The 2012 D.C. United season was the club's seventeenth season of existence, and their seventeenth consecutive season of playing in Major League Soccer, the top division of American soccer. The club's season began on March 10, with a 0–1 home defeat against Sporting Kansas City, and culminated on November 18 with a 1–1 draw against Houston Dynamo.
Under Ben Olsen, his second full season in charge, the club went through a tremendous improvement in form, qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2007, and reaching the Eastern Conference championship for the first time since 2006. During the regular season, United amassed 58 points during the season, which tied their record from 1998 for the most points during the regular season, although the 1998 season only had 32 matches instead of 34. Still, the club averaged 1.7 points per match, which is tied for the third best on record.
United saw success in the conference semifinals of the MLS Cup Playoffs, defeating their I-95 rivals, the New York Red Bulls 2–1 on aggregate, before eventually losing to the defending Eastern Conference postseason champions, Houston Dynamo, 4–2 on aggregate.
Outside of MLS, United reached the round of 16 of the U.S. Open Cup, where they lost in extra time to the Philadelphia Union.
As of 2024, this is the most recent time D.C. United advanced to the conference final.
Background
Ahead of the 2012 season, it was head coach Ben Olsen's first club campaign as full-time manager. During 2011, United improve from their 6–20–4 record and improved to 9–13–12, but failing to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs for a franchise-record four seasons. United improved their scoring output, scoring 47 goals during the regular season, third in the league, and had the fourth best away record of MLS clubs during 2011.
Review
Preseason
On November 3, United's Ethan White and Perry Kitchen were called up to the United States under-23 national team, ahead of November 7 and 15 fixtures in Germany. On November 29, D.C. United signed Robbie Russell from Real Salt Lake in exchange for a third round pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.
Ahead of the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft, Dave Kasper, the club General Manager, released a list of nine players exposed for the Re-Entry Draft. These players' options to have their contracts extended were declined. The Re-Entry Draft resulted in United's Marc Burch and Clyde Simms being transferred to the Seattle Sounders FC and New England Revolution, respectively. On December 1, Charlie Davies' loan from Sochaux expired, with United having the option to purchase his contract from French outfitters. Despite the option, United declined to exercise their option to purchase Davies' contract from Sochaux, resulting in Davies returning to the club. Three days later, long-time United midfielder Santino Quaranta, whose contract was declined by United. During the actual Re-Entry Draft, held on December 5, United made no selections.
During the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, United made one selection in the draft, selecting Louisville Cardinals men's soccer standout, Nick DeLeon, with the seventh selection overall. DeLeon, a Generation adidas member, was subsequently signed by the club as an off-budget player. Two weeks later, during the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft, United selected Lance Rozeboom from the University of New Mexico; Charles Rodriguez, from University of North Carolina at Charlotte, as well as Matt Kuhn from Drake University. Of the Supplemental selections, only Rozeboom was signed to a contract. The others were released without offers. Rozeboom, unfortunately, suffered a season-ending ACL injury during the Carolina Challenge Cup preseason tournament.
After what many cited as a quiet offseason for United, the club engaged in more winter trades following the Supplemental Draft. On January 18, United acquired Brazilian Maicon Santos from FC Dallas. Two days later, United traded an undisclosed amount of allocation money to fellow Texan MLS side, Houston Dynamo for midfielder Danny Cruz. After two domestic transfers, United acquired Argentine center-back Emiliano Dudar on a free transfer from Swiss side Young Boys.
United had their first two preseason scrimmages on January 29 and February 2, playing against fellow-MLS side, Chicago Fire and Swedish Allsvenskan-side, Malmö, respectively. Both matches ended in draws. Subsequently, DC United once again claimed the Carolina Challenge Cup with victories over the Charleston Battery and the Chicago Fire, with the final game against the Columbus Crew canceled because of severe weather.
On February 2, the club made headlines for the acquiring of Albanian striker Hamdi Salihi as a designated player, from Austrian side Rapid Wien. It was rumored that United outbid several European suitors, including Celtic and Rangers for Salihi. Many have cited the purchase of Salihi as United's largest transfer during the 2011–12 offseason, and a key role needed to fill the void left by Charlie Davies the previous season.
The club filled out the roster signing two preseason trialists from USL teams: goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra and left winger Lewis Neal. The club also loaned out Conor Shanosky to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
March
D.C. United opened the Major League Soccer regular season at home against Sporting Kansas City on March 10. Sporting, the defending Eastern Conference regular season champions, defeated United at RFK Stadium, 1–0 in United's final outing of the 2011 MLS season. That scoreline was repeated in the first match of the 2012 season. In the 93rd minute, a stoppage time corner kick by Sporting's Graham Zusi by Sporting resulted in a heading goal by C. J. Sapong giving Sporting the 1–0 lead and eventual victory over United.
