D.C. United Hosts Big Match vs. LAFC Saturday Afternoon
Audi Field will be the place to be in Washington, D.C. this Saturday afternoon. On that very pitch will feature two of the best teams in the MLS. Over on the other side is LAFC, the number one team in the Western Conference. Then there’s D.C. United, the number one team in the Eastern Conference. Both teams are unbeaten and something has to give.
The game is expected to be a sell out and D.C. United (3-0-1) has already sold standing room tickets. With a standing room only crowd and the temperature heating up, it should be quite the atmosphere by the Anacostia River.
D.C. United is coming off a 2-1 win in Orlando over Orlando City SC, their first victory on the road since May 2018. Steven Birnbaum’s header and Wayne Rooney’s sick free kick provided the scoring for the Black and Red. Rooney’s header was nominated for MLS Goal of the Week. Birnbaum and Rooney also earned spots on the MLS Team of the Week.
D.C. United allowed a goal for the first time all season in Sunday’s game. It ended a 435-minute shutout streak by goalkeeper Bill Hamid. That’s the longest shutout streak in club history.
There will be some injury adversity for D.C. United. 15 minutes into Sunday’s match in Orlando, Joseph Mora took a knee to the face and left the game with a broken jaw. Newcomer Chris McCann filled in for Mora in the remainder of the game and the former MLS champion with Atlanta United is expected to fill in for Mora. Mora underwent successful surgery and according to the team is expected to be training again in four weeks.
LAFC (4-0-1) is in it’s second year in the MLS. Like D.C. United, their lone draw came on the road against NYCFC. They’re coming off a 5-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes that was led by a hat trick from Carlos Vela.
Last season these teams played to a 1-1 draw on May 26, 2018. A lot has changed in under a year and these two great teams squaring off Saturday afternoon will be quite the spectacle. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. on FOX.
Top photo: @FOXSoccer
