Greetings from RFK Stadium for the friendly between Dutch Eredivisie champion Ajax and D .C. United. A small gathering is expected for this exhibition, the first of many involving major European clubs visiting the States this summer .
Kickoff: 5 p.m. ET.
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Ajax s previous visit to Washington: May 12, 1990, for a 1-1 draw with the U.S. national team, which was preparing for the World Cup in Italy.John Harkesequalized in the 84th minute in front of 18,245 observers. Ajax s scorer?Ronald de Boer, twin brother of current Ajax coachFrank de Boer. Dutch legendDennis Bergkampstarted for Ajax.
Tonight s match seemed to be the perfect occasion for United to unveil , but because Ajax will be in its traditional red and white, D .C. will wear black. Expect the third kit in the friendly against Everton (blue) in July and probably three MLS matches. UPDATE: United will wear the third kit June 3 at Los Angeles, July 2 vs. Philadelphia, July 23 vs. Everton and Aug. 21 at Kansas City.
Among the spectators tonight will be 2002 U.S. World Cup midfielderJohn O Brien, who rose through the Ajax youth system and made 98 league appearances. Injuries took a toll on his career, and after playing once for Chivas USA in 2006, he called it quits. Since then, O Brien has worked on several projects, traveled the world and enrolled in college. He is on pace to earn a degree in psychology from Antioch University (Los Angeles) this year and plans to pursue a Master s.
AJAX LINEUP: Vermeer; Anita, Ooijer, Oleguer, Blind; De Zeeuw, Lodeiro, Enoh; Sulejmani, Cvitanich, zbiliz.
DCU LINEUP: Hamid; Barklage, White, Jakovic, Woolard; Najar, Kitchen, McCarty, Pontius; Ngwenya, Quaranta. Subs: Cronin, Willis, Brasesco, King, Korb, Shanosky, Fred, Brettschneider, Simms.
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