PORTLAND, Ore. — It’s early yet, two weekends into a 34-game campaign that will soon leave winter behind and consume the spring and summer before slipping into autumn. By the time MLS swings into the stretch run, D.C. United’s early performances under its ambitious, young coach will be a distant memory.
But these early returns — which included a two-goal second-half comeback in forging a 2-2 draw against the Portland Timbers on Saturday — portend well for a team and a bruised fan base that hasn’t had much to celebrate in years.
United (1-0-1) is playing proactive, high-energy soccer under first-year coach Troy Lesesne, and even with top scoring threat Christian Benteke scratched at the last minute and a deficit doubling early in the second half, the visitors stuck to the plan.