Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Major League Soccer clash between DC United and Dallas, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Having both been knocked out of the Leagues Cup, DC United and Dallas resume Major League Soccer duty in Washington this weekend with a meeting at Audi Field on Sunday.
The teams are currently off the pace in the race to secure a place in the playoffs and have some catching up to do as the regular season edges closer to its completion.
Match preview
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DC United made a relatively bright start to the campaign, going unbeaten in six of their opening seven involvements, but things have since gone downhill.
Troy Lesesne‘s men managed just two wins from the subsequent 16 matches, although consecutive victories in their most recent two league clashes against Nashville SC and Minnesota United have helped restore some confidence.
With 26 points amassed from 25 matches this term, the 2004 American champions are 13th in the Eastern Conference of the MLS table, albeit just two points shy of playoff contention.
The Eagles put on a good show in their Leagues Cup journey, picking up five points from their two group-stage outings before bowing out to Mexican side Mazatlan FC in the round of 32 after a 2-1 defeat.
DC United will now continue their hunt for a place in the postseason, having not featured since 2019, when they were on the receiving end of a 5-1 defeat to Toronto United in the last 16.
Currently with the most goals conceded in the Eastern Conference—50 in 25 games—Sunday’s hosts will need to tighten up at the back during the final eight rounds of matches if they are to scrape a playoff berth.
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Dallas endured a disappointing Leagues Cup journey as they were knocked out in the group phase having lost both of their matches against St Louis City and Juarez by a combined score of 4-1.
However, Peter Luccin‘s men amassed seven points from the last nine available in league action prior to their cup involvement to move within three points of ninth-place Minnesota United.
Nonetheless, the Toros have endured a largely underwhelming campaign to date and currently sit 11th in the Western Conference standings, three points shy of playoff contention.
Dallas currently run the risk of missing out on the playoffs for the first time in three years since finishing 11th in the 2021 campaign under the tutelage of Luchi Gonzalez.
A tough assignment on the road awaits Sunday’s visitors, who currently boast the division’s worst away record and are one of two sides still yet to win a league game on enemy territory in 12 attempts this season.
DC United Major League Soccer form:
DC United form (all competitions):
Dallas Major League Soccer form:
Dallas form (all competitions):
Team News
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Geovane Jesus, Paxton Pomykal, Patrickson Delgado and Alan Velasco are all out of contention for Dallas as they continue to nurse knee injuries.
The visitors will also take to the field without the services of Jesus Ferreira and Liam Fraser through leg injuries, while Asier Illarramendi is still sidelined with an ankle problem.
Twenty-nine-year-old forward Paul Arriola has been directly involved in three of his side’s last four league goals, making him one to keep an eye on here.
Long-term absentees Russell Canouse and Conner Antley are still unavailable for DC United, but the former is nearing a comeback after undergoing colectomy surgery in March.
Just one goal shy of Cristian Arango, Christian Benteke remains firmly in the race for the Golden Boot and will be keen to add to his 16 league strikes this weekend.
DC United possible starting lineup:
Bono; McVey, Peltola, Herrera; Santos, Rodriguez, Klich, Dajome; Ku-DiPietro, Stroud, Benteke
Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Farfan, Gonzalez, Ibeagha; Arriola, Sainte, Lletget, Ntsabeleng, Junqua; Farrington, Musa
We say: DC United 2-1 Dallas
DC United have seen their 25 games yield a combined 85 goals this term and we expect another entertaining affair here.
Having said that, we are also tipping the home side to fend off the challenge of their visitors and get the job done, albeit by only a narrow margin.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.