In their third game on their current five-game homestand, New York City FC return to Citi Field on Saturday for an MLS encounter with DC United.
A pair of second-half strikes last Saturday lifted the Boys in Blue to a 2-0 triumph over the New England Revolution, while the Black and Red conceded a pair of late goals to Orlando City, losing 3-2.
Match preview
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It took some strong shot-stopping from goalkeeper Matt Freese and a pair of wonder strikes, but it was enough for New York City to claim their second victory of the MLS campaign.
Nick Cushing's men won for the first time this year after netting the opening goal, and they have a chance on Saturday to win consecutive home contests for the first time in 2024.
The Pigeons are now just two points back of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, claiming at least a point in three successive league fixtures, while they are unbeaten in their last 11 regular season home matches against teams in their own conference.
Meanwhile, the Boys in Blue have at least a point in three successive matches played at Citi Field in this competition dating back to last season, two of which were victories.
With just eight points after eight domestic affairs this year, New York have accumulated four fewer points than they had at this stage of the previous campaign.
Saturday will be the first time they host DC at Citi Field, with NYCFC emerging victorious in four of their last five home contests against them in this competition.
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Once again, we saw a strong start from DC United last week with a poor finish as they failed to win for the third time in their last four MLS encounters when leading in the second half.
That accounts for five points dropped when leading in the final 45 minutes, putting them outside of the final playoff spot on goal difference.
The encouraging sign, however, is that with 10 points after eight domestic contests, DC United are actually two points better than they were at this stage in 2023.
Under Troy Lesesne, they have yet to lose an away match in this competition, claiming four points from four games as the visitors.
A win or draw for them this weekend would give them points in five consecutive MLS away matches in the same season for the first time since 2011, when they went unbeaten in seven straight road games.
They have not beaten the Pigeons away from home since claiming a 2-1 triumph in 2022 at Red Bull Arena, their only away victory against them in this competition.
Team News
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Talles Magno is back training for NYCFC but was not on the team sheet last weekend, while Maxi Moralez remains on the sidelines because of a right knee injury.
Jovan Mijatovic got his visa situation resolved earlier this week, took part in full training on Thursday and will be eligible to play this weekend.
Agustin Ojeda scored his first career MLS goal in their victory versus the Revs, while Julian Fernandez locked up the three points for his side with a brilliant strike in stoppage time, his first of the season.
Aaron Herrera and Mateusz Klich will each miss this match for DC due to yellow card accumulation, Tyler Miller continues to recover from shoulder surgery, while Garrison Tubbs was on the bench last week but did not play, having previously missed time with a sore thigh.
Theodore Ku-DiPietro has a hip problem, Steve Birnbaum missed the previous encounter due to a knee issue, while Russell Canouse was also unavailable, with the MLS website saying it was not because of an injury.
Christian Benteke scored five minutes into their encounter with Orlando City, his sixth of the campaign, while Gabriel Pirani netted his first of the season in a losing effort.
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Freese; Ilenic, Martins, Risa, O'Toole; Parks, Sands; Wolf, Rodriguez, Ojeda; Bakrar
DC United possible starting lineup:
Bono; McVey, Bartlett, Antley; Santos, Hopkins, Rodriguez, Dajome; Stroud, Benteke, Fletcher
We say: New York City FC 2-1 DC United
New York should have a lot more confidence following their performance last weekend, and we believe their overall individual quality will be able to outlast a DC side, who have looked better than their recent results suggest, but without Klich, may have difficulty unlocking the opposing backline.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
