Preview: CF Montreal vs. DC United - prediction, team news, lineups

CF Montreal take on DC United in the MLS Eastern Conference on Wednesday.

Montreal head into the clash outside of the playoff positions on goal difference, but can leapfrog their forthcoming opponents into the top seven with a victory.

Match preview

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Having failed to qualify for the playoffs since reaching the semi-finals for the first time in 2016, hopes of a better campaign for Montreal are beginning to grow after two wins from their last four games.

Mason Toye's 87th-minute strike secured a 1-0 win against struggling Chicago Fire last time out, with Wilfried Nancy's side not playing for almost a month ahead of Wednesday's home match against DC United.

With former Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Wanyama within their ranks, Montreal certainly have a bit more grit about them than in recent seasons, when they have fallen agonisingly short of qualifying for the playoffs.

A win against DC United would see Impact move into at least seventh in the table, with their dream of returning to where they feel they belong potentially becoming a fully fledged one.

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Only Los Angeles Galaxy, meanwhile, have won more MLS Cups than DC United's tally of four, but the last of those triumphs was 17 years ago and counting.

Indeed, arguably the most successful club of the early years of the MLS in the 1990s and early 2000s has suffered a sharp decline in recent years, failing to surpass the first round of the playoffs since 2015.

After failing to qualify for the playoffs at all last season, Hernan Losada was brought in as the man to improve their fortunes in January this year.

After a slow start, the 39-year-old has guided the Black-and-Red to two successive victories against Inter Miami to move his side within the playoff positions. Another win on Wednesday would guarantee that they remain there for at least another matchday.

Team News

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Wanyama will need to be careful as one more yellow card would see the midfielder incur a suspension after picking up four bookings so far this campaign.

Ballou Tabla has missed the whole of the season so far with a groin injury and is unlikely to return in time for Wednesday's fixture.

Like Wanyama, DC United defender Brendan Hines-Ike has also received four cautions already this season, so he also needs to try and stay out of trouble if he can.

Losada is likely to remain without Steven Birnbaum, Chris Odoi-Atsem and Erik Sorga due to injury.

CF Montreal possible starting lineup:

Diop; Struna, Camacho, Waterman; Brault-Guillard, Hamdy, Wanyama, Bassong; Mihailovic; Johnsen, Ibrahim

DC United possible starting lineup:

Hamid; Najar, Hines-Ike, Pines; Gressel, Canouse, Martins, Paredes; Arriola, Kamara, Perez

We say: CF Montreal 1-1 DC United

Both sides appear to be gaining momentum under their new managers, with avoiding defeat on Wednesday likely to be viewed as a positive step from both of them.

Neither team are scoring or conceding too many goals of late, so we do not envisage there being too many flying in.