In the seventh round of fixtures of the new Major League Soccer season, DC United will welcome Columbus Crew to Audi Field on Saturday.
The hosts sit 13th in the Eastern Conference having not won any of their last five games, while their visitors are five points better off in fourth place at this early stage.
Match preview
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After finishing at the foot of the Eastern Conference last season, DC United have had to endure a tough start to the new MLS campaign too, with just five points coming from their opening six games.
That is despite Wayne Rooney's side kicking off the campaign with a 3-2 victory over Toronto FC, as they scored twice in injury time to turn the game on its head, and they have now failed to add another notch to their wins column in five further attempts, with the opening-day triumph firstly followed by a 2-0 loss away at Saturday's opponents and a 1-1 draw with Orlando City.
The Black-and-Red would then suffer two further defeats on the bounce, firstly falling to a 3-2 loss away at New York City FC, before an 88th-minute Noel Buck goal saw them condemned to a 2-1 loss at home to New England Revolution in late March.
Aiming to stop the rot and make a return to winning ways, Rooney's men most recently made the trip to take on Chicago Fire, and they were at least able to come away with a point as neither side managed to break the deadlock.
Still early on in the season, DC United will know that they cannot afford to be cut adrift again this term and will aim to keep pace with the leading pack and score a second MLS win of the campaign this weekend.
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They face a tough test, though, as the visitors come into the game on the back of consecutive emphatic victories in the MLS.
Columbus Crew also did not enjoy an eye-catching start to the campaign, with the 2-0 victory in the sides' first meeting of the campaign, courtesy of a Lucas Zelarayan brace, being their only three-point haul in their first four matches, with Wilfried Nancy's side playing out a draw and suffering two defeats in their other games.
They appear to have kicked into gear since though, firstly dishing out a 6-1 thrashing to Atlanta United on home turf, as Christian Ramirez netted a brace alongside goals from Aidan Morris, Philip Quinton, Jacen Russell-Rowe and Maximilian Arfsten, before they most recently met Real Salt Lake last weekend and moved level at the top of the MLS scoring charts with another dominant display.
Morris put them ahead in the 14th minute of that contest, and Lucas Zelarayan doubled the lead from the penalty spot late in the first half, before the former netted his second and his side's third of the day soon after the interval and Yaw Yeboah wrapped up a 4-0 beating with a goal in injury time.
Now full of confidence having climbed to fourth spot on the back of those thrashings, the Crew will aim to make it three on the bounce in style when they take on a DC United side who have not been overly solid defensively thus far.
Team News
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DC United will remain without Brendan Hines-Ike and Martin Rodriguez, both of whom have missed the beginning of the season through injury, while Andy Najar recently joined them in the treatment room and will also miss out at the weekend.
Lewis O'Brien is yet to feature for the Black-and-Red since arriving on loan from Nottingham Forest, although given his lack of football recently, he may not be ready to come straight into the starting XI, with Victor Palsson instead expected to again partner key man Mateusz Klich in midfield.
Their attack will be spearheaded by former Aston Villa, Liverpool and Crystal Palace frontman Christian Benteke, who has netted three of his side's seven goals in six MLS matches so far this term.
Columbus Crew have injury issues of their own to contend with, as dangerous attacker Cucho Hernandez is sidelined alongside Josh Williams and Luis Diaz.
After their 4-0 victory last time out, Nancy may be tempted to deploy an unchanged starting XI on Saturday, with Lucas Zelarayan, Alexandru Matan and Christian Ramirez lining up as a front three, although Yaw Yeboah and Jacen Russell-Rowe also have strong claims to feature in attack from the outset, with the former scoring off the bench against Real Salt Lake.
Aidan Morris is another goal threat, having found the net three times across their last two games from midfield, and he should again join Darlington Nagbe in the engine room with the back three of Steven Moreira, Milos Degenek and Gustavo Vallecilla bound to remain unchanged.
DC United possible starting lineup:
Miller; Ruan, Birnbaum, Pines, Greene; Durkin, Palsson, Klich, Asad; Fountas, Benteke
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Schulte; Moreira, Degenek, Vallecilla; Farse, Nagbe, Morris, Sands; Russell-Rowe, Ramirez, Zelarayan
We say: DC United 1-3 Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew come into the contest in formidable form at the top end of the pitch, and we see them having too much in attack for a DC United side who have struggled so far this season.
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Top tip
Sam Varley
