The final stretch of the regular season in MLS is fast approaching, and with it comes the rise in intensity as DC United take on New York City FC. Indeed, both teams have one clear mission in mind: to secure their spots in the playoffs. Whereas DC United is in spectacular form, NYCFC arrives in the capital trying to find its way back to victories after a difficult run.
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DC United, the Streak That Could Seal Playoffs
Conducted by Troy Lesesne, United now seems to hold the key to magic with their rise in the Eastern Conference standings. Coming with four wins in the last five games and on an upward curve, this team currently occupies the last playoff position. Getting regular performances and a winning mentality, the "Black-and-Red" take on NYCFC with spirits high.
In that respect, the player carrying their hopes in attack will be Christian Benteke with his 18 goals in 24 matches. The Belgian striker has been a scoring monster and surely poses the most danger to New York City FC's goal. Along with him, midfielder Martín Rodriguez has been of great importance in creating the game and once again will be important during this match, taking into consideration his 89.5% passing accuracy with four assists.
Another interesting factor for DC United is how good the team is defensively: with the number of successful tackles, ranking among the best in the league, placing third with 11.4 per game. This stat shows that beyond being an offensive force, DC United knows how to defend when the time requires it. And this will be essential against NYCFC, which, despite its bad form, has dangerous attacking players.
NYCFC: A Road Challenge and the Fight for Recovery
With DC United feeling on cloud nine, New York City FC comes into town seeking some sort of redemption. Coming off six winless games, the pressure will be on Nick Cushing's team to get back on track. Fifth in the Eastern Conference with 39 points, NYCFC is still pretty well positioned to make the playoffs but needs quick results to avoid any complications.
The only glimmer of hope is Alonso Martinez, who leads the team with 11 goals in 19 games, but his goal-scoring instinct is sure to be the antidote needed to break this streak of draws and losses. Yet, it is not only at the attack that needs fixing. The defense needs to come big, too, ranking only ninth in the league at tackles, averaging 10.4 per game, showing a certain type of vulnerability that DC United could expose.
This match is also an opportunity for NYCFC to get better away from home, after what has been an inconstant season thus far away from the Bronx. With seven games remaining in the regular season, Cushing's team knows full well that every point earned can make all the difference in the playoff race. A visit to the capital therefore takes on a decisive tone.
Key Absences and Impact on the Game
Not everything is good news for either of them. Both teams arrive at this game with important absences that can condition the match. DC United will be without Mateusz Klich, who was suspended for yellow card accumulation. Klich has been an important piece in the middle for the team and his absence could weaken the transition from defense to offense.
On the other side, NYCFC will also be without Julián Fernández, who was sent off in the final minutes of their last outing against Columbus Crew. An aggressive and influential midfielder, Fernández's absence will definitely affect the dynamics of NYCFC and leave it with fewer options to create offensive plays.
DC United-NYCFC Rivalry
This will always be something special whenever DC United and New York City FC face off. The head-to-head is highly in favor of NYCFC, having won 11 to the 7 of DC United. This balance only gives more weight to the expectations of the game, with DC United playing really fascinating soccer in recent matches, while NYCFC want a comeback.