DC United will be looking to continue their solid run of form in the MLS when they welcome the New York Red Bulls to Audi Field for a gameweek 13 clash in midweek.
Both these teams earned important victories over the weekend, which took the hosts up to third place and moved the visitors up to seventh in the Eastern Conference standings.
Match preview
© Reuters
After winning just two of their first nine MLS games in 2024, which saw them sitting in 11th place less than a month ago, DC United are now unbeaten in their last three and moved into the automatic final series qualification places following a 3-2 victory over Atlanta United over the weekend.
Christian Benteke headlined the occasion, scoring three headers to register his second hat-trick of the season and third in his last 13 games, making him the fifth player to achieve three hat-tricks in a 13-game span.
Benteke has now netted 11 goals in 10 matches and firmly announced himself as an early contender to win the MLS Golden Boot, currently tied for the league lead with Inter Miami's Luis Suarez and Real Salt Lake's Chicho Arango. The Belgian also became the eighth player in the club's history to score at least 10 goals in consecutive seasons and the first since Wayne Rooney in 2018-19.
Since taking over from Rooney as head coach at the start of the season, Troy Lesesne has led the Black-and-Reds to three home victories in six matches (W3 D1 L2), which is already half the six-win tally his predecessor managed in 17 matches at Audi Field last term.
The new boss will now be aiming to help his side bring an end to a six-match winless streak against his former club, who he led to a 5-3 victory on their last visit to this venue in September last season.
© Reuters
Meanwhile, a week after getting drubbed by Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, the New York Red Bulls unleashed their frustrations on bottom club New England Revolution on Saturday night with a commanding 4-2 victory at Red Bull Arena.
Lewis Morgan, Emil Forsberg, Elias Manoel and Cameron Harper were all on target, while 21-year-old defender Noah Eile got his first career assist for the Red Bulls, who snapped up a four-match winless streak in the process, marking their first win in over a month.
Harper scored his first of the season in the victory over the Revs and has now recorded five career MLS goals in his time with the Red Bulls, two of which have come against DC United, including one in that 5-3 victory last season.
The win against New England took Sandro Schwarz's side into third place in the Eastern Conference standings, overtaking Toronto, who suffered a 3-2 loss at home to New York City. It also kept NYRB's unbeaten home record this season intact (W3 D2 L0).
However, Schwarz will now have to find a way to deliver the same type of performances on the road, where his side are looking to avoid a third consecutive match without victory and have won just one of the last five.
Team News
© Reuters
DC United will have to make do without the services of two players here, with Conner Antley currently out injured and Russell Canouse away from the team due to personal reasons.
Jacob Murrell will be hoping to return to the starting 11 after dropping to the bench for the weekend's victory over Atlanta, while Jared Stroud and Benteke should line up in the two-man frontline.
Jared's younger brother Peter Stroud sustained an injury to his left ankle against Chicago Fire on April 13 and is expected to remain sidelined for another few weeks after undoing surgery.
Serge Ngoma is recovering from surgery to his knee and is ruled out until the end of the month, while Roald Mitchell (knee) and Ronald Donkor (back) are only expected to return from their respective injuries next month.
DC United possible starting lineup:
Bono; Herrera, McVey, Bartlett, Dajome; Peltola, Hopkins, Klich; Murrell, Benteke, Stroud
New York Red Bulls possible starting lineup:
Coronel; Reyes, Nealis, Eile, Tolkin; Amaya, Edelman, Carmona, Forsberg; Vanzeir, Morgan
We say: DC United 2-2 New York Red Bulls
Both these sides have been in good goal-scoring from this season and are coming off positive results over the weekend. Based on recent form, this looks like a very even match, on paper, and we feel there will be nothing to separate the sides at the full-time whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
