As the players of DC United eagerly await the arrival of their new boss to the sidelines, their focus will shift to Saturday when they head to Allianz Field for a date with Minnesota United.
The Loons are unbeaten in four consecutive MLS affairs, currently in fifth in the Western Conference, while the Black and Red scored twice in the final 10 minutes, drawing the Columbus Crew on Wednesday, 2-2.
Match preview
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When manager Adrian Heath had his contract extended at the end of June, it surprised many, as his side were sitting below the playoff line and lacking consistency.
Since that announcement, his players have shown a desire to work harder and prove their worth, winning three of their previous four matches to move back into a playoff position.
Whether it was the re-signing of Heath, a break along the way, or something tangible, this team have played much more to their capabilities in recent weeks.
Seemingly out of the blue, the Loons have come alive in the final third, scoring 10 goals in their last four domestic fixtures after notching a goal or fewer in seven of their previous eight games.
While their most talented players upfront have been the focal point on their recent run, Heath has been able to count on virtually an entire team chipping in and contributing in some way.
Over the past two games, they have also made great strides defensively, conceding a goal or fewer in each of those encounters.
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Less than a week after a 7-0 defeat away to the Philadelphia Union, in a match that interim boss Chad Ashton called embarrassing, the Black and Red showed plenty of resilience against the Crew, answering two one-goal deficits to earn a point.
That bounce-back performance was a positive note in an otherwise underwhelming season to date in Washington DC, where the Black and Red are in danger of missing the postseason for a third successive campaign.
Wayne Rooney has a massive job ahead of him to bring this once mighty franchise back to respectability in what many critics in his native Britain call a downgrade for the former England striker in his managerial career.
As it stands right now, DC are eight points back of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, though coming from behind is a feeling that is all too familiar for Rooney.
In his previous stint as manager of Derby County, his team were deducted a total of 21 points last year in between September and mid-November as the result of breaching accounting rules, though they still managed to finish second from the bottom, seven points away from remaining in the Championship.
That team under Rooney was often criticized for being sloppy defensively, and the Englishman will need to find ways to improve the structure and organization of his new club, who have conceded 18 goals in their last five games, the most ever for DC over that span.
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Team News
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Emanuel Reynoso has four goals in his last four games with the Loons, as he leads them with seven this year and is tied with Bongokuhle Hlongwane in assists at three, while Robin Lod has not scored in league play since May 22, when he and DJ Taylor tallied in a 2-1 win over Dallas.
Reynoso and goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair will represent Minnesota at the all-star game next month, which takes place at Allianz Field, while Luis Amarilla has five goals this season, including two this month.
Heath has numerous players missing at the moment, with Tani Oluwaseyi (thigh), Romain Metanire (thigh), Patrick Weah (knee), Niko Hansen (thigh), Hassani Dotson (knee) and Kervin Arriaga (ankle) all sidelined through injury.
Taxiarchis Fountas, the only DC player chosen for the all-star game continues to make a massive impact with the Black and Red, scoring his 10th of the campaign on Wednesday, while their other big Designated Player, Ola Kamara, picked up his sixth of the year.
Nigel Robertha moved into a tie for second on the team in assists alongside Michael Estrada when he notched his third of 2022 in midweek, while Jackson Hopkins made his second career MLS start and Andy Najar returned to the lineup for the first time since June 25.
Before their match on Wednesday, the club announced the signing of Sami Guediri from USL Championship affiliate Loudoun United, while Adrien Perez (foot), Bill Hamid (hand), Brad Smith (knee) and Russell Canouse (thigh) are all expected to miss this weekend's fixture due to injuries.
Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
St. Clair; Taylor, Boxall, Dibassy, Lawrence; Trapp, Lod; Rosales, Reynoso, Fragapane; Amarilla
DC United possible starting lineup:
Romo; Najar, Birnbaum, Hines-Ike, Samake; Durkin, Djeffal; Hopkins, Fountas, Robertha; Kamara
We say: Minnesota United 2-1 DC United
Rooney still needs a visa before he can be on the sidelines coaching the club that he featured with for two seasons as a player, and should he be available on Saturday, DC will likely get a big psychological boost from his presence alone.
However, the 36-year-old cannot solve their issues on the backline overnight, and facing a team who have come alive offensively like the Loons could spell another defeat for DC.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