United's offensive struggles continued as they traveled out west to take on the Los Angeles Galaxy, the defending MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield champions, on March 17. The Galaxy emerged with a 3–1 win, with United's lone bright spot being rookie Nick DeLeon's first MLS goal, as the team's first round draft pick scored in the 86th minute. The two-match West Coast swing concluded with a March 24 fixture at Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which ended in a 0–0 draw. United's only scoring chance came on a header by Designated Player Hamdi Salihi, that forced Whitecaps' goalie Joe Cannon into a quick reaction save.
A month that was marked by anemic offensive performances ended with a goal-scoring explosion as United returned home to RFK Stadium to take on FC Dallas, and the emergence of new factor in the attack as Maicon Santos scored twice and added an assist in a 4–1 thrashing of the visitors. Nick DeLeon had his second goal of the campaign and he added an assist on a goal by Danny Cruz.
April
During April, D.C. United went undefeated in their five league matches, winning thrice and drawing twice. The month opened with a regular season match at home to the Seattle Sounders FC. The fixture against Seattle ended in a scoreless draw, the club's second of the season, with United's Maicon Santos and Dejan Jakovic picking up yellow cards during the match. On April 14, United traveled northbound to take on Eastern Conference rivals, the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium. After New England's José Moreno Mora opened up the scoresheet in the sixth minute, United equalized from a goal from Santos in the 19th minute. With nine minutes remaining, United's Chris Pontius received a pass from Emiliano Dudar and curled a shot around New England's Matt Reis, giving United a 2–1 lead and subsequent victory. The win marked the club's first victory at New England since August 5, 2007; when United earned a 3–0 victory at New England.
Following their victory at New England, United were in prime position to win consecutive league matches for the first time since June 2009. United, hot off a 2–1 victory at New England hosted struggling conference opponents, Montreal Impact, who were making their debutant season in MLS. In the April 18 affair, the Impact took the lead in the 68th minute off a strike from Bernardo Corradi. Montreal's lead quickly vanished as United's Santos restored parity in the 72nd minute. Santos would subsequently score, but the goal would be called back, giving United a 1–1 draw versus Montreal.
After the disappointing draw with Montreal, United put together the team's most dominant performance in April, with a 4–1 victory over the New York Red Bulls, led by Chris Pontius, who tallied his first career hat-trick with goals in the 8th, 32nd and 69th minutes. In between Nick DeLeon added a goal in the 35th minute. New York's Thierry Henry spoiled the shutout with a late free-kick goal.
United finally won consecutive matches when they closed out the month with a 3–2 home win over the Houston Dynamo. A header by Maicon Santos gave United the early lead in a first half controlled by United. A hamstring injury to Emiliano Dudar just before halftime helped the Dynamo back into the game. Playing a makeshift back line, United surrendered the lead in the 50th minute, thanks to a goal by the previous year's nemesis, Will Bruin. United regained the lead four minutes later, when Dwayne De Rosario scored his first goal of the season, but gave back the lead when Bruin added another goal in the 59th minute against a back line that clearly missed Dudar. United rebounded with a stunning game-winning header by Santos in the 70th minute.
May
May began with United playing their 5th game in 18 days and with a back line that had one healthy center-back, Brandon McDonald. The other center-backs, Emiliano Dudar, Dejan Jakovic and Ethan White, were all out due to injuries. Playing the hottest team in the league, the San Jose Earthquakes, the defenseless United surrendered 5 goals in a 5–3 defeat. The game started well for United with a goal by Dwayne De Rosario in the eighth minute. However, the disorganized United defense gave up three goals in a flurry before halftime, on goals by Chris Wondolowski, Steven Lenhart and Justin Morrow. United drew close, when Daniel Woolard scored a diving header in the 64th minute. San Jose soon pulled away as Wondolowski and Lenhart each scored their second goal of the game. Although the game was out of reach, United fans were buoyed with a late goal by substitute Hamdi Salihi, in the 88th minute. Salihi, United's much-hyped offseason signing, scored for the first time in league play, when he got on the end of a long pass by De Rosario, and neatly chipped it over the diving San Jose goalie, Jon Busch.
Following the loss at San Jose, United had no break in the schedule with another road game 4 days later. The team did catch somewhat of a lucky break as they were playing winless Toronto FC. Head Coach Ben Olsen had a few surprises in store, as he bolstered the defense by putting Andy Najar at right back and moving Woolard to center-back. Bill Hamid was back in goal for the first time since United's season opener. Hamid's slot as the team's starting goalkeeper had gone to Joe Willis based on Willis' strong performances while Hamid was with the USA's U23 team in that team's failed effort at Olympic qualifying. After a defensive first half, with few chances for either team, United broke through on a long strike by Chris Pontius in the 55th minute. Hamdi Salihi once again came off the bench and closed out the scoring in a 2–0 win with his second goal in two games, this one coming on an acrobatic overhead scissors kick.
Upon the victory at Toronto, United faced the Houston Dynamo in a rematch from April 28, when United won 3–2. The match was a special occasion for the Dynamo, as the club was opening their brand-new soccer-specific stadium, BBVA Compass Stadium. The hosts would earn a 1–0 victory thanks to a 67th-minute strike from Houston's Brad Davis, who volley a 35-yard shot.