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DC United
Major League Soccer
Sep 15, 2024 at 12.30am UK
Audi Field
New York City

DC United
1 - 1
NY City

Benteke (67' pen.)
Benteke (16'), Bartlett (27'), Santos (55'), Badji (80')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Rodriguez (32' pen.)
Sands (41'), Moralez (69'), Martins (82')

Preview: DC United vs. New York City FC - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between DC United and New York City FC, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

DC United can maintain their playoff position in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer (MLS) with a victory over New York City FC on Saturday at Audi Field in the US capital.

Thanks to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire last weekend, the Black and Red moved above Atlanta United for the final post-season berth in the East, while the Pigeons remain fifth following a 4-2 defeat to the Columbus Crew.


Match preview

Christian Benteke celebrates a goal for DC United on July 7, 2024© Imago

A side that looked down and out two months ago have come to life, with DC winning four of their previous five regular-season contests.

Those four wins are as many as Troy Lesesne's side collected through the first 23 matchdays of the 2024 MLS season, and it has them in position to end a four-year playoff drought.

There is still work to do if they are to make the playoffs for the first time since 2019, and it starts with being sharper on the back end, with DC conceding the third-most goals in MLS this season (56).

Finding more consistency at home would go a long way to getting them into the post-season, too, with this group winning just one of their last eight MLS encounters at Audi Field.

In the 2024 regular season, the Black and Red have failed to win seven matches when scoring the opening goal, losing on four occasions and dropping 18 points.

This year, they are winless in their three regular-season matches versus New York-based club, claiming just one point over that stretch.

 Santiago Rodriguez celebrates a goal for New York City FC on June 29, 2024© Imago

New York City missed another opportunity to make up ground in the race for home-field advantage in the opening round of the playoffs, extending their winless run to six matches in league play last Saturday.

During that slump, the Boys in Blue have drawn first blood on three occasions but failed to emerge victorious, accounting for eight points dropped.

Nick Cushing's men have been seemingly in control of many of their recent encounters but struggled to keep their composure in the latter stages, conceding four times in their last two league games with fewer than 15 minutes remaining, three of which were in stoppage time.

Despite all that, their position in the Eastern Conference is unchanged, though their hold on fifth is not as secure with Charlotte just a point behind them in sixth and Orlando City two back in seventh.

NYCFC entered June on a three-match domestic winning run away from home, but they come into this weekend on a seven-game MLS winless streak as the visitors, claiming just three points over that stretch.

The Pigeons have won two of their previous three meetings with DC in this competition but have only won one of their last four visits to Audi Field, 2-0 in May 2022.

DC United Major League Soccer form:


DC United form (all competitions):


New York City FC Major League Soccer form:


New York City FC form (all competitions):



Team News

DC United goakeeper Alex Bono pictured on August 31, 2024© Imago

Against Chicago, DC were missing Matai Akinmboni and Jackson Hopkins because of ankle issues, David Schnegg sat out with a calf strain and Conner Antley is likely done for the season after tearing his ACL.

Mateusz Klich will be suspended for this encounter due to yellow card accumulation, while Boris Enow, Aaron Herrera and Matti Peltola are all expected to be back after being on international duty.

Gabriel Pirani notched the winner for them last weekend, while Christian Benteke now leads the MLS Golden Boot standings, scoring his 18th of the 2024 campaign.

New York City goalkeeper Matt Freese was taken off because of an injury after just 12 minutes against the Crew, and James Sands had to leave late in the opening half with a concussion.

Andres Perea was sidelined in their previous encounter with a leg injury, Malachi Jones sat out due to a broken tibia and Julian Fernandez will have to miss this match after being red-carded in the latter stages versus Columbus.

Alonso Martinez has four goals in his last three competitive fixtures, as he and his replacement, Monsef Bakrar, found the back of the net in their previous match.

DC United possible starting lineup:
Bono; Dajome, McVey, Bartlett, Tubbs, Santos; Stroud, Rodriguez, Ku-DiPietro, Pirani; Benteke

New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Barraza; Gray, Martins, Risa, O'Toole; Haak, Parks; Wolf, Rodriguez, Ojeda; Martinez


SM words green background

We say: DC United 1-1 New York City FC

Desperation, combined with an in-form striker, can take you a long way, as DC are discovering, and for as much control as New York City have had in their matches this season, they seem a little too comfortable with their current position in the table, which may cost them more points this weekend.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Game History

How you voted: DC United vs NY City

DC United
38.5%
Draw
38.5%
New York City FC
23.1%
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami32208472472568
2Columbus Crew31169662362657
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati321751055441156
4Orlando City32147115547849
5New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls32111475245747
6New York City FCNY City32138115146547
7Charlotte FCCharlotte FC32129114137445
8CF MontrealMontreal321010124662-1640
9Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia32910135950937
10DC United32910135066-1637
11Toronto33114184060-2037
12Atlanta UnitedAtlanta32810144247-534
13Nashville SCNashville3289153451-1733
14New England RevolutionNew England3194183462-2831
15Chicago Fire3379174059-1930

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy32187766471961
2Los Angeles FCLos Angeles31167855411455
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake321411762471553
4Seattle SoundersSeattle32158949341553
5Houston DynamoHouston32149945351051
6Colorado RapidsColorado32155125956350
7Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver31138105044647
8Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd32137125348546
9Portland TimbersPortland32129116455945
10Austin FCAustin32109133544-939
11Dallas32107155255-337
12St Louis City32713124659-1334
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3287175061-1131
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3263234074-3421


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