Seeking to snap their run of five consecutive games without a win, New York Red Bulls take a trip to Audi Field to square off against DC United on Saturday evening.
The Black-and-Red will head into the weekend looking to get one over the visiting side, having failed to win any of their last seven meetings since October 2021.
Match preview
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DC United continue to drop valuable points in their race for a place in the playoffs as they could only salvage a 1-1 draw with Atlanta United at home turf on Wednesday evening.
Despite seeing the bulk of the chances at Audi Field, the Black-and-Red failed to make them count as Saba Lobjanidze's first-half strike put the Five Stripes ahead before Gabriel Pirani restored parity in the 80th minute.
DC United have now been involved in a share of the spoils in three consecutive games and have won just one of their last eight in MLS while losing three and claiming four draws since early July.
This poor run of results has seen Wayne Rooney's drop to ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings, seven points adrift of seventh-placed Nashville in the automatic playoff spot.
While DC United will be looking to return to winning ways and strengthen their stake for a playoff place, next up is an opposing side who are unbeaten in each of their last seven meetings, claiming four wins and three draws since a 1-0 loss in October 2021.
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On the other hand, New York Red Bulls quest for a place in the playoffs suffered another blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Austin FC when the sides met on Wednesday night.
Despite their dominance, the Red Bulls failed to make their chances count as Sebastian Driussi cancelled out Emiliano Rigoni's seventh-minute own goal to force a share of the spoils at the Red Bull Arena.
Troy Lesesne's men have now failed to win any of their last five matches, picking up two draws and losing three since claiming a 1-0 victory over DC United at the Red Bull Arena on August 21.
With just five games to go before the end of the regular season, New York Red Bulls are currently 14th in the Eastern Conference standings, level on 31 points with 13th-placed Inter Miami and five points off DC United in the final playoffs qualifier spot.
New York Red Bulls' recent struggles could be pinned to their lethargic display in the final third, where they have scored just twice in their last five matches, including Rigoni's own goal against Austin on Thursday.
Results have also been difficult to come by on the road, where they are currently on a six-match winless run across all competitions, losing five and claiming just one draw since a 1-0 victory at Inter Miami on June 1.
Team News
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DC United will take to the pitch without the defensive duo of Derrick Williams and Steve Birnbaum, who are currently recuperating from calf and hip injuries respectively.
Fellow defender Mohanad Jeahze has been sidelined since April through a thigh problem and is joined on the club's injury table by Martin Rodriguez (ACL) and Tyler Miller (abdominal).
As for New York Red Bulls, Lesesne will be without the services of Scottish midfielder Lewis Morgan, who picked up a hip injury back in August.
Fellow midfielder Steven Sserwadda sustained a severe knee injury back in March and also continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Serge Ngoma has been out of action since last October through a hamstring problem while Dante Vanzeir is a major doubt after coming off with a first-half injury against Austin on Wednesday night.
DC United possible starting lineup:
Bono; Ruan, Hines-Ike, Pines, Davis; Durkin, Canouse, Klich; Pirani, Fajardo, Benteke
New York Red Bulls possible starting lineup:
Miguel; Duncan, Reyes, Nealis, Tolkin; Yearwood, Edelman, Amaya, Luquinhas; Fernandez, Manoel
We say: DC United 1-1 New York Red Bulls
Having dropped important points in their quest for a playoff spot in recent weeks, Sunday's game offers DC United and New York Red Bulls an opportunity to find their feet. The Red Bulls have struggled to grind out results on the road and we predict that Rooney's side will hold out for another share of the spoils.
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Top tip
Joshua Ojele
