DC Power FC head back to Florida this weekend to take on Tampa Bay Sun in a match that contains much more urgency than when the two teams faced a few weeks ago. That match, a 2-0 DC Power loss, was the start of their current 3-game losing streak that currently has them 6 points below the playoff line with 5 games remaining in the regular season. Three points are vital against the Sun, who are in last place in the Gainbridge Super League table.

Goalkeeper Morgan Aquino (Australia), defender Claire Constant (Haiti), and forward Jaydah Bedoya (Puerto Rico) are out on international duty. And the team is still struggling with the injury bug, as forward Gianna Gourley and midfielders Alexis Theoret and Katrina Guillou remain out. But, for Omid Namazi, they know they can’t lean on the missing players as a crutch. “We’re a little bit under it, but there’s no excuse,” Namazi said during this week’s press availability. “We’ve got to go out and get the job done.”

The job is to get their form back, and quickly. They’ve had some setbacks in losing three straight, including 2 to the teams at the bottom of the standings. Namazi said that they have to come out with that sense of urgency and treat this like a must win match.

“Well, we can’t allow them to impose themselves on us physically. That’s the most important thing because that’s, that’s a team that will work their butts off from the first whistle to the last one,” Namazi said. “And we need to match that intensity and work rate and then really be good defensively and not allow them to get ahead of us.”

We just came out with very flat energy [last time], not like us,” forward Jaydah Bedoya remarked. “So, I think our biggest thing is going to be to go out there and bring that intensity from the first whistle to the final whistle. And I know we’ve reiterated we also have bench players who can come in and also get the job done. So whatever your 100% is, getting that out there and knowing that you have people behind you to get the job done also [will help].”

Their best effort of the season needs to come tonight. Otherwise, their already dwindling playoff hopes could take a further tumble.

DC Power FC @ Tampa Bay Sun

Location: Suncoast Credit Union Field, Tampa

Kickoff time: 7:30pm ET

Available streaming: Peacock