UPDATE: Turns out it is NOT #QuincyTime at Audi Field just yet, with D.C. United coach Ben Olsen electing to play Costa Rican international Ulises Segura, a versatile midfielder but not an out-and-out striker, as the lone frontrunner in their starting XI vs. Montreal. United also handed Zoltan Stieber his first start of 2019, in place of Lucas Rodriguez, but their lineup is otherwise unchanged, with Amarikwa an option off the bench.
Perhaps more surprisingly, the Impact trotted out a youngish XI featuring six Canadians, three of them IMFC Homegrowns, in their final game of the lengthy season-opening road swing before Saturday's home opener at Stade Saputo vs. Columbus.
In all likelihood, it will be #QuincyTime for D.C. United tonight against the Montreal Impact (8 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, TVAS in Canada).
With Wayne Rooney suspended following his red card against LAFC, Quincy Amarikwa is in line to make his first D.C. start after signing for the club in March. He made his debut on Saturday amid LAFC's 4-0 rout of United.
Against the most recent of Amarikwa's five former teams, what can D.C. fans expect from the striker? For starters, D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen said Amarikwa “is a pain in the a-- to play against," via the Washington Post.
Amarikwa has made a total of 201 appearances (98 starts) over his MLS career, with 25 goals and 19 assists. He won't be expected to score every outing, but his link up play and work rate are high.
Last season, the striker joined the Impact in August and immediately linked well with star Ignacio Piatti, who will miss Tuesday night's match through injury. D.C. will hope for the same when Amarikwa is paired with another Argentinian star: Lucho Acosta.
Over the years, Amarikwa has been no stranger to scoring golazos, like this audacious long-range chip in 2016.
Amarikwa is the most natural option to slot in for Rooney, though it's possible the club tries something unconventional. Acosta could play a false nine role up top and Olsen even tried Ulises Segura at striker this preseason before Amarikwa signed.
“Throughout the course of a season, we are going to have injuries and suspensions, and everybody has to stay in it,” Olsen said. “We had the luxury for a while of not living in that world and we took advantage of it. And so now we have to take advantage of these games where our depth is being tested.”
