It’s certainly been a long and winding road for D.C. United’s recent addition Thabiso Khumalo. The South African forward was drafted in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft by Chicago – but never saw the field. The man they call “Boyzzz” has subsequently been on a three year odyssey through a veritable tour of second and third division American soccer – stops in Charleston, Wilmington, and Pittsburgh have resulted in varying levels of success: twenty games per year, a few goals here and there, even recognition as one of the best players in USL-2. It’s fair to say that the man (who is a co-founder of a non-profit which encourages South African youth, no less) has logged more than his fair share of miles in trying to grab a spot at the top.

Well, let us be the first to say it: Boyzzz, you’re welcome here any time. Even though coach Tom Soehn admitted that the striker “came in nervous,” Khumalo grasped his first chance to play in MLS and contributed an assist; but United missed a great number of second half chances and could only take a point against FC Dallas on Saturday evening, settling for a 2-2 draw at balmy RFK Stadium.

For most of the game, it was clear that United possessed the lion’s share of the talent on the pitch. United earned 13 corners to Dallas’ zero, doubled up the Hoops in second half shots, and easily had the most ferocious goalkeeping. The two missed points will wear on coach Tom Soehn, as it could be argued that United is about to face their roughest patch of the schedule this season – United still faces league fixtures at Los Angeles, Houston and conference leader Columbus – not to mention traveling for three games in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Honduras in the CONCACAF Champions League.