D.C. United vs. Colorado Rapids: Preview, time, and how to watch
D.C. United looks to get back on track this Saturday against the Colorado Rapids after a frustrating loss to the Philadelphia Union. Despite a strong first half last weekend, the Black-and-Red couldn’t maintain momentum and fell 3-0 on the road. Head coach Troy Lesesne emphasized the team’s need to “finish plays” and maintain consistent effort across both halves.
Sitting in 13th place in the Eastern Conference standings with nine points, the pressure is on the Black-and-Red and head coach Troy Lesesne to figure things out— and quickly! While the squad has shown improvement season over season and is actively developing a new style, this progress hasn’t translated into substantial points.
Tonight’s opponent, Chris Armas’ Colorado Rapids, is comfortably in 5th place in the Western Conference. The Rapids are currently enjoying a three-match unbeaten streak and have displayed impressive performances on the road this season. We will likely see a familiar face at Audi Field tonight, as D.C. homegrown Ted Ku-DiPietro returns to the District with his new Colorado team.
The return of Christian Benteke could provide the spark D.C. needs to defeat a strong Colorado side. The striker trained this week and is expected to return to the squad. However, Gabriel Pirani may remain sidelined with a soft tissue injury, and Dominique Badji will be a game-time decision.
Midfielder Jacob Murrell continues to shine in extended minutes, offering creative flair and defensive hustle. Lesesne praised the team’s recent ability to control game tempo and hopes that translates into a complete, result-driven performance this weekend.
The mission tonight is clear from Lesesne’s perspective: “We need another result in the league. We need a win in the league.”
Hear everything head coach Troy Lesesne had to say at the pre-game press conference here.
Let us know your thoughts about tonight’s match in the comments below and be sure to join us live here during the game to chat with your fellow supporters.
Key Player: Christian Benteke
If D.C.’s striker dresses today, he will certainly be one to watch. Benteke has been nothing but consistent for the Black-and-Red and has been sorely missed on the pitch.
Watch Out For: Djordje Mihailovic
Mihailovic has been a standout for the Rapids this season. He’s scored five times for Colorado this season and been on the Team of the Matchday roster a stunning four times.
Challenges: The Black-and-Red will need to contend with the absence of João Peglow and perhaps Christian Benteke against a strong Colorado side.
Previously: D.C. United hasn’t faced the Colorado Rapids since Wayne Rooney’s tenure as head coach. The September 2022 match saw the Black-and-Red play to a 0-0 draw with the Rapids.
D.C. United Availability:
Out: Kristian Fletcher (illness), João Peglow (thigh)
Questionable: Dominique Badji (hamstring), Lucas Bartlett (calf), Christian Benteke (quad), Jackson Hopkins (ankle), Gabriel Pirani (knee)
Suspended: Kye Rowles
Colorado Rapids Availability:
Out: Cole Bassett (calf), Adam Beaudry (ankle), Ali Fadal (knee)
Questionable: None
Location: Audi Field, Washington, DC
Kickoff time: 7:30 pm ET
Referee: Jon Freemon
Available streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Matheusz Klich started for Atlanta today. Maybe DCU could have used him today if instead he was on our roster? I still have not heard a good explanation for why Klich was let go so cheaply but expensively for DCU.
Glad we’re getting our money’s worth in Atlanta.
So does KDP see the field tonight against us? He’s on Colorado’s bench.
Starting XI:
Barraza
Peltola McNaughton Antley
Schnegg Servania Enow Herrera
Kijima Benteke Stroud
Bench: Zouhir, Badji, Leal, Dodson, Barajas, Murrell, Tubbs, Joon, Karamoko
A couple of big chances both ways early find the woodwork or force a save.
Ah crap Benteke and Stroud collide and Benteke is down.
Right after Servania forces a save from Sean Johnson in the upper 90 from outside the box.
*Zach Steffen
Oops thanks for the correction.
Uh oh, a collision with Stroud might have robbed us of Benteke
Robbed us of a pretty decent chance at a goal, anyway. I feel like this team runs into each other more than any other version of the team I’ve seen. Just no communication.
Yeah…comms is a problem front to back it seems.
We’re gonna have a million minutes of stoppage
Herrera saves our bacon after Peltola’s bad pass is picked off.
