D.C. United vs. Atlanta United: Preview, time, and how to watch
D.C. United prepare for a scorching midweek matchup with Atlanta United tonight at Audi Field, their second meeting of the 2024 regular season.
Temperatures are soaring in the DMV, hitting record highs and causing the District to declare a heat emergency. As per head coach Troy Lesesne, the Black-and-Red have been training later in the day to acclimate to the heat as it’s a “real circumstance” the team will have to contend with.
D.C. United returned from the international break with a road loss in Charlotte this past Saturday, a result they will be eager to shake off and forget. Lesesne has been working with limited resources as D.C. United’s already thin roster has been wracked with injury this season. He will have to work to balance a desire for results with careful management to avoid losing further players to overwork or injury.
Troy Lesesne discussed preparing the team for a busy week, saying, “You know, even with our squad, as we’ve talked about with some of the injuries we have, we want to keep the group as fresh as possible so that in both matches we can have the output that we want to.”
As for Atlanta United, they have been under their own duress this season. 13th-place Atlanta United is working to finish the season strong after head coach Gonzalo Pineda’s dismissal. The team is now under interim head coach Rob Valentino’s guidance.
The Five Stripes won only one of their last five league matches. However, the Black-and-Red should be wary of underestimating them. Atlanta’s win was against Inter Miami CF.
Hear everything head coach Troy Lesesne had to say during the pre-game press conference here.
Let us know your thoughts about tonight’s match in the comments below.
Key Player: Christian Benteke
D.C. United will look to veteran striker Benteke against Atlanta United tonight, hopefully, to record another hat trick in a repeat of May’s screamer at Mercedes Benz Stadium.
Watch Out For: Thiago Almada
Second only to Giorgos Giakoumakis, who recently parted ways with the Five Stripes, in goals scored this season, Thiago Almada could cause significant trouble for the Black-and-Red tonight.
Challenges: With an already thin roster and dangerous heat in the District, head coach Troy Lesesne will need to carefully manage minutes to avoid further player losses.
Previously: D.C. United bested Atlanta 3-2 with a Benteke hat trick at Mercedes Benz Stadium in May. The Black-and-Red faithful will hope to see D.C. record a home win tonight.
D.C. United Availability:
Out: Conner Antley (knee), Steven Birnbaum (knee), Russell Canouse (not due to injury), Jackson Hopkins (back), Christopher McVey (knee)
Questionable: Kristian Fletcher (ankle)
Atlanta United Availability:
Out: Luis Abram (international duty), Saba Lobjanidze (international duty), Edwin Mosquera (knee), Bartosz Slisz (international duty)
Questionable: Stian Gregersen (hamstring), Tyler Wolff (knee)
Location: Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
Kickoff time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
Available streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Benteke is on a yellow card accumulation warning, so he needs to be careful tonight.
100% agree! The last thing we need right now is to lose him.
It’s Juneteenth! Fifty-six years ago on Juneteenth, I was #2 national organizer of the Solidarity Day March in support of the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign.
We brought 80,000 supporters to DC, grouped them around the Washington Monument, marched them down Constitution Avenue to the Lincoln Memorial, and arrayed them around the Reflecting Pool while they listened to (and cheered) Civil Rights Movement speakers a la the great March on Washington in August 1963.
In that vast space even 80,000 people looked like nobody was there!!!
That day gave rise to Rusk Rule #29 — “ Always hire a hall that’s half the size of the smallest crowd you expect … so that when even fewer turn up, you still have a SRO success.”
And corollary Rusk Rule 29A: “Never hold a political rally outside.”
I’ve followed those successfully ever since.
Given how the last match against Atlanta played out (where Benteke had his way with the CBs he was facing), I expect them to play much more physically, try and deny him position, push him around. He (Benteke) could easily pick up another yellow in the hurly-burly. I also think Herrera will be key. Christian got no service in the last match while Herrera fed him well against Atlanta before.
I don’t know if the team will be selling off the Juneteenth jerseys like they’ve done the last couple years, but last year I picked up Rio Hope-Gund’s jersey. It joins my Andrea Mancini jersey in my “gameworn jerseys by players that never played in an MLS game for DC United” collection.
Which is to say, hellooooooo Nathan Crockford.
Atlanta has signed a couple players to short-term deals ahead of tonight. One of them is Matias Gallardo, son of DC’s first Designated Player, Marcelo Gallardo.
As we take on Atlanta, bask with me won’t you in the memory of 2017, when they came into the league like a thunderbolt, and DC and Ben Olsen went 3 for 3 in games against Tata Martino and the lesser United.
Good times. Good, good times.
Tyler Miller starting over Bono.
Looks like Dax is up for yet another crunching performance against DCU.
Santos turns it over in midfield leads to a good transition opportunity for Atlanta and some emergency defending keeps term from getting a shot off.
Atl with a high press.
Tubbs with a header but it’s an easy save for Guzan.
How was that not a foul by Morales on KDP?
Twice now ATL has fouled KDP and the ref has let it go.
Tubbs picks up a yellow for a late tackle.
Ku is one of our most dynamic attacking players, but just hasn’t been decisive after beating the first man. If he can improve there then the world is his oyster, so to speak.
Once again, the better team overall in half 1. Once again, nothing to show for it. Ppl picking up yellows too easily due to the heat and the ref’s style, guys already winded after 30 minutes. I’m not sanguine about the second half.
Not much from that half from DC. ATL had one big chance. DC looked to be holding their shape well at times, but also seemed to panic at others. Santos has been hit or miss with the ball. He put Peltola in trouble with at least 2 of his passes, but also swung in some excellent crosses. Aside from that, I’m struggling to see where DC creates chances other than a counter or a set piece. Buildup has been fine, but DC runs out of ideas when the opposition gets behind the ball.
I have to say, a big part of that problem (“runs out of ideas…”) given the lineup we have is Peltola. As safety valves go, he is, and has consistently been, too safe and slow. Reminds me of Football Manager players with both the tags “Dwells on Ball” and “Plays short simple passes”. Means Klich has to do it all in the middle offensively.
Mind you, Benteke not being prepared for through balls and ppl getting offside too fast are also obvs probs.
Sure Peltola is probably a half-step slow for this system, but he’s far from the biggest issue, in my opinion. DC has been playing in what looks like a 3-4-3 so there’s really no one between Benteke and Klich/Peltola to progress the play. I’m 100% certain that is more due to personnel rather than Lesesne’s preference. DC is working with less than a full deck at this point, it’s absurd the number of injuries.
Oh yeah, the formation is very limiting. We’d all prefer not to ask Peltola to be the Xavi.
Well, that was one of the most blatant shirt holds you’ll ever see a ref ignore.
Very nice by Almeda.
Well there’s the game…
What’s the record for goals conceded beyond 18? DC has got to be approaching that this season…
When is ATL going to get a card for time wasting?
Oh look once again DCU doesn’t have it’s finishing boots on and Herrera is down and looks like he isn’t coming back in.
Another loss…whee…
It’s pretty clear there’s no point in analyzing this squad this season. How many players are missing? As a fan I’m just tired, personally. Hard for me to blame the players – they are burnt out, and hard for me to blame the coach – who’s he gonna play/swap? Realistically, Mackay needs to bring in 4-5 players if this team wants to salvage this season. That isn’t going to happen so just sit tight, y’all.