Tonight, D.C. United welcome Atlanta United to Audi Field in another crucial match in the host’s postseason push.
Holding firm through the turbulence of Matchday 32, D.C. remains in ninth place. Clutching to the last playoff spot, they have no time for complacency in this final stretch of the season as they only edge out tenth-place Chicago Fire by two points.
Eight points is the razor-thin margin that separates eighth-place CF Montréal from fourteenth-place Inter Miami. Atlanta United look all but assured a postseason spot as they sit comfortably in sixth place, nine points clear of the first playoff slot, held by Montréal.
Going into the match, the teams have had differing results in their past few games. Atlanta United are on a good run of form, winning three of their last five (including a 5-2 rout against Inter Miami last weekend) and only losing once (a narrow 2-1 loss against first-place FC Cincinnati).
D.C. has had a rougher stretch, losing twice, winning once (an impressive 4-0 victory against the Chicago Fire), and playing out two scoreless draws in their last two matches. The stage is set for an intriguing matchup as Atlanta will look to utilize their strength in attack, while D.C. will be looking to build to a fourth consecutive clean sheet.
Key Player: Christian Benteke
The Belgian striker has looked more like his old self in D.C. United’s previous three matches, despite the team being shut out entirely in the past two. After 720 minutes without a goal in league play, Benteke scored twice and notched an assist in D.C.’s 4-0 demolition of the Chicago Fire on matchday 30. Since then, he’s been a much more notable presence in the D.C. front line, holding up play, creating chances, and looking dominant in the air. While he’s looked much better the past few matches, he hasn’t been perfect, misplacing passes and leaving a bit to be desired in the finishing department. Nonetheless, he perpetually holds the potential to be the game changer for D.C., and his recent form indicates why.
Watch out for: Thiago Almada
The young Argentine has taken the league by storm since his arrival last season, scoring and assisting for fun with impressive variety. Free kicks, tap-ins, crosses, through balls. You name it, he’s got it. Primarily an attacking midfielder, but adept on either wing, the recent World Cup winner has the most goal contributions in the league this season with nine goals and thirteen assists. D.C. fans should be wary of him for obvious reasons.
D.C. United Availability:
Out: Martin Rodriguez (long-term knee), Mohanad Jeahze (long-term ankle), Tyler Miller (season-ending shoulder), Derrick Williams (calf)
Questionable: Steven Birnbaum (hip), Andy Najar (thigh), Ted Ku-DiPietro (thigh)
Atlanta United Availability:
Out: Osvaldo Alonso (knee)
Location: Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
Kickoff Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
Available streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Dare I say: Must Win…..
Imho every game is a must win at this point.
I fully agree. It will be interesting to see if KDP is good to go or if he starts on the bench. If he’s on the bench then I think Fajardo has to start, he looked so much better than Robertha and Dajome on Saturday. I also think we should probably only start two of Klich/Canouse/Durkin because Rooney clearly doesn’t trust Hopkins full time yet and Asad is the only other CM who could reasonably back them up.
Well, I missed the last game, and apparently this is the same lineup, and I don’t like it. Klich is not a winger. Putting him out there means width won’t be there
Why are we in white at home?
Awful decision
Welp, no good. 14th minute.
1-0 Atlanta
First action after turning the game on late was the goal. Need to go back and watch the replay more closely but my intial impression is as follows – that is a non-foul in only one league in the world, lowly, little MLS. And if that was Messi on the ball, or Almada for that matter, it goes without saying what the call would be.
DCU used up our ref call juju with the Pines penalty that wasn’t a penalty.
My question at this point is how badly are we going to lose this game?
That’s some serious Bullshit, Fajardo.
Somehow, a hat trick of blown chances feels worse from Fajardo.
Davis has been pretty awful, too, with some really bad passes, one which he sailed over Fajardo, expecting a run there.
Will say he’s been stranded in the Defense multiple chances for Atlanta because they pass the ball wide and Davis is having to try to defend two attackers. I don’t know who’s supposed to be helping him but they’re not.. we we’re lucky at least twice in those situations that Atlanta didn’t get any goals
Annnddd, Hines-Ike as if on schedule looks to be injured
Well, he’s back on, gotta wonder if he finishes the game
Fajardo should no longer be allowed to shoot.
Again, I missed last game, y’all LIKE Fajardo?? I must have missed his ceiling, his floor is atrocious
Is it too soon to Fajate?
Unfortunately, I was there from the first game after his foul against NJ.
I’m pretty bored by the predictability of our failures. Sport is supposed to have variance, but I think we’ve cracked the code.
I know they’re from deeper south, but does the ref has to refer to them as “my sweet summer children?”
These fouls are weird
Asad and TKD on for Durkin and Fajardo.
And we have a penalty immediately. Too bad Fajardo can’t miss it.
Or will there be?
We’re being robbed
I’m not understanding what is taking this check so long. Arm clearly out from his body. Not close to a natural postion. Did it ping off the players back or something? A possible offside? Otherwise this is just more messy MLS refereeing nonsense.
They’re calling offside involvement on the initial free kick
We’ve been robbed!
This just in general to everybody on the field, including the ref
This is how DCU’s playoff hopes die.
Yamil Asad shouldn’t be allowed to shoot.
Perhaps DC United should join the Australian Rules league
We don’t have the medical staff
The rest of the Eastern Conference knowing we need to win this game to keep the playoff hopes alive
Shit, after all that, we’re all tied up
Great putt assist by Klich, Pirani with a wide open chance that he cashes in
Crunching tackle on Giakoumakis and no foul call … At least this referee is consistently bad. Wish we could just get competent referees in MLS that don’t let every game devolve into this nonsense.
We need the Liga MX refs
If that missed header isn’t Benteke’s thing, I don’t know what is
Davis with maybe the worst free kick shank I’ve ever seen
I mean, it wasn’t a shank. They tried to catch Atlanta napping with a quick lob past on the wing. It wasn’t shanked, but he did over hit it.
So, I’m gonna go ahead and call something that went to no one and out for a goal kick with complete imprecision a shank. You do you.
It’s good to have tied it up, but I’m surprised the Atlanta players never came out of the tunnel for the second half
Time to rent out a dunk tank for the squad, and put Fajardo in it.
If DC could have picked up three points tonight, almost all other results would have been completely favorable to their playoff chances. The team that should be in control of their own playoff destiny seem content to let their fate be determined by every other team’s results.
Third tie in a row that felt like a loss. Disappointing performance from Benteke mostly. He needs to be scoring to give this team a chance and he’s just not on the mark.
Fajardo had poor shooting in the first half, and he should have passed on one of his chances, but I like him so much more than Dajome or Robertha. He knows how to use his speed and he plays off Benteke pretty well.
That said, let’s hope KDP can start on Saturday. If we are to have any chance at playoffs then we need to win then.