Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Major League Soccer clash between DC United and Nashville SC, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Two teams who could certainly do with a victory go head to head at Audi Field on Sunday as Dc United entertain the challenge of Nashville SC.
The hosts are winless in 11 straight matches heading into this one, while their visitors are currently on a run of three consecutive defeats.
Match preview
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DC United suffered their heaviest defeat of the campaign so far as they were thrashed 5-0 by Orlando City in Sunday’s meeting at the Inter&Co Stadium.
First-half goals from Martin Ojeda, Robin Jansson and Ivan Angulo left Troy Lesesne‘s men with a mountain to climb after which Facundo Torres and Ramiro Enrique added more gloss to the scoreline in the second half.
As a result, The Black-and-Red remain rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference in the MLS table, albeit only four points adrift of playoff contention.
Next up is the task of facing off against an opposing side who are unbeaten in the previous seven editions of this fixture across all competitions.
Looking for what would be only a first home win since late April, Sunday’s hosts are in need of a pick-me-up and will hope to get themselves back on track in front of their fans.
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Nashville SC fell to a comprehensive 4-1 defeat against Portland Timbers when the teams locked horns at Providence Park on Sunday.
Jonathan Rodriguez‘s first-half double sandwiched in between strikes from Felipe Mora and Eryk Williamson saw Rumba Munthali‘s men down and out at half time after which Sam Surridge pulled one back.
With 26 points picked up from 22 matches this term, the Boys in Gold sit eighth in the Western Conference standings, outside the final playoff spot only by one point.
Having scored the fewest away goals in the division so far, Sunday’s visitors will need to intensify their attacking impetus to stand any chance of coming away with a positive result here.
DC United Major League Soccer form:
Nashville SC Major League Soccer form:
Team News
DC United’s Conner Antley is ruled out through a knee injury while fellow Americans Steven Birnbaum and Jackson Hopkins continue to nurse hip and back problems respectively.
The hosts will also take to the field without Kristian Fletcher who has missed each of the last five matches with a damaged ankle.
Lucas Bartlett received his marching orders in the defeat to Orlando City last time out and will serve a one-game suspension this weekend.
Julian Gaines and Lukas MacNaughton both miss out for Nashville but the former is drawing increasingly closer to a return to action.
Canada international Jacob Shaffelburg was recently knocked out of the Copa America and is unavailable for this one alongside Tah Anunga who was sent off last time out.
DC United possible starting lineup:
Miller; McVey, Sargis, Tubbs; Santos, Rodriguez, Pirani, Peltola, Herrera; Benteke, Ku-DiPietro
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Lovitz, Maher, Zimmerman, Moore; Sejdic, Yearwood; Surridge, Mukhtar, Muyl; Ajago
We say: DC United 2-2 Nashville SC
DC United have conceded the most goals in the MLS this season and another goalfest could be on the cards in this one. That said, we are also backing a share of the spoils with honours even at the end of the 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.