When the Philadelphia Union faced D.C. United in Friday night’s Heineken Rivalry Week clash at Talen Energy Stadium, both teams were anchored by third-year center backs from California with the potential for stardom.
Of course, one of them – D.C. United’s Steve Birnbaum – is already far more established, having joined the US national team picture after being picked second in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.
The other – Philadelphia’s Richie Marquez – was selected 44th overall in the same draft, coming out of Division III University of Redlands. And yet, his coach and teammates believe that he has similar tools to perhaps be a USMNT-level player and an elite MLS center back, too.