Family Ties at D.C. United

• by Mike Woitalla  @MikeWoitalla, Nov 6, 2012

[DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY SPOTLIGHT] D.C. United’s U-17/18 squad features the son of four-time MLS champion Jaime Moreno and two younger brothers of current D.C. United 19-year-old star Andy Najar.

Najar, the 2010 MLS Rookie of the Year, was a D.C. United Academy product who had emigrated from Honduras, which he represented at last summer’s Olympics. His brother Denis, 18, has scored six goals in eight appearances for the Nolan Sheldon-coached D.C. United U-17/18s, which are in second place in the Atlantic Division. The third sibling, 17-year-old Cristhyan, has one goal in seven games.

James Moreno, the 17-year-old son of Jaime Moreno has one goal in six appearances (one start). Bolivian native Jaime Moreno won MLS Cup with D.C. United in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004 and is MLS’s second all-time leading scorer with 133 goals, one behind Jeff Cunningham. Jaime Moreno was also the first MLS player to reach the 100 mark in goals and assists.

Denis Najar scored twice in last weekend’s 7-1 win over VA Rush, including on a 25-yard shot. … D.C. United is the highest scoring U-17/18 team with 31 goals in eight games. Its only loss came against third-place PA Classics. It meets undefeated PDA Nov. 17.