Austin FC vs. D.C. United: Preview, time, and how to watch
D.C. United takes on Austin FC as the regular season races toward a finale. This will be the second road match in a row for the Black-and-Red as they come off a disappointing 2-2 draw with Vancouver on Saturday.
The Black-and-Red still sit in a precarious 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings, making every point precious. There are only two remaining matches for D.C. to secure a playoff spot. Austin is similarly in a must-win situation, landing at 12th place in the West. If Austin loses any of their remaining home matches, it’s season over.
Let us know how you think Wayne Rooney’s men will fare against Austin in the comments!
Key Player: Christian Benteke
D.C. United’s striker has been on fire, scoring four goals in his last two matches. We’re hoping Benteke keeps up the momentum tonight, and the Black-and-Red’s defense keeps Austin’s attack at bay.
Watch Out For: Emiliano Rigoni
With Sebastian Driussi questionable for tonight’s match, it will likely be on Argentinian striker Rigoni to lead the charge against Alex Bono and D.C. United’s defense.
Challenges: It’s a packed week for the Black-and-Red and their second match on the road. It’s all high pressure from here on out, and D.C. has to produce results to stay in the game.
Previously: D.C. and Austin have only met once – a dramatic 2-3 loss on April 16, 2022, at Audi Field. Austin scored three goals in the final ten minutes of the match to claim three points.
Austin FC Availability:
Out: Žan Kolmanič (right ACL)
Questionable: Sebastian Driussi (right hamstring), Maxi Urruti( left knee), Gyasi Zardes(right hamstring)
D.C. United Availability:
Out: Martin Rodriguez (knee), Mohanad Jeahze (ankle), Tyler Miller (shoulder), Brendan Hines-Ike (head)
Location: Q2 Stadium, Austin, TX
Kickoff time: 8:30 pm ET
Referee: Jair Marrufo
Available streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
I’ll try to see if I can make watching the game tonight on time, but I’m also pretty certain this is the time the light leaves our eyes.
It would be nice to stick it to Austin after they did that to us last season.
I’m fairly optimistic about the end of our regular season schedule. I think we may get through it without being eliminated from playoffs. THEN, after sitting around waiting for 2 weeks, we will find out we’ve been eliminated by other results.
I may be too optimistic.
It’s bonkers that we don’t play the final week given how many mid-week and international break games we’ve had compared to some other teams. Who was in charge of scheduling?
I mean, the reason DC United had more midweek and international break play was because they’d be the odd team out on the final day.
And they sit on Decision Day because they “won” the Wooden Spoon last year. Seems fair to me.
Shouldn’t it be the expansion team St Louis that sits? They won zero games last year, even worse than DC!
Irrelevance suits us
Sigh…we’re in for a long night as Will Bruin the DCU killer has scored…
Najars defensive effort/sense has not been good lately. Lets Bruin drift in for an uncontested header and DC is most likely out of the playoffs.
Rooney has to be faulted a bit for how many “must win” games we’ve blown down the stretch
And how easily we’ve coughed up points at home.
I think he’s gotta be gone. I also wouldn’t mind it if they sacked him after this game, sort of like when he made all those subs in the 43rd minute to make a point.
Hell, bring Chad Ashton back from the wilderness to see out the season, and then immediately fire Dave Kasper, hire one of the guys from Orlando to be your GM, and go about getting a new coach and some new players. Bing bang boom.
Is Chad Ashton even still with the team? I thought he had left for somewhere else.
Early in the year, when there were a few 5pm MLS games, they would show them on the video board behind the food trucks under the east stands. We’d see Chad there drinking water and watching the early game until about 30 minutes before game time, when he’d head elsewhere. So, at least then, he was still around in some sense.
Game over
Well, it’s a good thing that my mind is in my D&D session and homebrew magic items right now, cuz this game is toast 21 minutes in
You admit to D&D AND home brew?
;^)
This will probably seem like an extreme statement, but so far that’s the worst defending I have ever seen with DC United. Andy Najar is not a defender — a wingback, or a winger — but there’s so much that went wrong on those plays.
Our shape is gibberish
Players I’d like to see return for DC United in 2024: Christian Benteke, Ted Ku Di-Pietro and maybe Mateusz Klich. Would be fine if none of the other players returned. I guess if they get some other attacking pieces who can shoot, perhaps a midfield featuring Najar and Pirani wouldn’t be so bad…
I wouldn’t mind Ruan or Davis coming back next year.
Pines’ intangibles make him tempting if you can pair him with a vocal leader who keeps him disciplined.
Canouse typically plays to the level of the team around him and is better in a dual pivot, so if you’re going with two deep mids then I’d say keep him.
Durkin probably shouldn’t be a starter given his “athleticism” but he’s versatile and a good depth piece.
Ruan at least has speed, but his cap hit is above his level of play.
Realistically it’s another offseason where we need at least four starters brought in.
Canouse’s play has been very good. If he’s not back the organization is more broken than I thought.
There is a reason the 4-4-2 diamond isn’t used by many teams. It requires near elite fullback play and understanding of roles between players to not just get burned down the wings.
DC has neither of these qualities and I’m not sure why Rooney shifted away from the 4-2-3-1. We are just nowhere near good enough defensively in this formation.
Huh could someone chanting D.C. United om the broadcast
Benteke has been frustrating with his headed chances for the whole season. I know he should have a lot more chances, and would convert a few, but statistically, headed goals don’t feel like a strong suit
Can we just start Cake or Death already?
Death
Triple change to start the half with Ruan/KDP/Hurtado for Najar/Durkin/Fajardo. I would have liked Hopkins instead of Hurtado, but Rooney does like big boys up front.
How many different “Four” hats does Rooney have?
Pass the darned ball there Benteke! Pirani had a tap in.
Our one competent attack all evening, and offside.
This is a game to watch loosely.
3-0
Scoreline flatters ATX a bit. Still, a very mediocre ATX side making easy work of DCU.
Also, I’ll add that watching a bunch of bottom-middle table MLS sides fight for the last playoff spots isn’t really great sporting fare.
It’s been remarkable, really – just a cavalcade of bad soccer all around. If any of these teams were any good, we’d have been eliminated weeks ago.
This has to be the most meaningless viewing experience ever.
It’s hard to win when you don’t score.
We look absolutely hapless in their 18. And our 18.
I think the defending has been far worse/deserves more criticism, but DC have spurned chances again and again tonight. Last I checked, 19 Shots (8 SOG) and not a single goal … that is rough. ATX on the other hand, 3 SOG and 3 goals.
To be fair to Stuver he’s made some great saves against DCU tonight.
This team just bums me out.
I can’t wait to age one more year and leave this shite behind me. #96er gone