Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Major League Soccer clash between New York Red Bulls and DC United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
DC United will be seeking to snap their eight-match winless run when they journey to the Red Bull Arena to take on New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
The home side head into the weekend unbeaten in their last nine games against the Black-and-Red and have won each of their most-recent four meetings since a goalless draw in August 2022.
Match preview
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New York Red Bulls returned to winning ways in style as they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Toronto FC when the sides met at the Red Bull Arena last Sunday.
Brazilian forward Elias Manoel netted his fourth goal of the season shortly before the half-hour mark to put the hosts on the front pedal before Dennis Gjengaar and Cameron Harper scored second-half goals to put the result beyond reach.
Prior to that, Sandro Schwarz‘s men were on a three-game winless run, suffering a 1-0 defeat at the hands of New England Revolution on June 9 before playing out consecutive stalemates against Nashville and CF Montreal.
With last weekend’s results, the Red Bulls boast the third-best home record in the MLS, having picked up 21 points from nine games, and remain one of just three sides yet to lose at home this season.
New York Red Bulls have picked up nine wins and seven draws from their 20 MLS to collect 34 points and sit third in the Eastern Conference table, seven points adrift of first-placed Inter Miami.
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DC United, on the other hand, continue to struggle for results as they suffered a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Houston Dynamo at Audi Field last Saturday.
In a game where Christian Benteke and Matai Akinmboni received their marching orders, 26-year-old striker Sebastian Ferreira netted a second-half hat-trick to inspire Orange Crush to a thrilling comeback victory.
Troy Lesesne‘s men have now gone eight back-to-back games without a win, picking up just two points from a possible 24 since scraping a 3-2 victory over Atlanta United at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on May 12.
The Black-and-Red have now lost nine of their 20 MLS matches while claiming four wins and seven draws to collect 19 points and sit 13th in the West, just one point above rock-bottom Chicago Fire.
While DC United will be looking to stop the rot and kick start their surge from the doldrums, next up is the challenge of an opposing side whom they have failed to get the better of in their last nine meetings since February 2022, including four defeats in their most recent four encounters.
New York Red Bulls Major League Soccer form:
DC United Major League Soccer form:
Team News
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New York Red Bulls will be forced to make do without the duo of goalkeeper Carlos Coronel and defender Omar Valencia, who are currently away at the ongoing Copa America with Paraguay and Panama respectively.
Head coach Schwarz will be unable to name the American trio of Roald Mitchell (knee), Serge Ngoma (knee) and Peter Stroud (ankle), who have been sidelined through injuries.
Swedish forward Emil Forsberg has missed the last four matches through a foot injury and will play no part in this weekend’s game while Kyle Duncan has been ruled out with a back injury.
DC United will have to cope without the duo of Akinmboni and skipper Benteke, who are currently suspended after both picking up red cards against Houston Dynamo last weekend.
On the injury front, the Black-and-Red will be without several players down the spine of the team, with Kristian Fletcher (ankle), Jackson Hopkins (back) and Steve Birnbaum (knee) all recuperating from injuries.
Conner Antley has been sidelined since coming off injured against Atalanta United in May while fellow defender Christopher Mcvey is set to sit out his sixth straight game with a knee problem.
New York Red Bulls possible starting lineup:
Meara; Nealis, Nealis, Eile, Tolkin; Gjengaar, Edelman, Amaya, Carmona; Manoel, Vanzeir
DC United possible starting lineup:
Miller; Herrera, Peltola, Bartlett, Dajome; Ku-DiPietro, Pirani, Klich, Rodriguez; Murrell, Stroud
We say: New York Red Bulls 2-0 DC United
New York Red Bulls will be licking their lips as they take on an out-of-sorts DC United side who have struggled for results in recent weeks. The Red Bulls are currently on a dominant run against the visitors and we see them coming away with all three points unscathed.
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