DC United vs. FC Dallas | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

D.C. United vs. FC Dallas
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 33
Audi Field — Washington, D.C.
October 13 - 4:55 pm ET
WATCH: Univision, Twitter, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

D.C. United can jump ahead of the playoff line in the Eastern Conference with a third consecutive home win when they face an FC Dallas side that is unbeaten in its last five games and can all but lock up the top seed in the West by getting three road points.

D.C. United are coming off a 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire at Audi Field, their fifth consecutive game without a defeat, while FC Dallas knocked off Orlando City SC, 2-0, at Toyota Stadium.

FC Dallas have won the last three meetings against D.C. United, and three of the last four, including a 3-0 victory at RFK Stadium on March 26, 2016.

D.C. United

D.C. United (11-11-8) rallied to defeat the Chicago Fire, 2-1, at Audi Field Sunday and move within two points of the playoff line in the Eastern Conference.

Raheem Edwards opened the scoring for the Fire in the 51st minute, but Wayne Rooney tapped in his own rebound to level in the 62nd minute and netted the winner from the penalty spot nine minutes from full time after Junior Moreno was taken down by Johan Kappelhof in the box.

“We have to keep pushing because we have another 'most important game of the season' next weekend against Dallas,” Ben Olsen said. “That’s just how it has to be for the rest of the year and that’s OK. I trust our guys and know they’re up for it.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Russell Canouse
International duty: M - Junior Moreno, M - Ulises Segura
Injury Report: OUT: D - Taylor Kemp (labrum surgery), GK - David Ousted (elbow surgery), D - Chris Odoi-Atsem (fatigue), D - Vytas (hip injury), D - Oniel Fisher (knee surgery); QUESTIONABLE: D - Kofi Opare (hip injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Bill Hamid — Nick DeLeon, Frederic Brillant, Steve Birnbaum, Joseph Mora — Russell Canouse, Chris Durkin — Zoltan Stieber, Luciano Acosta, Yamil Asad — Wayne Rooney

FC Dallas

It took a bit longer than they hoped, but FC Dallas (16-6-9) defeated Orlando City SC, 2-0, at home last Saturday, eliminating the Lions from postseason contention and inching closer to earning home-field advantage and a Knockout Round bye.

Santiago Mosquera opened the scoring in the 63rd minute and Victor Ulloa doubled Dallas’ lead six minutes later. The game entered a weather delay in the 81st minute, as the skies opened up with an instant downpour and lightning struck near the stadium. After a 68-minute delay, the teams resumed play to close out the match.

“I thought we played a very correct second half, especially after the first half, where we had some challenges,” Oscar Pareja said. “Orlando’s side played well and they created some options and some problems, but we found a way to correct it. Second half, we have the initiative to pressure them higher and have more determination to create some duels within the defenders and have the responsibility to get the ball back in the zones.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Carlos Gruezo
International duty: D - Reggie Cannon, M - Carlos Gruezo, D - Maynor Figueroa
Injury Report: OUT: D - Kris Reaves (left foot stress fracture), F - Cristian Colman (torn ACL)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Jesse Gonzalez — Ryan Hollingshead, Matt Hedges, Reto Ziegler, Marquinhos Pedroso — Abel Aguilar, Victor Ulloa — Michael Barrios, Maxi Urruti, Santiago Mosquera — Dom Badji

All-Time Series

Overall: D.C. United 15 wins, 77 goals … FC Dallas 21 wins, 77 goals … 8 draws
At D.C.: D.C. United 9 wins, 47 goals … FC Dallas 6 wins, 32 goals … 5 draws
Last meeting at D.C.: D.C. United 0, FC Dallas 3 (March 26, 2016)