Herrera solves a problem Peltola created
Peltola finally gets a chance to get himself back in Troy Lesesne’s good graces and gives away a terrible turnover out of the back. I keep wondering if we’re going to see him sold in the summer, and so far… still wondering.
I still sorta think there’s an excellent player in there, but he’s out of position in a formation that he’s not suited for with tactics that don’t seem to make use of his strengths
Antley soooo close to having that handball in the box
We look a bit more solid, but wondering if this Colorado outfit might be just be flattering on us
McNaughton better hope this isn’t an injury, cuz that was a cringe worthy play
Looks like he did pick up an issue on this play that might take him out now. Tubbs has gotta be the sub
MacNaughton being subbed off for Tubbs. He did have that awkward challenge earlier where Navarrao basically tackled him.
Not what I saw. He wrapped up the player with his arms and legs, and something got injured when whoever it was shook free.
Eh Navarrao bear hugs him before they go down.
Welp, we conceded. Both Peltola and McNaughton pretty lax in different instances
Benteke!
For once, Schnegg gets in a service, it deflects up nicely for Benteke, who puts away the header!!!
Servania gets the most ironic assist ever
Kijima! My team lives!
Kijima! Steffan gets a hand on it but can’t keep it out!
Peltola picks up a yellow…
We’re getting pushed steadily further and further back in this second half
Tubbs picks up a yellow and now 2 CBs are on yellows.
We’re getting rugby ref amount of comms with players from this cr.
Badji for Stroud and Dodson for Antley. KDP coming on for Colorado.
Servania picks up a yellow.
This corner kick feels like the first time we’re out of our own end
And it’s a nothing burger due to a foul off the ball.
This team needs to keep getting the ball forward, not even 70 minutes in
Murrell for Benteke
Servania showing a bit more in the touch and control department tonight than I’ve seen, maybe he’s more useful than I though
I’m hoping it won’t, but I fear the amount of stoppage time coming will make me cry
We got 6 and like 9 actual in 1st half.
4, my lord, it’s 4!!!
Minimum of 4…not as bad as I thought…
Kijima draws a yellow from Cannon allowing pressure to be momentarily relieved.
Enow has picked up a yellow.
Wait, Chris Armas is their absent coach??? How is he still working in the league
We win as Kijima’s soul leaves his body on the whistle
We won?….We won! And now we’ve matched the win total from 2013.
Damn, that’s crazy. We really did create unique ways to lose that season, but you reminding me of how few wins we had gives me a shiver
Holy moly–a win! And that was a lovely finish by Kijima–he’s been the best acquisition of the off-season.
Barraza is turning out to be a contender for that title.
Snap reactions:
Antley should start at CB until somebody shoves him out of the lineup. He commits to tackles too readily, isn’t a great aerial presence, has a bit of hotheadedness… I’m not saying he’s a long term starter. But he’s waaaaayyyyy more aware than the clown car drivers we’re putting out there otherwise, leads by example, communicates, doesn’t take stupid chances when he shouldn’t.
Servania should start at DM until somebody shoves him out of the lineup. If he can play this well with any regularity, that day will be a long time coming.
The team did about as well as one could hope for tactically, moving the ball through the middle effectively despite the formation being totally unsuited to it.
And yet, through it all, the bonehead plays continue, and our victory owes as much to Colorado’s… meh tactics and effort as to our own work.
Re: Servania, we’ve all griped about having so many guys starting who are cast-offs from other (mediocre or worse) teams, but he seems to have won the job as much as Peltola and Enow lost it. Talonesque pointed out his touch and control earlier, two things which are crucial if we are to develop this team’s possession game. He’s in his prime years but is also a grizzled veteran at this point, so even if we want to upgrade at DM over the summer, I’d be happy keeping him as an effective backup and locker room guy for a few years.
I am just crying at our CB situation though. It’s like the reverse of when Rooney took over for Losada – the roster was not built with this system in mind. I really think Troy has the right idea with playing a back 3, but if he really commits to it, we’re going to be down to Tubbs (who’s kind of being borrowed), Peltola (who seems to want to position himself too far up) and some outside backs filling in. Which will necessitate shoving some guy as a wing back who is not great at being wing back.