Washington Post · Jul 8, 2021
Steve Birnbaum makes return as D.C. United wins Capital Cup opener over Alajuelense
The most welcome element of D.C. United’s 1-0 victory over Costa Rica’s Alajuelense on Wednesday in the Capital Cup opener was not necessarily Felipe Martins’s 87th-minute free kick or Coach Hernán Losada’s distribution of playing time.
It was the return of defender Steven Birnbaum, a longtime starter and captain, who made his first appearance of the year after recovering from multiple surgeries on his left ankle.
Sidelined since October, Birnbaum played the first 45 minutes on the right side of a three-man back line at Audi Field. He performed well defensively and got into the mix on set pieces, heading a corner kick into a dangerous spot late in the half.