DC United vs. Toronto FC: Preview, time, and how to watch
DC United is finally back before the home fans at Audi Field tonight when they take on Toronto FC in league play. It’s the first time in nine weeks that the Black-and-Red have played at home, and they bring a point back from a 1-1 midweek road draw against the Houston Dynamo.
“All games are so tough and I think both teams, they have more or less the same level,” René Weiler said about the team’s upcoming match against Toronto. “So yeah, we try to be better than they are and to win this game.”
DC United is clinging to the 9th and final playoff position in the Eastern Conference, but Toronto is just 3 points behind them. DC United head coach René Weiler hopes that his guys are able to recover quickly from the midweek road match in sweltering Houston and are ready to provide heavy minutes against Toronto.
“Fresh legs and fresh heads, very important. But we play at home, the temperatures will be different, so less hot and we play in the evening,” Weiler said. “So no, they are young players and they are able to recover well and to play another game three days later.”
They hope to give the fans something to celebrate tonight at Audi Field, but they will have to put together a complete game against the team from The 6.
DC United vs. Toronto FC
Location: Audi Field
Kickoff time: 7:30pm ET
Available streaming: Apple TV
Since Weiler wasn’t impressed with Ordaz’ fitness, I guess he won’t be starting yet. Maybe Peltola and Markovic might get starts, but otherwise probably the XI from Wednesday night. Depressing how little depth we have right now. Stroud and Kijima will get some time, but I’m not excited about that. I hope some of these transfer rumors pan out, because we need help.
Dc lineup:
Johnson; Hefti, Bartlett, Rowles, Kurokawa; Hopkins, Servania, Dozzell, Peglow; Munteanu, Baribo
Subs:
Bono, Peltola, Stroud, Nealis, Ordaz, Markovic, Avilez, Kijima
Well so much for rotation. I’m hesitant to draw a trend from 2 data points, but if we brought Dozzell here to replace Peltola, somebody needs to redistribute the substances being smoked in the front office so more of us can enjoy them.
Yeah I’m really not a fan of peltola not starting
Dozzell stays stride for stride with Laryea on the dribble to halt the dribble (though play ends in a Hopkins foul).
That is something not a lot of central midfielders in the league can do, that’s good pace and confident defensive range. Laryea is fast
Ways to flub a 3 on 2 break, #27: tamely roll a shot from the top if the box straight into the arms of the waiting keeper.
Hopkins has gotta find the far post with height or a inside the post arrow, but his finishing technique lets him down
Much better shot the second time.
Midseason form for Kurokawa there, too bad it didn’t lead to a goal
What did Peltola do to lose the starting spot during the World Cup break?
I’m hoping he just has some minor injury that means he can’t go 90. If it’s anything other than that, I’m really judging Weiler
Well, there is one reason you don’t play a star during a transfer window while blooding someone else at that spot…
Gotta be asked post match
(No inside information here, but nobody thought Servania needed a better partner in the window, it does speak to how opaque the org is on these things)
Actually…the last couple of matches before the break, I thought Servania looked better than Peltola did, but I guess that’s neither here nor there.
Thank god for Sean Johnson
Sean Johnson saves our bacon with a great save.
LOUIS!
Actually Rowles, but it counts the same
He was there, the goal camera showed no contact
Just a really good Rowles header
DC SCORE off the corner deep in the half
1-0
Looks like Rowles without a Louis touch
Just curious as to whether Louis was even onside. I just saw the one replay, and watching live from my seat it was impossible to see much of anything other than DCU players celebrating a goal.
Sorta moot, didn’t actually affect play
Zimmerman rolls back the clock to rob Kurokawa of an excellent assist play
A lot of that half was mildly dull, but TFC played loose at the back and we kept finding opportunities to exploit. I like that the team is thinking in terms of modern ball progression and space exploitation, even if we don’t have the talent to convert very often. A deserved lead.
For once, we face an opponent at home and the travelers are thanking their lucky stars that they’re not down multiple goals at the halftime whistle.
Pretty fortunate bounces and close shaves to keep it at just one.
A shame it didn’t fall that way, but now
the priority has got to be securing the win and controlling momentum
Baribo almost did some DP heroism there from range
Jesus, Zimmerman playing like it’s 2021
DC getting more than a little too stretched in transition
Apparently DCs goal is now counted as an own goal
Think that’s the adjudicators splitting some massive hairs for no particular reason
No real evidence that Rowles wasn’t the determining factor, one person wants the stat, the other doesn’t
Not sure why that’s the call
Johnson hit his 30 second god gauge for that play
Oh, wait, this isn’t a video game, WTH
Peltola and Stroud on for Hopkins and Peglow
Weiler once again preferring having Dozell on the right wing rather than using Kijima or removing Servania.
TBF, this is one of the best games I’ve seen Servania play.
Toronto have sorta eschewed consistent midfield play, so not sure how much we can take from how freely Servania has operated
Would be cool if he’s coming up as a starter, just not sure if it’s the game to make that judgement
ITA, it’s exactly the sort of game he should thrive in. Do it against a physical or very fast or congesting or sophisticated progression opponent, then we can talk.
Djordje maybe could have done better there
Well shit…
That’s been coming for a while now. 1-1
Parity strikes again
Weiler’s preferred style at home and with a lead is just far to negative. Lets see if they can find a winner after giving up yet another lead at home.
I’m more frustrated that the we have been so easily opened up this half under the circumstances
If you’re gonna be stodgy, at least let it be the kind that makes the other team overheat and overcommit
Maddening that we didn’t even succeed in making it difficult
Well, we’re gonna see Peltola and Dozzell play together, as Servania exits for Kijima, who goes out wide right
Rowles also leaves the match with a knock for Nealis
Ordaz in the wings for later
And Ordaz is on for Louis
Osorio with a deserved yellow as he recklessly bodied Kurokawa without a real chance on the ball
The Apple commentator is a fool
Did we just try to throw the game just then?
Laryea hacks down Kijima just outside the box, but he’s standing closer to the ball when Kijima goes down and therefore not a foul?
Just trying to mind read the mindless
Ordaz with an exceptional pass that reveals how unworthy Stroud is at this point
His inability to push himself physically to get that is positively unacceptable
Stroud has a two year case of the yips. Guy can’t buy a goal or assist.
This commentator is effing stupid
Even Toronto lawyering gets punctured by the replay
And the ref goes to the monitor for what should surely be a PK earned by Dozzell
And I’m hearing the commentator has been fined for commentary fraud
Pk
So fans in the stadium channeling their inner CONCACAF match and throwing stuff on the field.
We take it
Fuck Toronto
Vamos United
Toronto goalie guessed the right way, but Baribo just beats him with power and placement.
Which, also very CONCACAF
The ref overcomes his indecision over how much time should be allowed to Toronto for a preferred comeback, decides reality is against him and blows the whistle
2-1 United
With the win, DC is still in 9th place, but tied with NYRB for 8th, and only 3 points out of 5th