MLS

D.C. United Look To End Streaks With Visit To Philadelphia Union

D.C. United Look To End Streaks With Visit To Philadelphia Union

D.C. United are back in action tonight, looking to end a two-game losing streak, traveling to take on the Philadelphia Union.

Aug 24, 2019
D.C. United Look To End Streaks With Visit To Philadelphia Union

D.C. United will look to rebound from midweek disappointment when they travel to Chester, Pennsylvania, tonight to take on the Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium. Needing a win to help their playoff cause, United will have to try to end an ugly streak of five consecutive losses to the Union in league play and win at a stadium where they have not picked up three points since 2014.  

Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM ET and will be streamed in the DMV area on FloFC.

Looking to end a streak of five consecutive losses against the Union, United will be without the services of Wayne Rooney for the game. United's leading scorer in 2019 was sent off in the 24th minute during Wednesday's loss to the New York Red Bulls, after a video review determined that he struck Cristian Casseres Jr in the head, earning his second red card of the season.

His starting strike partner, Ola Kamara, scored a spectacular goal in the second half, for his first tally for the Black-and-Red. But it wasn't enough for United, who conceded in the sixth minute, and then gave up a game-winning penalty just moments after Kamara's goal in the 2-1 loss to RBNY. 

With Rooney unavailable, head coach Ben Olsen might have to turn to Luciano Acosta to fill the void in the starting lineup. The Argentine has been ever-present in the lineup since his arrival in 2016 but has found himself on the bench for the past three games. Acosta has come off the bench for the last two contests, but might be in line for a start against the Union.

A win tonight for United would end several streaks for the Black-and-Red against their closest rivals. The Union have won the past five league meetings between the two clubs, with United's last win coming back on April 1, 2017. And United hasn't tasted victory in Chester since May 10, 2014, losing the last six games at Talen Energy Stadium.

Earlier this month, the two teams met at Audi Field, with the visitors running rampant in a 5-1 victory, the biggest defeat for United at their new stadium. In the fifth full season with Jim Curtin at the helm, the Union are vying for the top playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, trailing Atlanta United by just three points with seven games remaining in the regular season. 

Kacper Przybylko leads the team with 11 goals, while midfielders Marco Fabian and Jamiro Monteiro have combined for 10 goals and nine assists to help the Union get to 45 points from their first 27 games in 2019. 

D.C. United Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Bill Hamid, Joseph Mora, Steven Birnbaum, Frederic Brillant, Leonardo Jara, Junior Moreno, Felipe Martins, Lucas Rodriguez, Luciano Acosta, Paul Arriola, Ola Kamara