FC Dallas vs. D.C. United: Preview, time, and how to watch
Happy Fourth of July! It’s matchday!
D.C. United remain on the road after disappointment in Nashville where Randall Leal’s first half brace shut down the Black-and-Red at GEODIS Park. Now, D.C. United has a fresh chance at three points on the road as they meet FC Dallas for the first time since 2019.
Missing Christian Benteke due to yellow card accumulation, head coach Wayne Rooney will look to shift the roster to return to winning ways. Major adjustments will be needed up top to fill a Benteke sized hole in the XI – a tall task indeed.
FC Dallas bested LAFC in their last match on July 1, winning 2-0. Bernard Kamungo and Sam Junqua scored the goals to snap Dallas’ scoring drought and return the team to winning ways after four losses.
With Jesús Ferreira missing due to international duty and Paul Arriola among the absences due to injury, FC Dallas will face the Black-and-Red at a deficit.
Can D.C. United beat the heat and make some fireworks on the pitch? We look forward to finding out!
Vamos United!
Key Player: Taxi Fountas
We’re anticipating Rooney leaning on Fountas to fill in for Christian Benteke up top. With Benteke missing due to yellow card accumulation, the Black-and-Red will need players to step up and be dangerous in the box – a task Fountas is well acquainted with.
Watch Out For: Maarten Paes
With a 76% save percentage, Paes is on the list of players for D.C. United to pay extra attention to as they look to strike quickly and get on the board.
Challenges: The Texas heat (forecasts have it at 95 for kickoff) and a missing Christian Benteke will have D.C. United digging deep as they face off against Dallas.
Previously: D.C. and Dallas haven’t met since 2019, when Dallas bested the Black-and-Red 2-0 at Toyota Stadium.
FC Dallas Availability:
Out: Paul Arriola (right thigh), Jesús Jiménez (ankle), Ema Twumasi (ankle), Geovane Jesus (thigh), Tarik Scott (season ending knee injury, Jesús Ferreira (international duty)
Questionable: José Martínez
D.C. United Availability:
Out: Martin Rodriguez (knee), Mohanad Jeahze (leg), Ted Ku-DiPietro (ankle), Christian Benteke (yellow card accumulation)
Location: Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
Kickoff time: 8:30 pm ET
Referee: Mark Allatin
Available streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Bono comes in for Miller. I’ll admit that surprised me a bit but maybe it shouldn’t given his recent form. I like seeing Fletcher up top with Taxi. I think they are very similar players but hopefully they can create enough havoc to trouble Dallas!
Bono looked good on the save there. Acres of space for Kamungo, which is a bit concerning, but still a good stop. Service from Bono hasn’t been great, but doesn’t have Benteke as the big target up top.
Well off to a stronger first minute than Saturday.
If Asad had 3/4 of LOBs fitness than he would be a lock for Best XI in the league. He’s almost always in the right spot and making the right pass, but he runs out of gas and underhits his passes.
I was just looking up his salary. It’s only $100,000 but I still think we should be looking to move on from him next year.
He definitely hit the age and injury wall earlier than you would expect.
Anybody know where Victor Palsson is?
Well he’s not on the player availability (injury) report…maybe just giving him a rest?
The answer from the commentary team is personal issues in Iceland.
Not many fireworks in this one yet. A SOG before halftime would be nice 😉
Ian Harkes signed by New England Revolution on a free transfer: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/report-new-england-revolution-signing-midfielder-ian-harkes
Dang. He was available on a free? Could have maybe been a good replacement for LOB.
Doing things that make sense isn’t allowed by anyone in the DC area.
Apparently yellows are only allowed for DC players.
Pretty poor first half from both teams. DC in particular could’ve had some decent chances had they been able to complete any passes.
Short rest and the Texas heat are definitely a factor in this one. Though for Dallas this is back to back home games. The Black and Red were just in Nashville on Saturday.
Decided to miss the first half to catch some fireworks via rooftop, was it as uneventful as the comments imply?
Really meh first half. Couple nice fouls drawn by Taxi right outside the box but service was wasteful. Fletcher has looked a little lost out there, but that’s to be expected. I still want to see him given a start next to Benteke.
Santos was probably the most wasteful player, but nobody really shined so here’s hoping they can get better.
Think we’re about to lose Santos again to a truly bizarre event. Someone slips on the ball, goes all the way over it and, and full body collapses on the DC wingback’s ankle
Well, he’s back
Some shots off, at least, one on target by Fletcher, one attempted golazo that doesn’t trouble from Taxi.
Looks like a Dallas player lost some teeth, maybe… not really Williams fault, had no business entering Williams header like that, ran into his arm as he came down well after the ball had been cleared
Nigel Robertha sighting!
Believe it or not, this is the 40th game he’s played for United.
Glad to see him healthy, I’m more of a fan of his than most
Taxi kills it off a clever Klich feed, yes!!!
1-0 DC
Taxi has now moved ahead of Chris Rolfe on the DC United career scoring list.
Oof, mixed emotions on that one. Rolfe deserved a longer career.
He’s from my hometown, so I really enjoyed having him on the team, beyond the class and skill he brought.
Excellent finish from Fountas. Let’s see if this team can be pragmatic, close this one out and maybe pick up another on a break.
Taxi’s (and O’Brien’s) night is over.
I shouldn’t read anything into it, but subbing O’Brien out is one of the few things that’s made me hopeful we keep him for the rest of the year. Otherwise, grind him into the ground!
I read it the opposite, Durkin needs minutes to be his soon replacement
Ugh. Not sure why Dajome doesn’t feed Durkin there.
There’s always some feature in most MLS players that means they don’t compete elsewhere. I love United, but it’s still the truth.
Don’t know how we didn’t concede there, but cool
9 minutes of stoppage what is this the World Cup in Qatar?
Berhalter isn’t here to park the bus 15 minutes before stoppage time, so it can’t be…
We might be CONCACAFing our way out of this one.
Off the woodwork from Dallas… geez
An unexpected but very welcome result! First win in Dallas in 17 years, apparently.
That was a harsh yellow to Klich but he should still know better there. Refs in MLS are painfully inconsistent with yellows for time wasting.
We haven’t won in Dallas in 17 YEARS?!? That’s insane. Well, we ran into them with Taxi and mugged them bad, y’all.
Well crap Klich picks up a yellow for time wasting. That means he’s now suspended at home against Miami courtesy of yellow card accumulation.
That sucks. He was the best player on the field after getting subbed in.
Only CHA, NYRB, NER, VAN and ATX left on the road for DC. Some tough games, but if DC can improve their home form, maybe grab another road win at CHA or NYRB, then there is chance for them to move up the Eastern Conference standings a good bit.
Pines had a helluva match. Taxi’s goal was amazing, Things started happening when Klich entered, but goddamn, that late yellow. And I hope they find a way to keep LOB.
Good win, boys.
Whenever they showed the Dallas coach, was anybody else thinking, “Man, Pete Buttigieg is looking rough?”