DC United have signed striker Gelmin Rivas for goal-scoring help
Striker Gelmin Rivas has been signed by DC United. The 31-year-old Venezuelan joins the Eastern Conference club on a free transfer.
Rivas will be the latest striker to arrive on the DC United roster as he joins Ola Kamara and Erik Sorga. At 31, he has accumulated a wealth of experience playing in various leagues. As a result, he will provide a veteran presence at striker.
An experienced goalscorer for DC United
It’s been a career spent in many different leagues around the world for Rivas. He got his start in his home country of Venezuela where he played for Deportivo Anzoategui and Deportivo Tachira. From there, he would go on to play in Saudi Arabia’s top flight. More recently, he’s played in Qatar, Uruguay, and Turkey.
The last club Rivas featured for before joining DC United was MKE Ankaragücü in the Turkish Süper Lig. He spent a short time with this club and only made seven appearances.
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Rivas has been an effective goal scorer throughout his career. He was the top scorer in the 2014-15 edition of the Clausura in Venezuela’s top flight. During the 2015-16 season for Al-Ittihad, he scored 19 goals in 25 appearances.
With appearances coming in the Copa Libertadores and the AFC Champions League he’s gained experience playing in top-level competitions in different regions of the world. Rivas is the definition of a journeyman but he has proven he can help aid clubs in goal scoring.
DC United need goals
The goals have not come in droves for DC United this season. Through eight matches during this campaign, they have scored eight goals. While averaging a goal a match, only one striker has scored for them. Kamara converted a penalty against the New England Revolution which is the only goal by a listed striker on their roster so far.
Rivas has the opportunity to step in with a majority of the regular season remaining and provide another source of goals. His veteran presence in front of goal could prove to be the difference in closely contested matches.
DC United are not out of the playoff picture and can still reach the postseason if they pull together a good run of form over the course of their remaining fixtures. If Rivas can come in and give them a boost at striker it could see them through to the playoffs. With eight places up for grabs in the playoff race, every goal and point will prove to be crucial.