DC United vs. New York Red Bulls | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

D.C. United vs. New York Red Bulls
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 29
Audi Field — Washington D.C.
Sept. 16 — 1 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN, TSN2

Having already clinched another Atlantic Cup title, the New York Red Bulls seek a clean sweep of the season series against D.C. United when the longtime rivals meet for the final time this regular season at Audi Field Sunday afternoon.

This is the third meeting this season, with the Red Bulls claiming matching 1-0 wins — first at Audi Field on July 25 and again a month later at Red Bull Arena.

New York has lost just one game against D.C. United since the start of 2015 season (8W-4D). United’s lone win in that time did come at home.

D.C. United

D.C. United (9-11-7) rallied to defeat Minnesota United, 2-1, Wednesday night at Audi Field to move within two points of the playoff line in the Eastern Conference.

After Angelo Rodriguez put the Loons in front two minutes into the second half, Ulises Segura and Darren Mattocks struck four minutes apart as United have now claimed seven points from their last three games.

“It just seemed like we were lethargic. I don’t think it was a mentality issue, I just think there’s been a lot of games on these guys,” Ben Olsen said. “I give them a lot of credit on a day where, to a man, we’re a little bit off the pace and not as sharp as we want to be and still missing some guys, to still be able to get three points is something that is very impressive and I’m proud of the group for that.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Chris Durkin, M - Paul Arriola, M - Russell Canouse
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Taylor Kemp (labrum surgery), D - Nick DeLeon (knee injury), GK - David Ousted (elbow surgery), D - Chris Odoi-Atsem (fatigue); QUESTIONABLE: M - Yamil Asad (ankle injury); PROBABLE: F - Dane Kelly (ankle injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Bill Hamid — Oniel Fisher, Kofi Opare, Steve Birnbaum, Joseph Mora — Russell Canouse, Chris Durkin — Paul Arriola, Luciano Acosta, Ulises Segura — Wayne Rooney

Notes: Both Wayne Rooney (three goals, five assists) and Luciano Acosta (six goals, two assists) have eight goals+assists since Aug. 1. Only one player has more in that time. … D.C. United is now 7W-2L-1D at home this season. They had six home wins in league play in 2017.

New York Red Bulls

New York (17-7-4) return to action following a needed break that came on the heels of a grueling stretch of five games in 15 days.

It wasn’t all rest and relaxation, though, with several players getting international call-ups, including Tyler Adams, Tim Parker and Aaron Long to the USMNT. Adams scored the lone goal — his first for the US — in a 1-0 win over Mexico in Nashville Wednesday.

“I think the fact that we have eight guys with their national teams that in itself helps because they come back with confidence, sharpness, they miss us a little bit when they come back, they show why they went there, I think that’s a good thing,” Chris Armas said. “The guys here, we’ve had some really good days of training so we’ve had a good balance of training and resting and recovering and taking advantage of a rare break in this final stretch.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: F - Bradley Wright-Phillips
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Florian Valot (torn left ACL), D - Kyle Duncan (torn right ACL), M - Vincent Bezecourt (right MCL surgery), D - Tommy Redding (shoulder surgery), M - Ben Mines (broken left clavicle surgery)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Luis Robles — Michael Murillo, Aaron Long, Tim Parker, Kemar Lawrence — Tyler Adams, Sean Davis — Marc Rzatkowski, Kaku, Danny Royer — Bradley Wright-Phillips

Notes: The Red Bulls are looking to avoid losing back-to-back league games for the first time since a three-game losing streak in May 2017 (50 regular season games played since). … Luis Robles has kept eight clean sheets in league play against D.C. United, tied for the third most any keeper has had against one opponent since the start of 2010.

All-Time Series

Overall: D.C. Untied 34 wins, 132 goals … New York Red Bulls 29 wins, 112 goals … 13 draws
At D.C.: D.C. United 21 wins, 77 goals … New York Red Bulls 12 wins, 58 goals … 6 draws
Last meeting at D.C.: D.C. United 0, New York Red Bulls 1 (July 25, 2018)