D.C. United looks to return to winning ways after two draws and two losses in its last four matches. Previously, the Black-and-Red were on a four-match win streak that helped them swiftly ascend the Eastern Conference table.
LA Galaxy is looking to improve its form after a 2-0 loss to Columbus on Wednesday. The Galaxy has been struggling this 2023 season and currently sits at the bottom of the Western Conference table with just 9 points.
Greg Vanney noted that during the match with Columbus, his team was “impatient defensively” and that Galaxy’s “backline was stretched out” as they tried to get to the Crew’s wingbacks. We will see if D.C. can exploit these weaknesses or if LA has learned its lesson.
After a 0-0 draw with Philadelphia, the Black-and-Red are on the hunt for 3 points, and Wayne Rooney isn’t taking the Galaxy lightly despite their standing in the West.
He told the media, “We can’t afford to get complacent, and we know LA Galaxy are a good team and probably deserves to be higher up in the league than what they are. They’ve had some good performances, and they’ve got some really good players, some good individuals who can hurt you. So we have to be at our best to win the game on Saturday.”
We’re ready. Are you?
Check out this gem while we wait for the whistle:
Key Player: Christian Benteke
Veteran striker Benteke may just be key this evening to taking advantage of LA Galaxy’s defensive impatience. Benteke’s creativity and physicality will pose a threat to the Galaxy and hopefully spell three points for the Black-and-Red.
Watch Out For: Javier “Chicharito” Hernández
The DP has been vocal about the need for something to change this season to put the Galaxy back on track. After a long absence due to injury, he returned to training at the end of March and has helped his team find joy on the pitch by contributing to their first win of the season against Austin in April alongside Riqui Puig.
Challenges: The Black-and-Red injury list is growing longer. With key players unavailable and tired legs, will D.C. United be able to continue their climb up the Eastern Conference standings?
Previously: The last time D.C. and LA met at Audi Field in 2019, the Black-and-Red emerged as the better side, winning 2-1.
D.C. United Availability:
Out: Martin Rodriguez (knee), Nigel Robertha (ankle), Mohanad Jeahze (thigh), Steven Birnbaum (hip), Andy Najar (calf)
Pedro Santos (thigh), Taxi Fountas (thigh), Ruan (thigh)
LA Galaxy Availability:
Out: Séga Coulibaly (knee), Douglas Costa (lower leg), Chris Mavinga (lower leg)
Location: Audi Field, Washington, DC
Kickoff time: 7:30 pm ET
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Available streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Is that THE Douglas Costa out injured for LA? I know he must be pretty long in the tooth now, but what an international talent, didn’t know he was in the league
The fiancé and I are making our annual pilgrimage up to the district for this one! Great week seeing family. Hoping to cap it off with a DC win! VAMOS!
What I’m liking about this game is it could be a trap game– playing against a bottom dweller but won’t be because: 1. DCU was recently a bottom dweller. 2. It’s LA. No mercy!
In recent news: Jackson Hopkins has been sent down to Loudoun for the rest of the season. Good move considering he hasn’t sniffed the field in a while. Seems to have fallen behind KDP and Fletcher. Hope he gets his form and confidence back!
I’m a bit concerned, but they’ll use him well. I still think he’s potentially got a huge upside, formationally we’ve moved away from his preferred wing position, he doesn’t have the speed or defensive chops for wingback just yet. Hope he kills it in Loundoun.
Similar to the Philly game, United is making some good attacking forays, but lacking the quality for any final product. They’ve done a good job stymie-ing the Galaxy, but scoreless draws are only going to take you so far. If they can get a couple hard shots off, the wet ball and turf could help them.
Not a lot to say about that half, both sides with some emergency defending. Glad that Pines’ bad pass didn’t lead to anything, was a 4 on 3 for a sec. Both teams desperate to score, game probably goes to the one with a moment or two of composure.
This is a very messy game by both teams so far tonight
This reffing is atrocious. Not only ignoring multiple yellow card fouls by the Galaxy but how do you ignore that seeming plausible handball in the box? But the ref calls ever little trip by LA.
Okay, the ref denied that flimsy LA call for a PK so I should be more generous. But still, I don’t know what DC did to the refs this year but our luck seems worse than statistical chance.
Its LA. We all know Darth Garber is behind them.
Dadgum it…offside…
Great spread by Benteke, let’s see if it was actually offside on the goal
Whelp. What a shame.
That one has to count.
You know, I might be pissed if I was an LA fan, I don’t think O’Brien touched the ball there
There’s no might be. I would be pissed. First a hospital pass back to the keeper who then can’t handle being pressed.
I’m saying I think it’s probably a foul on O’Brien on the cough up
Potentially…but the Goalie has to do better there.
I think he was trying to side step, and O’Brien swept the leg a bit. Opened the flood gates, but feel a bit dirty about it
On review, I think the goalie might have coughed up a goal anyway kicking the ball to the side like that, but O’Brien was fortunate to not be seen in VAR taking him down.
Benteke gets it!
1, 2 punch there.
We love to see it! Benteke and Dájome for a convincing scoreline here!
It feels good to smoke LA like this in such short order
Ref ignoring the literal definition of a professional foul that should’ve earned a yellow. Why are MLS refs like this?
Klich with a dagger that should put the game away. The goalie gives up a rebound and is punished.
Fuck LA. In unrelated news, that’s a third. 🙂
This has escalated quickly in a great way.
LA are a shit team, glad we’re doing this
Tonight in the The Hell is Real Darby (Cincy vs Cbus) all 3 goals have been provided by former DCU players. Lucho has 2, including a PK, and Moreno has the game winner at the moment.
Blows my mind that Moreno can score goals now.
Eh in 4 seasons and 97 regular season appearances he had 1 goal and 9 assists. So far this season in Cincy he has 3 goals (3 Shots on Target) and an assist in 12 regular season games played. Last season for Cincy he had 2 goals and an assist in 27 regular season games.
Dajome almost with a brace. We’re going to miss those late runs from O’Brien.
Dave Johnson “LA is no longer playing.” Spicy as that dirty, dirty foul on O’Brien
Brilliant interception by Pines should have led to him getting an assist, bit of a shank from Benteke
I wanted Pines to just whip a shot in. At that point, why not? We’re having fun out there!
Ha, that would have been something. Almost as crazy as that one Olsen hat trick years ago
Not to take anything away from another good result, but I don’t love Klich being the one to always come out instead of O’Brien. Im not questioning O’Briens talent or fitness, what worries me is that Rooney could be using those minutes to figure out who is going to take O’Briens spot when he leaves and building chemistry between that person and Canouse/Klich.
Of course, there is a slim chance that Lewis stays and Rooney could go back to a two CM formation again.
Jason Anderson pointed out that Klich needed the game to avoid yellow card accumulation.
Ah. That makes sense for tonight at least then.
The chances of O’Brien staying are non-existent.
Yeah he’s going back the other side of the pond. Nottingham Forrest managed to stay up in the PL.
Might be time to stop saying Miller is a sweeper, not a shot stopper, he’s stopped plenty tonight
He’s been in fantastic form over the last month or so.
Man, this put me in a GREAT mood!
It’s really nice to feel like this for a night. Thanks, DC, for reminding me.
Perfect night. I’m stuck in Denver, but that crowd seemed amazing!
DC is currently in sixth place, but a bunch of the teams behind them have yet to play. Still, winning is good!
Galaxy are way down in last, even behind Kansas City. Chris Klein is getting fired.