Preview: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. DC United - prediction, team news, lineups

The latest round of matches in the 2023 Major League Soccer regular season sees Vancouver Whitecaps welcome DC United to BC Place on Sunday.

The home side are on a three-game winless streak ahead of this weekend's contest, while the visiting team are without a victory in four matches.

Match preview

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Vancouver Whitecaps snapped a run of consecutive defeats with a 2-2 stalemate against Colorado Rapids at the Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Thursday.

Vanni Sartini's men went into the interval with a narrow lead thanks to Mathias Laborda's opener but soon found themselves trailing to strikes from Diego Rubio and Cole Bassett, before Brian White evened matters 12 minutes from time.

As a result, the Blue-and-White have slipped down to sixth place in the Western Conference of the MLS table, just a point clear of the teams outside the automatic playoff places.

Lying in store next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have been on the receiving end more often than not in recent editions of this fixture, having won just one of the most recent seven meetings.

With a daunting assignment against division leaders St. Louis City to come four days later, Sunday's hosts will be keen to pick up a morale-boosting victory here.

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DC United were beaten for the first time in five outings following a 5-3 defeat against New York Red Bulls when the teams faced off at Audi Field on Sunday.

A first-half treble from Christian Benteke was cancelled out by Omir Fernandez's brace and a Cameron Harper strike to leave Wayne Rooney's men level at half time, after which second-half goals from Sean Nealis and John Tolkin decided the contest.

With 36 points from 31 league matches so far, the Black-and-Red sit 10th in the Western Conference standings and remain firmly in the hunt for a playoff berth.

Currently with one of the poorest attacking records on the road, Sunday's visitors will need to up the ante in front of goal if they are to secure a positive result away from home in this one.

Team News

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Mohanad Jeahze has not featured for DC United since mid-April due to a calf injury, which will keep the Iraq international out of Sunday's clash.

Martin Rodriguez also misses out for the away side due to a knee problem, while Tyler Miller continues his spell on the sidelines with a damaged ankle.

Following his hat-trick last time out, Christian Benteke has now found the back of the net five times in his last five matches, making him one to keep an eye on.

Thomas Hasal will have to wait a little longer to make his return between the sticks as the goalkeeper continues to battle with a knee injury.

Thirty-one-year-old Luis Martins is drawing increasingly closer to his comeback having sat out the last two months of action with a groin problem.

Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:

Takaoka; Adekugbe, Blackmon, Veselinovic, Laborda; Ahmed, Cubas, Laryea, Hoilett; White, Gauld

DC United possible starting lineup:

Bono; Davis, Pines, Hines-Ike, Ruan; Durkin, Canouse, Klich, Pirani; Benteke, Ku-DiPietro

We say: Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 DC United

Neither team is in particularly good form heading into this one, and this weekend's contest could easily swing either way. However, we just about fancy Vancouver Whitecaps to make home advantage count and carry the day.

How to watch

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