With D.C. United’s available numbers dwindling for Tuesday’s game against the Montreal Impact, Ben Olsen included rookie Akeem Ward in his gameday 18 for the first time this season. Ward, who was a first round draft pick out of Creighton University, had spent time away from the Black-and-Red with Loudoun United this season, starting all three games in the USL Championship season for the expansion side.
With Oniel Fisher and Chris Odoi-Atsem out long term, D.C.’s options at both outside back positions got paper thin over the past couple of weeks, with Joseph Mora, Leonardo Jara, and Chris McCann picking up various injuries.