Fabián Espíndola is available again. He’s already scored two goals in two games in 2015 - against Alajuelense in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League – even though he hasn’t yet played in the regular season. That’s a reminder enough of what he’s capable of, but here’s a refresher just in case:
-Espíndola is coming off the most productive of his eight seasons in Major League Soccer. In 2014, he was tied for D.C. United’s team lead in scoring with a career-high 11 goals and led the squad with a career-high nine assists.
-He’s one of only four MLS players with at least nine goals every year from 2011-14, a group that includes Landon Donovan, Thierry Henry and Chris Wondolowski.
-He scored D.C. United’s first goal of 2014, following his acquisition in Stage 2 of the 2013 MLS Reentry Draft. He also scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over 2013 MLS Cup champions Sporting Kansas City on May 31 with a magnificent curling strike that was No. 1 on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10.
-Despite being injured in the opening seconds of the Black-and-Red’s visit to the Montreal Impact on June 11, Espíndola recorded a hat trick of assists before being substituted at halftime.
-If not for his injuries, Espíndola might’ve been an MLS MVP candidate. He was United’s most important player last season, and he’s now a Designated Player. At 29 years old, he is in the prime of his career.
Welcome back, Fabi.
