WASHINGTON—Markus Halsti and Miguel Aguilar come from very different backgrounds, but on Sunday night in Chester, P.A., both midfielders reached an important milestone: starting a game in MLS.
For Halsti, the night could not come soon enough, as the 31-year-old midfielder signed for D.C. United in January, but a knee injury incurred just shortly after the start of preseason, kept him out of matches until the weekend, when he saw his first minutes of the season.
The 31-year-old Finnish midfielder has had quite an exciting last twelve months; from playing in the Champions League against world-renowned teams like Juventus and Atletico Madrid, to becoming a father and moving to the nation’s capital.
“The Champions League was one of my dreams, and it was one of so many happenings last fall that it’s hard to even explain,” Halsti said, when asked about his whirlwind last several months, which culminated with the start in Philadelphia.
Aguilar, meanwhile, went from studying for final exams to training as an MLS player in just a few short weeks.
“I graduated college and within a month I was playing professional soccer,” said the former University of San Francisco forward. “It was definitely a big change, especially moving across the country.”
Two of the largest changes Aguilar has noticed? Arriving in Washington seeing snow, and having trouble finding good Mexican food in the city, 21-year-old said.
Now that he’s nearing match fitness, Halsti is looking forward to the remainder of the season and just fitting in with the rest of the team.
“Now begins the fun stuff… training with the guys and competing for a starting place,” the tall Finn said. “I was in Malmo for 7 years, so I’m not used to being the new guy.”
Competition isn’t the only the thing Halsti brings to the locker room, however, as the experiences from his days at Malmo FF in Sweden are seen as a wealth of knowledge by the younger players, especially Aguilar.
“I’m trying to learn as much as I can,” Aguilar said. “These guys have been around the block.”
