DC United vs Nashville

Audi Field forms the backdrop for an inter-conference Major League Soccer match-up between underperforming DC United and playoff-bidding Nashville.

These are dark times for DC United, as they enter this matchday winless in six successive domestic games (D2, L4), including back-to-back MLS defeats by an aggregate score of 5-1. Indeed, following a brace of high-scoring home league triumphs over Houston Dynamo and New England Revolution, the ‘Black-and-Red’ have gone two home MLS fixtures without winning (D1, L1). After seeing his side concede precisely two goals on each occasion, interim boss Chad Ashton will feel obliged to address DC’s growing defensive woes. Particularly vulnerable before half-time, the hosts have registered 83% of their home goals conceded this season in the first half of play (10/12).

In the meantime, Nashville turned a 1-0 half-time lead into a 2-1 defeat to Sporting KC at home last time out, ending a run of four unbeaten MLS fixtures (W2, D2). Keen to get back to winning ways, the visitors can fall back on their recent away form. Kyle Roelke’s men have gone from three winless road trips (D1, L2) to winning back-to-back domestic matches on hostile turf. There’s plenty of reason for optimism in the travelling camp, as Nashville are unbeaten in three historic MLS meetings with DC United (W2, D1), keeping two clean sheets in that sequence. By contrast, they’ve conceded at least once in their last six away domestic encounters.