004, three supporter's shields (given the team with the best regular season record in a single table) including the 2006 trophy, the 1996 US Open Cup, the 1998 CONCACAF Champions Cup, and the 1998 Interamerican Cup (Defeating Brazil's Vaco de Gama), United's fans expect excellence in the play of their team. International friendlies in the past two years have been played with Chelsea FC (a 2-1 loss), Celtic FC (a 4-nil win for us in a foggy rain, what a fun night!), and Real Madrid (a 1-1 draw in Seattle). We hope to have our own stadium 20K-30K seat stadium in 2009 on the banks of the Anacostia river in DC, but that seems a long way off some days. However, a new ownership group which took charge of the team for this season is committed to the stadium project, and to maintaining the excellence of play we expect.
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The season so far: After a semi-final finish in the CONCACAF Champions Cup to start the year, (involving a heatbreaking 3-2 loss to the Mexican CD Chivas of Guadalajara after we had a 2-1 aggregate lead) United has stumbled out of the gates with three straight losses and collecting four points in the first five games played. However, I feel like this start can be overcome, and with matches against Tornoto and defending MLS Champions Houston in the remainder of May, we'll get a good sense of whether United has righted the ship. We've got 25 games remaining to show some class. That's enough time, but spotting opponents points has to stop. This summer, the team will also be participating in the first ever "Superliga" featuring teams from Major League Soccer and the Mexican Primera Division. United is grouped with Club America, the Houston Dynamo, and Monarcas Morelia.
Odd Quirk: The team is always referred to as "D.C. United" and not "THE D.C. United" or "The United". It's just a thing that gets people's hackles up. Sadly, even our local sports announcers don't get the hang of it sometimes.
In DC? The city has a ton to offer, from free museums, good clubs, a wide variety of shopping, and excellent cosmopolitan food choices. If you're in the Nation's Capital, let us know, and we'll show you around town and try and get you to a game. Honestly, I can't think of any football experience in the USA that's better than watching DC United play with its supporters. Heed Army, and Vamos United, to all!
A massive thank you to the DCenters for the great write up on their fans and club.
The DCenters: http://dcunitedblog.blogspot.com
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