The first time D.C. United and Jose Guillermo Ortiz crossed paths was February 2015 in the Costa Rican city of Alajuela. It was not a pleasant experience for the MLS side.
Little did they know, they would join forces two years later, thanks to two factors: Ortiz’s two-goal performance against United and the role of a former D.C. midfielder-turned-agent with Costa Rican roots.
This winter, in need of frontline depth, United acquired Ortiz on a season-long loan from Herediano. He made a 21-minute debut in the opener last weekend against Sporting Kansas City and figures to fill a reserve role Sunday against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium.