DC United rely on youngsters in Real Salt Lake and scoreless draw

With a lost season coming to an end, DC United coach Wayne Rooney has pledged to test young players as part of his 2023 roster evaluation and planning.

Saturday night he started two teenagers.

18-year-old midfielder Jackson Hopkins was a veteran.

In the backline, 15-year-old Matai Akimboni made his MLS debut.

In United’s 0-0 draw with Real Salt Lake in Sandy, Utah, the 6-foot-3 homegrown centre-back from Upper Marlboro became the third-youngest regular season defender in league history. Only Freddy Adu (DC, 2004) and Alphonso Davies (Vancouver, 2016) were greener.

Akimboni’s previous experience at the professional level has been 101 minutes in four appearances for Loudoun United in the Second Division. On Saturday, he played the first half to make up for captain Stephen Birnbaum’s absence (yellow card suspension).

His debut came 10 days after 17-year-old attacker Christian Fletcher was named The Post’s All-Met Player of the Year at Landon last fall. Hopkins has made 10 starts in the last two months, all but one.

Akimboni won his acquittal after receiving a yellow card for an ill-timed challenge in the 40th minute. Real Salt Lake’s pressure increased as the first half progressed, but United entered the break after leveling. Former RSL standout player David Ochoa made two quality saves.

United’s chances came early, but Olla Kamara failed to finish twice from close range. England’s Cristal Christian his Benteke, a valuable summer acquisition from his Palace, has been quiet as his new teammates supplied him with the ball and worked to build chemistry with the Belgian striker.

A change of formation at half-time saw Akimboni replaced by veteran Tony Alfaro. In a close race he was ambitious for his RSL (11-9-10). Under duress, United (7-17-6) kept their cool.

For Wayne Rooney, DC life is work, work, and more work. what he wanted.

The pressure eased at times, giving the visitors time to catch their breath and move forward for a fleeting advance. Rand University) were forced to kick-save Kamala’s serious threat.

Ochoa struck again in the 80th minute, saving Anderson Julio’s 6-yard header with a sensational touch.

United extended their unbeaten streak to three matches, the longest of the season, and have secured consecutive shutouts for the first time since starting the season with victories over Charlotte and Cincinnati.

However, the attack has gone scoreless in 7 of their last 9 games, 14 times overall.

Here’s what else you should know about United’s draw.

The 21-year-old Ochoa was an RSL hero last season but was relegated to non-league and lower division games this year after his relationship with the organization soured.

With Ochoa’s contract expiring this off-season, RSL traded him to United on 28 July for allocation money of up to $375,000. If Ochoa signs abroad this winter, the RSL will only take him $75,000 from United. Agents for United and Ochoa are in talks.

“I’m grateful to the club for giving me the chance,” Ochoa said on Friday. “I don’t mind staying in D.C. I really like the style of play Wayne wants to play.”

With United flying non-stop from Salt Lake City to Kansas City for Tuesday’s game against Sporting KC, Rooney brought four players without a uniform on Saturday: Birnbaum, goalkeeper John Kempin, rookie midfielder Ted Ku-Dipietro and forward Nigel Lovasa.

Roberta hasn’t worn a uniform since the friendly against Bayern Munich on 20 July, as Rooney doesn’t think highly of him.