Seeking to end their run of six consecutive away defeats in the MLS, DC United take a trip to the Red Bull Arena to lock horns with New York City FC on Thursday.
The Pigeons, who were handed a third loss in four games last time out, will be looking to quickly return to winning ways and strengthen their position in the upper echelons of the Eastern Conference table.
Match preview
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New York City FC were sent crashing down to earth last weekend as they fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat against Orlando City when the sides squared off at the Exploria Stadium.
The game was off to a flyer when Junior Urso struck in the seventh minute before Maxi Moralez restored parity in the 53rd minute, but substitute Tesho Akindele netted in the sixth minute of injury time to hand the Lions a last-gasp win.
Prior to that, the Pigeons ended their run of four consecutive games without a win on August 21, when they brushed aside Chicago Fire 2-0 courtesy of goals in either half from Gabriel Pereira and Santiago Rodriguez.
Nick Cushing's side have now picked up 13 wins, six draws and lost eight of their 27 games so far to collect 45 points and sit third in the Eastern Conference standings, nine points off first-placed Philadelphia Union.
After two successive road games, New York City FC now return to their home turf, where they are unbeaten in all but one of their last 14 games in all competitions, claiming nine wins and four draws since the start of April.
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On the other hand, Wayne Rooney's DC United were left empty handed once again as they failed to close out the game before falling to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Atlanta United last Sunday.
In an action-packed second half at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Alan Franco, Josef Martinez and Juan Sanchez Purata all scored headers — the most headers ever scored in a single MLS match — to hand the hosts a comeback victory.
The Black-and-Red have now lost each of their last four league outings, including a 6-0 hammering at the hands of Philadelphia Union on August 21, while they have managed just one point from the last 18 available.
DC United, who are currently rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with 22 points from 27 games, now take on New York City away from home where they have failed to win any of the last eight meetings between the teams since August 2015.
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Team News
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New York City FC will be without 25-year-opt Keaton Parks, who has been out of action since picking up a calf injury in June's derby against New York Red Bulls.
Cushing will also be unable to call upon fellow defender Alfredo Morales, who picked up a leg muscle injury against Charlotte FC a fortnight ago, and Alexander Callen, who has missed the last four games through injury.
Meanwhile, DC United will take to the pitch without the defensive duo of Brendan Hines-Ike and Brad Smith, who have been sidelined through foot and knee injuries respectively.
American goalkeeper Bill Hamid will play no part in the midweek clash through a hand problem while Adrien Perez sustained a foot injury back in March.
Greek striker Taxiarchis Fountas, who has racked up 11 goals in 20 appearances, is a major doubt for the Black-and-Red after the 26-year-old came off with a game-ending injury midway through the first half against Atlanta United on Sunday.
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Amundsen, Martins, Chanot, Tinnerholm; Haak, Acevedo; Andrade, Heber, Pereira; Magno
DC United possible starting lineup:
Ochoa; Najar, Birnbaum, Alfaro, Pines; Hopkins, Durkin, Morrison; Rodriguez, Benteke, Kamara
We say: New York City FC 3-1 DC United
New York City FC and DC United have had contrasting campaigns in the MLS, with Rooney's side sitting rock bottom in the East. The Pigeons have also enjoyed the better of this fixture and we are backing them to make use of their home advantage to claim a fourth straight win over the visitors.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
